Terroir and gastronomy
Terroir and gastronomyLagrande tablée
The mountains nourish the soul as much as they do the body. In the Hautes-Alpes, gastronomy is shaped by the landscapes, the seasons, and the passionate men and women who call this region home. Each valley has its own flavor, each mountain pasture its own history. Combining time-honored traditions with innovative approaches, this region is a true land of flavors, where authenticity is cultivated just as carefully as the local gardens.
A pioneer in organic farming
and short distribution channels
As France’s leading organic department, the Hautes-Alpes have made agriculture that respects the soil and all living things a way of life. Farmers and producers prioritize local connections: artisanal markets, local grocery stores, and farm-direct sales. Behind every basket lies a connection; behind every cheese, a story. This community-based economy promises healthy, authentic food.
Proudly bearing the
label
The Hautes-Alpes region is known for products recognized far beyond its borders: IGP Vins des Hautes-Alpes, Pommes des Alpes de Haute Durance, Agneau de Sisteron, and soon Bleu du Queyras and Tomme du Champsaur. These designations guarantee expertise, but above all, a strong identity. The “Hautes-Alpes Naturellement ” label brings this mosaic of flavors together under a single banner: that of quality and origin.
An authentic
table
Whether you sit down at a hamlet inn or at the home of an inspired chef, your plate will always tell the story of the mountains. Tourtons, ravioles, “oreilles d’âne” (donkey’s ears) or creamy gratins are shared with simplicity, by the fireplace or on a sunny terrace. These traditional dishes, reinvented with finesse, extend the warmth of the Haute-Alpes welcome: generous, genuine, unforgettable.
The power of plants
Nature cares, perfumes and nourishes. Thyme, lavender, mint, arnica montana and sea buckthorn cover the meadows and hillsides, testifying to the know-how of perfume, aromatic and medicinal plants. From these treasures come scents and benefits, to be discovered at the Lautaret alpine garden and the Charance garden, headquarters of the Ecrins National Park, veritable botanical showcases of alpine flora.
Products and people
Naïs Pirollet
young chef courted by top restaurants
Local highlights
Paris
The Hautes-Alpes at the International Agricultural Show
At the Salon International de l’Agriculture, the département is acting as ambassador for its valleys and plateaux, packing everything that makes it so charming: mountain cheeses, high-altitude honeys and farming know-how handed down from generation to generation.
Orpierre
Antique fruit market
Forgotten apples, hardy pears, fragrant quinces… Every autumn at Orpierre, local growers bring out of their orchards varieties that you’d hardly come across in a history book. Between colorful stands, tastings, grafting workshops and impassioned conversations, a whole agricultural heritage is offered to the public, in a convivial atmosphere resolutely focused on transmission.
Hautes-Alpes
Cattle fairs
From Gap to Saint-Bonnet, via Guillestre and Le Monêtier-les-Bains, the villages of the Haute-Alpes come alive every autumn to the rhythm of the herds. A good excuse to discover the region in a different way: through its animals, its breeders and its untouched sense of festivity.
Practical notebook
- Country houses
- Hautes-Alpes: Naturally
- Alpine Terroir Roadtrip
See also
Iconic
Mountain pasture faces
