Trust its name. The Hautes-Alpes department, located in the Southern Alps, is mountainous. It is the highest in France on average and more than a third of its surface exceeds 2,000 m in altitude! Its prefecture, Gap, is the highest in the country and the beautiful village of Saint-Véran (2,042 m), the highest commune in Europe. It culminates at 4 102 m at the level of the Barre des Écrins, a mythical summit for mountaineers from France and elsewhere. Briançon la belle, perched at 1,326 m, is one of the highest European cities. BorderingItaly, this airy and sumptuous territory has experienced a strong desertification in the last century. Mountain agriculture did not feed its people and the harshness of life at altitude was not compatible with modernity. Today, it is one of the most sparsely populated French departments, which is thriving thanks to tourism by promoting its authentic and preserved alpine environment: winter tourism with downhill skiing and ski touring, summer tourism with mountaineering. The Écrins massif, within a national natural park, is one of the country's alpine jewels, a symbol of crystal clear high mountains. The middle mountains are not left out with the regional natural park of the Baronnies provençales, shared with the Drôme, where you can practice climbing, hang-gliding and hiking. Finally, the presence of the Durance and its tributaries, to which are added the mountain torrents, attract rafting and kayaking enthusiasts. A string of alpine lakes where the peaks are reflected complete this idyllic picture.

What to visit Hautes-Alpes?

When to go to Hautes-Alpes?

As a result of the Mediterranean influence on the one hand, and the weak influence of oceanic precipitations on the other hand, since these are discharged on the Écrins massif, this territory enjoys a high level of sunshine (300 days per year), which is worth a tourist frequentation in winter as well as summer. But from one season to another it is not the same tourism. In winter, skiers descend the slopes of large or medium-sized resorts such as Serre-Chevalier (an alpine ski area of 250 km!) or Vars, Risoul, SuperDévoluy, La Joue du Loup, without forgetting the internationally renowned off-piste ski area of La Grave-La Meije. In the spring, ski touring enthusiasts enjoy themselves. In the summer, experienced mountaineers head for the high peaks. For the others, there are many hiking trails in altitude or in the middle of the mountains which do not require a high technical level. Summer is also the season for white water sports and swimming in rivers and lakes. To swim in the high altitude ones you need courage! The torrents also remain cold in summer. Those who are not so keen on cold can go to the lower part of the territory or to the heated swimming pools which are open in winter. Why not take a dip after skiing? A small detail: at altitude, the temperature drops dramatically at sunset, even in summer, because of the dry air and low cloud cover.

Weather at the moment

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Weather all year round

The climate of the Hautes-Alpes is marked by the altitude and relative proximity of the Mediterranean. The Atlantic rains are stopped by the mountain barrier. The climate is relatively dry even at high altitudes and especially sunny. Temperatures vary greatly with the seasons and between day and night. The lower the altitude and the further south you go, the milder the annual averages are: between 0°C and 3°C (Queyras and Briançonnais) and above 9°C (Laragnais).

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Pictures and images Hautes-Alpes

Le lac d'Allos FLORIAN VILLESÈCHE - FOTOLIA
Genêts dans le massif de la Meije PAULETTE RICHARD - ICONOTEC
Briançon Paty Wingrove - Fotolia
Raquettes aux Orres Dahu - Fotolia

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When to travel?

As a result of the Mediterranean influence on the one hand, and the weak influence of oceanic precipitations on the o...
Read more about it

Weather forecast

The climate of the Hautes-Alpes is marked by the altitude and relative proximity of the Mediterranean. The Atlantic r...
Read more about it

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