Château-Ville-Vieille walks

The Tour du Queyras, labelledGR®58, is adaptable. The route described, starting from Château Queyras and completed in a group in September 2008, will take you through this natural park, skirting and climbing some 3,000 metres. You will discover the beautiful villages of this park with their well-known names: Ceillac, Saint Véran, Abriés... What's more, in summer the weather is almost always fine. The bright blue sky the next day will quickly make you forget the storm of the previous evening.

This is the first stage of the tour and is an adaptation as the route is not on theGR®58, but it allows you to visit the castle that dominates the Guil pass. (Please note) The Montbardon stopover lodge (Le Cadran Solaire) has been closed since 2018, so the best option from Château Queyras is to go directly to Ceillac via the Col Fromage. (Important note): See this website mentioning the reopening of this lodge for summer 2023.

A lovely walk to Lac de Roue, mainly through woodland on tracks and forest paths. The return journey from the lake to Fort Queyras follows partly the access track to the lake and partly the unshaded tarmac road leading to Souliers. A picnic by the lake is possible, and the walk can be combined with a visit to the fort.

Overlooking the south-facing Guil valley, two high-altitude hamlets, Les Meyries and Rouet, are well worth a visit, especially in winter. To reach them, simply take the Sentier des Astragales and continue the walk along theGR®®58.

Visit the villages of Meyriés and Rouet, perched facing south above the Guil.

This is a short, easy circular that starts by following the Canal d'Arvieux and returns via a forest track.

Grande boucle entre forêt de mélèzes et crêtes offrant un très beau point de vue sur Queyras, Ubaye, Ecrins, Thabor.

This stage follows part of theGR®® 58, then takes a route offthe GR®® to climb to the Col d’Izoard. Admittedly, this ascent is via the road, but on a day when vehicles are banned, allowing you to enjoy this lunar landscape with its monoliths. The return journey takes you through a deserted ravine. The limestone landscapes of this stage are nothing like those encountered since the start of the Tour du Queyras, which is characterised by slate.

From Souliers, a pretty hamlet in the Queyras, a family hike to Lac Souliers. From there, take a detour via Pic Ouest, at the end of Côte Belle, for its magnificent panoramic view overlooking the Col d’Izoard.

A long snowshoe walk, first through the woods and then across the mountain pastures above the hamlet of Villargaudin.

Circular route that can be done in winter on snowshoes or on foot, setting off from the Guil valley to reach Villargaudin. First through the forest, then across the meadows around the hamlet.

A short walk with little elevation gain starting from the hamlet of Les Maisons, passing by Lac de Roue and Arvieux.

A large circular loop with a 1,000m elevation gain connecting two beautiful mountain lakes from "Les Maisons" near Arvieux.

Easy hike. Little elevation gain, which is very gradual, except for a slightly steep 300m trail at the start and 500m at the end. Mostly in the forest, with superb viewpoints over the Guil Valley, then the Souliers Valley and finally Arvieux. 50/50 forest track and trails.

There are many high-altitude chapels in Queyras. This one above Molines, located in a large cirque, is particularly worth a visit.

Discover a beautiful larch forest before reaching, at its edge, a pleasant mountain pasture where the magnificent private Peyrallas hut stands.

A pleasant route through the valley leading to the highest village in Europe, Saint-Véran. Please note that this route is described as having been completed on snowshoes in winter. In summer, it is blocked off by nets to protect the farmland.

Circular route from Montbardon which joins theGR®5along the ridges and the Col Fromage before descending via the Vallon de Riou Vert (GR®58).

The second stage allows you to discover the observation post on the Crête des Grangettes.

A simple, well-marked hike starting from Gaudissart. You follow the Pierre Dimanche canal and cross the hamlets of Prats (Hauts and Bas). Superb views of the Guil and Aigue Blanche valleys. Mainly in the forest, on the south and west slopes (90%). There is only one steep climb at the end, which can be made easier by returning along the road rather than cutting across the field.

This is a particularly pleasant route, starting in the woods and then passing through beautiful mountain pastures, crossing the alpine village of Granges de Furfande and ending at the refuge below the pass of the same name.

A pleasant walk through the mountain pastures, dotted with lovely ridges and perfectly complemented by the easy climb up the panoramic Pic du Gazon.

Instead of taking the ‘classic’ ascent via the forest road, opt for a route that climbs more steeply and features much more technical single-track sections – this will give you a good warm-up for the descent towards Les Granges de Furfande, then on to Le Queyron and finally back to Arvieux. I’ve only described the ascent route here. For the descent, use the Col de Furfande route guide , described by morgiou13, available at (2). Given the difficulty of the climb (steep sections and tight, steep hairpin bends), this route is best suited to e-MTBs.

A summit accessible from the village of Molines en Queyras, offering an extraordinary 360° panorama (Queyras, Ubaye, Ecrins, Italy, etc.). Marmots will add to the enjoyment of your hike! In autumn, the larch forest is unforgettable.

Ascent to the Furfande Refuge from Arvieux via theGR®58. Hike completed on 5 July 2018 as part of a route.

This forest and mountain pasture trail offers a fascinating glimpse of the valley and some of Europe's highest villages, including Saint Véran.

As part of the Queyras heritage, this is an unmissable walk starting from Molines-en-Queyras. The sundials, fountains and log-built houses will captivate young and old alike throughout this walk.

Étape du GR®5 de La Chalp à Ceillac par le Col du Fromage dans le Queyras authentique et sauvage en passant par Chateau-Queyras.

A circular walk exploring the Clapeyto summer chalets above Brunissard, via the Col du Cros and back via the Col du Lauzon.

Ascent to Col Fromage through fields of flowers in July.The alternative route via the old signal station offers a 360° panoramic view and a bird’s-eye view of the valley.

This fourteenth stage completes the crossing of the Queyras Massif. From La Chalp, the GR® 5 climbs along the left bank of the Torrent de l’Izoard above Arvieux, then reaches the hamlet of Les Maisons. From there, it heads towards Lac de Roue before descending to Château-Queyras. The route climbs the steep slope on the opposite side, on the right bank of the Torrent de Bramousse, joins a road at a hairpin bend and leaves it at the next one. It continues through the torrent’s valley, reaches the ridge separating the Bramousse and Riou Vert valleys, and, hugging the hillside beneath the peaks of La Selle and Rasis, reaches the Col Fromage. The path descends along the right bank of the Ravin de Rasis to reach Le Villard before arriving at Ceillac, from where it follows the Torrent du Mélezet, alternating between the left and right banks, before reaching the Refuge de la Cime du Mélezet.

A short, easy circular loop that climbs to Lac de Roue via a path through the hamlet of Les Maisons. The return journey is via a forest road.

A circular route starting from the hilltop hamlet of Les Escoyères, first following the old Roman road (GR® 58) and then theGR® de Pays which climbs up to the Furfande chalets.

In Queyras, at this time of year (late October), the ubiquitous larch forests colour the mountain landscapes with shades ranging from yellow to red, and the snow-capped peaks further enhance this feeling of fulfilment. The proposed hike takes place in this atmosphere above the highest village in Europe: Saint-Véran.

The start from the hamlet of Lombard offers an alternative to the classic route from the Bergerie du Lombard. A very beautiful route to climb to the summit of Grand Glaiza, the third highest peak in Queyras, via the Malrif lakes. The breathtaking views will more than compensate for the effort required.