Hautes-Alpes

The Col du Noyer and the Orcières Merlette climb occupy a special place in cycling history. On the one hand, the Noyer seduces with its wild character, demanding route and unspoilt atmosphere, making it one of the most popular passes among connoisseurs; on the other, Orcières remains associated with Luis Ocaña’s demonstration against Eddy Merckx during the 1971 Tour de France, a moment that has gone down in racing legend.

Other consultations in progress :

The Olympic Reserved Line (LOR), a mobility project to improve travel in the Guisane valley, from May 26 to June 26, 2026

The Fort des Têtes, future Olympic Village, and the Usine de la Schappe, a project to renovate derelict historic buildings, from May 26 to June 26, 2026.

For a few mornings, the legendary passes of the Alps are given over entirely to cycling enthusiasts. Galibier, Izoard, Agnel, Granon… names that resonate like legends in the history of cycling. On these roads, everyone can slip into the shoes of the heroes of the Tour de France and take on these monuments to cycling, in exceptional conditions, far from the din of the engines.

On May 30 and 31, 2026, cycling enthusiasts will have the opportunity to tackle two legendary climbs in the Hautes-Alpes: the Col du Noyer and the ascent to Orcières Merlette 1850. Two legendary routes, made famous by the Tour de France for their beauty and sporting standards, will be closed to motorized traffic for the occasion, and the Challenge Avant Tour will follow the official route of the Tour de France 2026, offering an immersive experience before the professional riders take to the road on July 23. The event is accessible on Strava.

The Tournée des Grands Cols: five days, five legendary passes to climb. The Guillestrois-Queyras, Hautes Vallées and Serre Chevalier tourist offices are offering cyclists the chance to take part in the Tournée des Grands Cols, from June 29 to July 3. On the program: five legendary passes(Agnel, Izoard, Granon, Galibier, Échelle) reserved in succession for cyclists. Each stage will be punctuated by local heritage events and tastings of local produce.

So begins the new issue of Wider dedicated to the Hautes-Alpes. A special issue that reminds us that part of the history of mountaineering was written here, that presents our giants, the great passes that have become mythical, that inspires itineraries at all altitudes, that talks about white water, cliffs and hang-gliding.

The benchmark media for outdoor enthusiasts, Wider explores territories through the people who live them. At the crossroads of travel, sport and inspiration, the magazine, with a circulation of 50,000, highlights authentic destinations, adventure stories and the major trends in contemporary outdoor culture.

In autumn, the preserved snow is redeployed on strategic slopes to secure and accelerate the opening of the ski area. This practical approach limits the need for artificial snow at the start of the season, while optimizing water resource management. A fine illustration of the innovative capacity of the Hautes-Alpes resorts in the face of climatic challenges.

On the sidelines of the latest working session of the Hautes-Alpes 2030 Executive Committee, figures from the world of sport and local elected representatives share their vision of the Olympic project and the legacy to be built.

As a reminder, the Hautes-Alpes 2030 Executive Committee, set up last June, brings together all the department’s driving forces and is organized around four operational committees: Sport, Access and Mobility, Development, Culture and Inclusion.

In the heart of winter, discover the wild Clarée valley, its fauna, flora and magnificent landscapes. Along the way, mountain refuges welcome you for a warm and comforting break.

• Névache → Refuge Buffère
• Refuge Buffère → Refuge du Chardonnet
• Refuge du Chardonnet → Refuge Ricou
• Refuge Ricou → Refuge I Re Magi
• Refuge I Re Magi → Névache

This roadtrip guides you from producer to producer, from the orchards of the Haute-Durance to the vineyards of the Avance valley, from the alpine pastures of the Dévoluy and the Queyrasto the bocages of Champsaur. In just a few days, you’ll discover all the richness of the Alpine terroir : meats, cured meats, market gardening, cheeses, fruits, wines, beers, liqueurs… on an itinerary through enchanting landscapes.

• Sisteron → Buëch Valley
• Buëch Valley → Dévoluy
• Dévoluy → Champsaur → Gapençais
• Gapençais → Avance Valley
• Avance Valley → Queyras

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 light the Games will shed on the department, their legacy is immense. They will leave the Hautes-Alpes with concrete advances in terms of more fluid access and rethought mobility, particularly by rail. Olympism won’t just cross the mountains: it will take root there, making the Hautes-Alpes not just a theater, but the center of the world.

Parks as refuges

The Écrins National Park (925 km²), the Queyras Regional Nature Park (650 km²) and the Baronnies provençales Regional Nature Park (1,560 km²) form a protective belt around exceptional landscapes.

The breath of wild animals

Ibexes, chamois, bearded vultures, black grouse and the Ecrins trout are all part of a resilient yet fragile fauna.

The richness
of mountain flowers

The flora of the Hautes-Alpes is a journey between altitude and the Mediterranean.

Water,
shared treasure

In the Hautes-Alpes, following the river’s course means understanding the intimate link between people and their environment.