Hautes-Alpes: what to do around Briançon for a weekend?
If you hear the name Hautes-Alpes, you're probably thinking of Briançon, on the French-Italian border, with its 300 days of sunshine a year (well, the title helped a little...). But did you know that the department - considered to be the highest in France! - is brimming with cultural and natural wonders to discover? Whether you're into heritage, wellness and relaxation at the spa, nature trails or skiing thrills... there's a good chance you'll find what you're looking for in this corner of France for a weekend 100% escape. And the good news is that you won't need a plane or a car to get there, since Briançon is accessible by train and the département has excellent public transport links!
Before going any further, here's a quick rundown on public transport:
- Briançon can be reached by night train from Paris (which saves you a night's hotel accommodation and travel time)! The town can also be reached by train from many French cities, notably via Marseille and Paris.
- From Briançon, you'll find a wide network of buses and shuttles via the AltiGo network.
- You can also find all the department's transport solutions on the ZOU x Ma Région Sud website.
Culture: discover the Hautes-Alpes heritage
Briançon: visit the Vauban town
Briançon is known as the “highest town in Europe”. But it also belongs to the network of Villes ou Pays d'Art et d'Histoire, awarded by the French Ministry of Culture! And it's easy to see why: with its cobbled streets, ramparts and fortifications, the fortified old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The fortified city, perched at an altitude of 1326 meters, was built by Vauban, a renowned 17th-century military engineer. Originally, these defensive structures were designed to protect the town from invasion, particularly from Italy via the Montgenèvre pass. Vauban's fortifications include the ramparts of the upper town, Fort de Salettes, Fort du Randouillet, Fort Dauphin and Pont d'Asfeld. If you can, we really recommend a visit to the Trois Têtes fort, with its pedestrian center in the Gargoyles. From there, you'll have a magnificent panoramic view of Briançon and the Durance valley!
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The postcard-perfect setting of the Cité Vauban!
Guided tours are available for a full price of €7 and a reduced price of €5. To book, contact the town's Service du Patrimoine or book online via Briançon's official website.
Briançon: architecture, art and medieval history
In Briançon, you can also discover
- The Collégiale Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Nicolas, an emblematic church in the heart of the Vauban town.
- The Maison du Parc national des Ecrins, in the old town, with exhibitions on local flora and fauna, as well as projections and other events.
- The Centre d'Art Contemporain, in the upper town.
At the end of June, you can also take part in Fête médiévale de Briançon for a journey back in time through period shows and entertainment.
Gap: the Musée Muséum départemental des Hautes-Alpes
1h15 by train (from €14) or 1h45 by bus (from €7) from Briançon, you can get to Gap, a pretty Alpine town which is also the prefecture of the département. At 6 avenue Maréchal Foch, you can discover the Muséum départemental des Hautes-Alpes, a free museum with a wide range of collections, including archaeology, fine arts, contemporary arts, natural history, ethnology, ceramics and photography!
Admission is free and the museum is open Tuesday to Friday, 9am to 5:45pm, and weekends, 2pm to 5:45pm.
Champoléon: the Shepherd's House
In the commune of Champoléon - accessible in 2 to 3 hours from Briançon via the Briançon-Gap line (bus line ZOU LER69: 1h45 travel time, or train: 1h10 travel time), then the Gap-Champoléon bus line (line ZOU 524: 1h travel time) and finally, via a Pont du Fossé-Champoléon (Les Borels) bus - you'll find a unique cultural space that showcases the profession of shepherd. At La Maison du Berger, you'll find exhibitions (permanent and temporary) and educational activities: ideal for a family outing.
The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday in summer and Wednesday afternoons the rest of the year, and admission costs €4.50 full price and €3 reduced, and is free for minors.
Queyras and Buëch: astronomical observatories
For astronomy enthusiasts, the Hautes-Alpes is home to several outstanding astronomical observatories, notably in the Queyras region (accessible from Briançon in just over 2 hours by direct bus via the ZOU LER69 line) and the Buëch region (accessible in 2 to 2.5 hours by TER train from Briançon station).
- Saint-Véran observatory(Queyras): situated at an altitude of 2,930 meters on the Château Renard peak, the Saint-Véran - Paul Felenbok observatory is one of the highest in Europe! The observatory offers guided tours from July to September and “Observatory Nights” for an immersive experience.
- Baronnies Provençales observatory (Buëch): open all year round, this observatory in Moydans enjoys exceptional environmental conditions. Special events are organized in summer: Escape Game, Cosmic show...
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Photo : © Marc Lelièvre - Saint-Véran observatory under the stars
Crots: Boscodon Abbey
Located in Crots in the Hautes-Alpes (accessible by bus in 1h10 from Briançon station via the ZOU LER29 line), the Abbaye de Boscodon is a magnificent 12th-century Romanesque monument listed as a Monument Historique.
Nestled at an altitude of 1150m, it was founded in 1142 by monks from the Order of Chalais, and is now an interactive museographic space on the art of building in the Middle Ages and the history of the abbey! You can opt for a guided or self-guided tour, and attend shows and lectures.
Photo : © OT Serre Ponçon - Boscodon Abbey
Outdoor sports
Briançon: hiking, trails and Via Ferrata
For outdoor enthusiasts, Briançon also offers a wide range of sporting activities. If you like hiking, we recommend the La Croix de Toulouse trail: a round-trip hike of 3.5 hours and +627m ascent (medium difficulty), offering a breathtaking view of Briançon and the Serre Chevalier valley. Alternatively, you can opt for a 2h30 via ferrata from Briançon to La Croix de Toulouse.
