Pays des Écrins
A myth of rock and ice
For centuries, men have been writing the stubborn story of mountaineering in the Écrins, with the tip of a crampon and the thread of a rope. From the glitter of glaciers to the cool shade of torrents, this territory combines the heritage of the high mountains, Alpine traditions and the raw power of the relief of the Ecrins National Park.
Rochette, Ailefroide, Casterman
It’s here in Vallouise that the history of mountaineering is written.
The Barre des Écrins
guardian of the heights
At an altitude of 4,102 metres, the Barre des Écrins dominates the Hautes-Alpes like a mineral sentinel. Around it, theAilefroide site attracts mountaineers from all over the world, who have come to write their page in the epic story of the Ecrins mountaineering villages here in Vallouise. Despite their retreat, the glaciers that curl around them bear witness to the slow breathing of the mountains.
Perched at an altitude of over 3,000 m, the Écrins refuge majestically overlooks the Blanc glacier.
Valleys of stories
and toil
The Fournel valley, today a natural sanctuary, was once the scene of intense mining activity. The silver mines, remnants of an industrial past, still linger in the memory of mankind. Between high-altitude meadows and dark forests, the human footprint converses with the power of the elements.
Clinging to the vertiginous walls of the Ailefroide valley
gateways to the high mountains
At Madame Carle’s Meadow, where the trails lead up to the Blanc and Noir glaciers, the mountaineers’ rite of approach takes place every summer. Not far away, the resorts of Pelvoux-Vallouise and Puy Saint Vincent offer travelers a more accessible side of the mountains, combining the pleasures of snow with breathtaking views of the peaks.
Five faces, 6,000 vertical meters, 15 hours. These are the figures for Benjamin Védrines and Nicolas Jean’s new routine, as they climbed and skied the five faces of Les Agneaux (3,664 m) in the heart of the Écrins massif on February 18.
Living water,
artery of the valleys
At L’Argentière-La-Bessée, thewhitewater stadium turns the torrent into a sporting playground, continuing the long Alpine tradition of a relationship with water. Rivers and waterfalls, the result of glacial melt, irrigate meadows and orchards, reminding us that in the Écrins, life is rooted as much in stone as in the current.
The Argentière-la-Bessée whitewater stadium is an emblematic site dedicated to water sports and thrills.
Pays des Écrins highlights
L’Argentière-la-Bessée
Les Radeliers de la Durance
Emblematic figures of the Alps, from the XVIIᵉ to the XIXᵉ century, the radeliers of the Durance transported larch and pine trunks to Marseille and Toulon. A river epic as perilous as it was essential to the Mediterranean naval and urban boom, which can be relived every summer from l’Argentière-La Bessée.
L’Argentière-La Bessée
Bouldering
A not-to-be-missed bouldering festival, the Tout à Blocs takes over L’Argentière-La Bessée every summer. On the program: hundreds of passages, international competitions and an overexcited atmosphere, between a sporting challenge and an open-air vertical party.
Mountaineering villages
Animations Mountaineering Villages
In the Ecrins Mountaineering Villages, you can climb, learn and understand: initiations, open-air film screenings, exhibitions and meetings bring a vibrant mountain to life.
The stations
From the charm of the villages to the energy of the major ski areas, the Hautes-Alpes offers a wide choice of resorts to experience the mountains at your own pace. Downhill skiing, Nordic activities, hiking or summer adventures: there’s something for everyone, in the heart of unspoilt landscapes.
At the foot of the giantsPelvoux-Vallouise
In the heart of the Écrins, this resort combines authentic villages and a varied ski area, ideal for enjoying the mountains from every angle.
The pearl of the ÉcrinsPuy Saint Vincent
Spread over 3 altitudes, Puy Saint Vincent’s trails wind through larch forests, facing the emblematic peaks of Pelvoux, Barre des Écrins and Glacier Blanc.
The Écrins in figures
| AREA | 83% of the department’s 5,549 km² are covered by forests and mountainous areas. | 462,8 m² |
| RESIDENTS | One of France’s most sparsely populated departments, the Hautes-Alpes has a population of 142,000. | 6 582 |
| TOURIST BEDS | There are 410,000 tourist beds throughout France. They generate 22 million overnight stays a year. | 37 000 |
Need advice?
The tourist office,
your local ally
Good deals, ideas for activities, personalized advice: don’t hesitate to come and meet or contact the Tourist Office teams to make the most of your destination.
Puy Saint Vincent
Station 1600, 05290 Puy Saint Vincent
See also
Iconic
Mountaineering villages in the Ecrins
