Hautes-Alpes

In^{the 19th} century, following a series of fires that destroyed the village, many residents of Les Aiguillons—merchants and entrepreneurs—set out to try their luck overseas. Villas, fountains, the town hall, and the cemetery tell the extraordinary story of residents who made their fortunes far from home.

The Maison Duclos, also known as the Maison Eiffel, tells a love story. Once the press pavilion for the 1895 Bordeaux World’s Fair, it was dismantled and reassembled in Aiguilles. And let’s not forget the ruins of the Château de l’Auche and its Renaissance style.

A journey through the modernity of a social system and the bourgeois lifestyle of the time.

The tour guides of the Hautes-Alpes offer stories that are as rich as they are surprising all year round.

A campaign developed in collaboration with thirteen partners: the Pays des Écrins, Puy-Saint-Vincent, Orcières-Merlette, Serre-Ponçon Réallon, Risoul, Le Dévoluy, Auron, Isola 2000, Valberg, Ubaye, Val d’Allos, Vars, and the ESF.

At Saint-Lazare Station, a campaign designed as a collection featuring 12 static, backlit retro canvases and 15 animated LED screens will transport the 450,000 daily commuters to the winter landscape of the Southern Alps.

Reservations: A Winter in Three Acts

Booking habits are changing and now reveal three major trends in purchasing behavior.

• 35% of stays were booked before the end of summer. The trend toward “early bookers ” continues to grow year after year. Vacationers plan ahead to secure good accommodations and ski lessons before availability runs out.

• 45% of reservations are made in the fall. This is a pivotal period, when a large portion of winter visitor numbers is determined. This is a major challenge, which explains the extensive promotional campaigns currently being carried out by ADDET05 and its partners across Europe.

• 20% of trips will be booked during the season. This clientele is more opportunistic, keeping an eye out for last-minute deals, weather forecasts, and snow conditions.

A Positive Outlook, With an Eye on the Holiday Season

At this point, the booking outlook is favorable for the entire winter season, from January through the final weeks of winter.

However, particular attention is being paid to the end-of-year holidays. The fact that New Year’s Eve falls on a weekend—which is less conducive to long stays—could weigh on reservations. For now, the overall occupancy rate for tourist accommodations stands at 55% for this two-week period.

As the last fruits are harvested in the orchards of the Hautes-Alpes, it’s time to take stock of one of the department’s true driving forces. And the numbers are impressive: with nearly 600 hectares of orchards, 283 farms, and the equivalent of 4,900 full-time jobs, the local fruit-growing industry is running at full speed. Every year, no fewer than 70,000 metric tons of apples and 11,000 metric tons of pears are harvested.

But there’s no question of resting on our laurels. In less than ten years, more than 300 hectares of orchards have been completely replanted. The goal? To boost yields, modernize the orchards, and, above all, spread out the harvests to offer local fruit for a larger portion of the year.

If there’s one true queen in our orchards, it’s the Golden. Thanks to the pure mountain air and the temperature fluctuations between day and night, it develops a unique, lovely “pink blush” here. In fact, it is the only apple in France to hold both the Label Rouge and a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI).

But the High-Alpine orchard hides an incredible array of culinary delights. When it comes to apples, the very sweet Gala and the late-season Fuji sit alongside the tart Granny Smith, the Reinette grise (perfect for baking), and newcomers like Story and Swing—queens of organic and eco-friendly farming—round out the selection. Not to mention heritage and heirloom varieties like the Pomme de Moisson and the Calville, which are celebrated every year at the Heirloom Fruit Market in Orpierre.

Pears aren’t to be outdone! The William’s—melt-in-your-mouth and fragrant—leads the way alongside the Comice, the early-ripening Guyot, the Conférence, and the modern Qtee®. And for lovers of local history, legendary heirloom varieties like the Crémésine (nicknamed the “Gloutte de Gap”) and the Sarteau continue to be the pride of the region.

The mountains are taking on their autumn colors. From the blazing reds of the deciduous trees to the golden hues of the larch, nature offers a spectacle that is as magnificent as it is fleeting. As the peaks begin to take on a dusting of white, creating a subtle contrast, mushrooms add a splash of color to the forest floor.