And if you prefer trail running, you can discover 12 trail itineraries from Briançon via L’Espace Trail du Briançonnais. These free trails are suitable for all levels!
Please note that in winter, some trails are closed due to snow conditions. For more information, take a look at this guide.
The Clarée Valley: ski touring, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing...
If you love the mountains, you'll love the Vallée de la Clarée, classified as a natural site since 1992, and accessible from Névache (40 minutes to 1 hour by bus from Briançon, line 7 Briançon-Névache).
Photo : © Thibaut Blais - The ski touring ascent to the Buffère refuge
There's no shortage of activities: hiking, ski touring, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding...If you want to spend the night, there's no shortage of refuges either. We particularly recommend the refuge de Buffère and the refuge du Chardonnet, near Névache which Benjamin has tested for you. But for even more choice, take a look at our selection of refuges in the Hautes-Alpes, accessible from Briançon!
Serre-Chevalier ski resort
With 250 km of pistes and 410 hectares of skiable terrain, Serre-Chevalier is one of the most prestigious ski resorts in the Southern Alps. If you like altitude, you're in for a treat: 80% of the pistes are above 2,000 meters.
Getting there from Briançon couldn't be easier: just take the télécabine, or the Briançon-Serre-Chevalier bus line (Monday to Saturday, excluding public holidays). The journey takes 30 minutes and costs €6.50 (you can check the exact timetable and book in advance by contacting ZOU! customer service on 04 13 94 30 50). You can also get there directly by train: the Briançon-Serre Chevalier SNCF station is located at the foot of the slopes! On site, there's something for everyone: snowshoeing, ice-skating, dog-sledding, zip-lining, the 4,500 m² “Les Grands Bains” spa center...
Photo : © alpesphotographies.com - Serre-Chevalier ski resort
Canyoning in the Hautes-Alpes
If you like thrills, just 20 minutes from Briançon and Serre Chevalier, you can discover the Canyon du Fournel Intégral. A 2h30 canyoning activity, accessible from the age of 8. If this isn't your first try, you can discover other canyoning sites in the Hautes-Alpes via ce lien.
Nature
Parc de la Schappe in Briançon
Labelled a “Refuge LPO” since 2013, the Parc de la Schappe is the ideal place to relax after a few cultural visits.
The park was created by Laurent Delphin, commander of the Briançon town square. In 1815, he embarked on an ambitious project to convert former barren quarries into a lush, oriental-style park, featuring a lake with a Japanese bridge, an island and a pagoda. Relaxation guaranteed!
Ecrins National Park
If you're a fan of biodiversity and nature, the National Ecrins Park should put stars in your eyes. Covering over 92,000 hectares, this exceptional protected natural area is a jewel in the French Alps, straddling the Hautes-Alpes (05) and Isère (38) regions.
More than 400 species of vertebrates live between the park's 800 and 4102 meters of altitude: chamois, ibex, marmots, golden eagle, black grouse...
The beauty of Ecrins National Park in summer
On site, there's something for everyone: kayaking, mountaineering, or simple nature hikes.
If you're in the mood for adventure and have the time, we recommend - ideally from late June to mid-September - the GR54, which circumnavigates L'Oisans and Les Ecrins in the heart of the Ecrins National Park. A 10-15 day itinerary, this long hike takes you to the foot of the Meije (summit 3983 m) and the Barre des Ecrins (summit 4102 m): 184 km, 14 cols and 12,800 meters of ascent (beware, this GR is not accessible to beginners, and we advise you in all cases to check the snow conditions).
To get to the National Park from Briançon, the most practical way is to take a train to L'Argentière-la-Bessée (there are trains every hour or hour and a half) and start hiking from the L'Argentière-la-Bessée station. The Pays des Écrins website lists a number of hikes that are accessible without a car.
The Queyras Regional Nature Park
If you like hiking, we also recommend the Parc Naturel Régional du Queyras, which is accessible from the Arvieux train station.
From Briançon, ZOU! buses regularly serve the Queyras valley. Alternatively, you can take a train to Arvieux.
Relaxation and well-being
Briançon: wellness area
If you fancy a wellness break, the 1326 aquatic center 1326 aquatic center (located at 37 Rue Georges Bermond-Gonnet, Briançon) offers a complete wellness area with sauna, hammam and jacuzzi, as well as indoor and outdoor pools. Ideal for a relaxing break or a family outing!
Névache: discover the Plampinet goat farm
If you're heading to Névache to discover the Clarée valley, we recommend a stopover at the Plampinet goat farm. Open all year round (every day except Wednesday), visitors can learn about goat cheese processing and observe the goats and their kids. An ideal activity for families or fans of local produce!
Nestled at an altitude of 1,500 m, it is easily accessible by bus from Briançon (line 7 Briançon - Névache, Plampinet stop).
Serre-Chevalier: the Grands Bains du Monêtier
In the heart of the Serre-Chevalier resort, in Monêtier-les-Bains, you can relax in natural hot baths, saunas or hammams in the Grands Bains du Monétier thermal and aquatic complex. Please note that reservations are strongly recommended to ensure you have a place (can be changed or cancelled up to 10:00 am on D-day, simply by sending an e-mail to lesgrandsbains@monetier.com).
And that's it for this guide to Briançon and the surrounding area! To find out more, take a look at :
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