The most beautiful villages around Briançon

Larches, sunshine, blue skies! Snow in winter, cool in summer. Villages with traditional architecture, history, monuments… Here is everything that awaits you during your holidays around Briançon.

Stuck between the border Italian, the crests Savoyardand the massif of Cases, the région de Briançon was forced to develop locally, far from any other large city. Naturally open to the South by the Durance valley which flows to Provence, the southern influences stand out in the colors of the facades, in the gastronomy and of course in the climate, dry and bright.

The altitude of the place, always well above 1200m, allows for excellent snow cover in winter, and cool nights in summer. Briançonnais is a dream region for a mountain holiday in ideal conditions.

A holiday in Briançon to enjoy its historical heritage

Briançon, its capital, the highest city in Europe, offers all the services of a city, and yet you are surrounded by mountains exceeding 2500m in altitude. When the valley is snow-covered and the sun shines - quite often in fact - the old town of Briançon appears like a jewel in its cottony setting. It is an ideal site for your mountain holidays in the Southern Alps.

To enjoy your vacation in Briançon, immerse yourself in its rich historical and natural heritage. The city, famous for its fortifications of Vauban listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers a fascinating insight into military architecture. The medieval heart of Briançon, with its Cité Vauban, its cobbled streets and its colorful buildings, tells centuries of history. Local traditions can be discovered through mountain cuisine and markets where local products and crafts are in the spotlight.

Serre Chevalier, ski holidays around Briançon

The villages in the Guisane valley on the road to Col du Lautaret, making up the Serre Chevalier resort, whose area is directly accessible from the lower part of the town of Briançon, allows you to enjoy mountain sports in summer and winter, but also moments of relaxation, particularly at the Monêtier thermal baths. There is therefore a vast ski area to enjoy the holidays around Briançon.

These villages have remained very authentic, with their small churches nestled in the middle of the town centres, sheltered from avalanche corridors or floods of torrents which ruled the Alpine valleys in ancient times. Modern resorts for the day and villages with ancient charm for the evening, this is what delights all Alpine tourism enthusiasts.

The Clarée Valley, an authentic mountain setting

Towards the East, the climb to the Montgenèvre pass which guards the border with Italy provides access to the Vallée de la Clarée, a well-kept secret in the mountains around Briançon. Here, nature, silence and authenticity reign supreme. Not to be missed. At the very bottom of the valley, on the edge of the pretty torrent that gives its name to the valley and surrounded by larches is the village of Nevache. A very rare little gem in the French mountains: it is certainly not what you would call a winter sports resort, but a real village, sometimes isolated, often well-snowed, very sunny and above all very quiet. In Névache, people come for cross-country skiing, ski touring, snowshoe walks in winter and hiking in summer, in a very preserved mountain environment. Holidays around Briançon in a very authentic setting. Near the Clarée valley, is the Vallée Etroite, crossed by the Italian border. Another haven of peace accessible from France but also from the Italian village of Bardonecchia.

Montgenèvre, Briançon's gateway to Italy

The station Montgenevre is one of the first ski resorts in France. It is connected to the cross-border ski area of the Milky Way, which includes prestigious resorts and Olympic sites such as Sestrière and Sauze d'Oulx, and is located in a particularly snowy and sunny location. Its ski area offers panoramic views of a large part of the Ecrins massif but also of other peaks of the Hautes Alpes and Savoie. In the evening, you have the choice of dining in France or Italy: the small village of Keyboard has a few good restaurants three short kilometers away to walk in the evening by a path below the road. The return is a very beautiful digestive walk in the heart of the night, under the stars, in the silence of the mountain. When you spend a vacation in Briançon in winter, it is quite easy to come and enjoy the ski slopes of Montgenèvre.

The Land of Ecrins

Further south, going towards the Queyras et Gap, Vallouise and the station of Puy-Saint-Vincent provide access to the Ecrins massif and its glaciers sparkling in the sun. You will find plenty of inspiration for your high mountain activities. Ailefroide is the capital of mountaineering in the Ecrins, just as Chamonix is for the Mont Blanc. The rocky landscapes of Pré de Madame Carle, barely speckled with greenery by groves of larches, are breathtaking. The Glacier Blanc dominates the valley and encourages hiking.

South of Briançon, we will not forget the Izoard road which opens the way to Queyras. It provides access to a charming and very authentic village, Cervières, before climbing up the foothills of Queyras. Around Cervières, the Vallée des Fonts attracts hikers in search of silence, both in summer and winter. The Izoard region, like the Vallée de la Clarée and La Grave, are part of the “Hautes Vallées” destination, which brings together authentic, traditional and peaceful villages in the Hautes Alpes.

These mountains are a pearl that is not talked about enough. Very wild mountains, authentic villages and an exceptional climate. When you love the mountains, you inevitably want to spend your days holidays in Briançon and in general in the Hautes Alpes.

Activities not to be missed around Briançon

The visit to the old City from Briançon
The tour of the - from Briançon (Fort des Têtes, Fort de l’Infernet, Fort du Randouillet…)
A hike in the Clarée Valley, especially in autumn
A Well-Being session at Baths from Monêtier les Bains
Du Rafting on the Durance, at Argentière-la-Bessée
Climb to the Col du Lautaret, the Col du Galibier or the Col d’Izoard legendary passes of the Tour de France.
Strolling around Botanical Garden from Lautaret, discovering the flora of the Alps.
A photo at the Chazelet oratory, near La Grave, in front of the Meije.
Visit the silver mines at Argentière la Bessée
Go and taste the italian food in Clavière, just after crossing the border at the Col de Montgenèvre.
Take the cable car from Briançon to Prorel summit to enjoy a panoramic view of the Hautes Alpes.

The best webcams around Briançon

(click on the name of the village)

Montgenevre : the resort's snow front
Montgenevre: the view to the north from the Rocher de l'Aigle. We can see the Montgenèvre pass, the Meije and the Val de Souse.
Col du Lautaret: a view of the pass.
Serre Chevalier: The Serre Chevalier Valley from Prorel.
Briançon: the view of the city.
Clarée Valley: to watch especially in autumn!