A Balance at High Altitudes in the Face of Climate Challenges

In the mountains, water seems to be everywhere, flowing from the Écrins glaciers down to the Drac River. Yet in the Hautes-Alpes, this shared resource faces growing vulnerability. Between winters with less snow and summers marked by drought, water is becoming, more than ever, a scarce and coveted resource.

To raise awareness among residents, visitors, and professionals, the Champsaur Valgaudemar Tourist Office has produced two original documentaries that help provide a better understanding of how water is used and shared throughout its region.

Multiple uses for a single resource: arboriculture, livestock farming, tourism, energy production, or simply household consumption—the valley lives in step with its users

These videos give a voice to local stakeholders to illustrate the vital importance of dialogue and collaboration. Sharing water is no longer just a matter of technology or regulations; it is a human endeavor that requires striking a delicate balance between economic activity, local life, and respect for the environment.

Regional Agility in Action

Given the fragility of this ecosystem, the Champsaur-Valgaudemar region exemplifies the adaptability demonstrated by the Hautes-Alpes: moderating consumption, modernizing irrigation systems, adapting agricultural practices, and collective environmental responsibility.

Preserving water at its source means preserving the valley’s future. These two projects remind us that, both individually and collectively, moderation and thoughtful sharing remain our best safeguards for ensuring that water continues to sustain our mountains.

In Sigoyer, Guillaume Yvetot (Le Chai Perché) seeks out the cool climate of vineyards located at altitudes of more than 1,000 meters to preserve the balance of his wines.

In Jarjayes, Éric Guiramand is contributing to this trend by planting pistachio trees—a diversification strategy designed to secure the future of his farm.

All of these initiatives demonstrate that the future of winegrowing in the Hautes-Alpes depends on preserving well-suited grape varieties, innovating in cultivation practices, and diversifying production in a thoughtful manner.

Between Trièves, Dévoluy, and Matheysine, the Tour de l’Obiou is a challenging 4-day hiking route certified as a GRP®. More than just a hike, this wild and diverse trail invites hikers to immerse themselves authentically in the heart of unspoiled nature, while placing respect for the environment at the top of its priorities.

• Pellafol → Bachilianne Chalet
• Chalet de Bachilianne → Tréminis
• Tréminis → Lachaup
• Lachaup → Pellafol

More than just a hike, it’s an immersion into the soul of the Hautes-Alpes—a 13-day trek that combines natural grandeur, mountain heritage, a quest for adventure, and some 194 km.

• Le Bourg d’Oisans → Col de Souchet
• La Grave → Le Monêtier-les-Bains
• Eychauda Pass → Pré de la Chaumette
• The Valgaudemar Crossing
• Valjouffrey → Lauvitel

Since 1922, the Tour de France has visited the Hautes-Alpes 91 times, making this Alpine region ” one of the most visited of the Grande Boucle “. The names of the legendary cols resonate like an echo: Izoard, Granon, Galibier…

In 2026, the Tour returns to the Hautes-Alpes with a first high-Alpine stage on July 23 between Voiron and Orcières-Merlette (185.5 km), a second stage on July 24 between Gap and Alpe d’Huez, via the Col du Noyer, and on July 25 with a “crazy” finale between Le Bourg d’Oisans and Alpe d’Huez (171.5 km) via the Col du Galibier, the “Roof of the Tour” for 2026, and the Col du Lautaret, the day before the finish on the Champs-Élysées.

The Women’s Tour de France will also be part of the festivities, with one stage in the Sisteronais-Buëch region.

Find all the information about the 2026 Tour de France ‘s route through the Hautes-Alpes here:

At the heart of this alliance, the Hautes-Alpes set the stage for more than twenty freestyle skiing and snowboarding competitions. The venue is Serre Chevalierthe largest resort in the Southern Alps, and in Montgenèvrethe doyenne of French resorts, where riders will take to the skies, their trajectories intersecting against a backdrop of majestic peaks.

Briançonthe citadel of stone, will be the vibrant epicenter. Its Fort des Têtes, aUNESCO World Heritage Site, will be transformed into an Olympic village: a crossroads of cultures, a logistical hub, a forge of energy.

Beyond the spotlight the Games have shone on the Hautes-Alpes, the legacy is immense. They will leave the Hautes-Alpes with tangible improvements, including smoother access and a reimagined transportation system, particularly by rail. The Olympic spirit will not merely pass through the mountains—it will take root there, making the Hautes-Alpes not just a stage, but the center of the world.