Puy-Saint-Pierre walks

Here’s a very short circular walk to explore the remains of the Briançon mines, particularly the Combarine mine in the commune of Puy-Saint-Pierre.

Visit a chapel overlooking Briançon, offering remarkable views of the Durance valley.

Circular Loop starting from Le Pinet via the irrigation canals used to water the land west of Briançon.

A very pleasant walk to discover the chapels of the commune of Puy-Saint-Pierre above Briançon.

The Fort du Randouillet overlooks Briançon, and a visit offers a wonderful insight into this former garrison on the Franco-Italian border. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, along with the other forts in the Briançon area, it was once used to transport goods between Briançon and the forts of L’Infernet and La Cochette via several cableways.

An easy walk along the canals of Briançon, offering a chance to discover the skill of our ancestors who, without any measuring tools, managed to dig these canals to supply Briançon and its fountains, as well as the vegetable gardens.

In the footsteps of the military constructions of the Briançonnais region.

Briançon and the surrounding valleys are full of canals, which are a boon to farmers and gardeners. The Canal des Queyrelles irrigates the land overlooking the Guisane and Durance rivers and, in dry, hot weather, offers a pleasant walk in the shade of the forest.

A very pleasant walk along the banks of the Guisane canals.

A pleasant, shaded walk, suitable for all ages, following the canals along the right bank of the Guisane.

A walk that starts at the Cité Vauban, crosses through Briançon, then climbs up to Lac de l’Orceyrette via Les Ayes, offering breathtaking views. Whilst demanding in terms of duration, it is not technically challenging and requires no special equipment, just a good supply of water.

An easy hike between Vauban fortifications and the turquoise waters of Lake Pont Baldy.

A hike to a fort situated on the heights of Briançon, offering a breathtaking panorama of the Ecrins massif, Italy, the Queyras, and some peaks of the Vanoise. You can also see the other surrounding forts, such as those of La Lausette, Les Gondrans and L’Infernet, which La Grande Maye was supposed to protect.

A pleasant path along the canal with little change in elevation. The canal is for pedestrians only and mountain bikes are prohibited. Wooden barriers are currently being installed. The canal path isn’t always well-maintained or easy to follow – it’s a bit of a treasure hunt.

An easy family hike. Caution in the mountains: children must be supervised at all times due to the presence of ravines. Round trip route in the Vauban city of Briançon. Numerous viewpoints and historical sites of great interest.

The Rocher de Roure offers a remarkable view of the Durance valley, Briançon and the forts that protect them. This route, which is almost entirely in the shade, is a great option on very hot days.

A beautiful hike starting from the centre of Briançon, offering magnificent views of the town, the valley and the famous glaciers of the Écrins massif.

Étape de la Grande Traversée des Alpes de Briançon à La Chalp par le Col des Ayes.

For those who love aerial views, the Croix de Toulouse offers a spectacular view of Briançon.

From the Vauban citadel to the Pierre aux Œufs site, a megalithic site featuring cup marks.

A classic route in the Briançon area, allowing you to visit two of the main alpine hamlets in the commune of Villar-Saint-Pancrace.

The Chalets du Mélézin overlook Briançon and therefore offer a remarkable view of the town as well as the valleys of the Durance and its tributary, the Guisane.

Loop starting from Pierre Feu. This circuit will take you to the chapels and hamlets around Puy-Saint-André, sundials and the "Décoiffées" fairy chimneys. An easy circuit, except for the descent to Pierre Feu, which has a few sections where you need to take care not to slip.

A very pleasant autumn walk through the mountain pastures. Stunning views of the Pelvoux glacier, which contrasts with the ski lift infrastructure in the Serre-Chevalier valley. Walking along the ridges allows you to immerse yourself completely in a site protected for its wildlife, flora and unique geological features. Please note: this hike is made difficult by very steep, vertiginous and poorly maintained paths, as well as missing signposts; see the notice dated 13/07/2023

Visit a sentry fort overlooking the five Briançon valleys.

This is a very interesting circular route for visiting the Poët Morand chalets, which offer remarkable views of two of the old Briançon forts: Infernet to the north and Grand Maye to the south.

The Tête des Lauzières, also known as the Sablier, lies in the extension of the Montbrison massif, facing the prestigious peaks of the Écrins and the Cime de la Condamine, from which it is separated by the Col de Vallouise. The view of the Écrins is ever-present from this pass all the way up to the summit, where the panorama is truly stunning. The route is partly off-trail or on-trail, depending on the option chosen.

A climb to a summit offering a stunning panoramic view of the surrounding mountains of the Briançonnais and some of the peaks of the Écrins.

The Briançonnais region is home to over twenty hamlets overlooking the valley, each as charming as the next. Here is Ratière, above the village of Prelles.

Discover this interesting pass, which links the Briançonnais and the Durance Valley to the Pays des Ecrins and the Gyronde Valley.

A traverse through a nature reserve in the Écrins National Park, rich with wildflowers; a ridge walk and an ascent to a summit offering a vast and stunning panorama of the Écrins, the Cerces, Italy and the Queyras. These are the ingredients of this magnificent hike. I recommend using the Visorando app for this route.

This summit, rounded like a Vosges balloon, will captivate you with its marvellous panorama of the Écrins, stretching from the Vanoise to Mont Viso.

A walk through the land of owls painted on the pebbles of the Durance by the pupils of the Saint-Martin-de-Queyrières primary school.

This lovely walk showcases two remarkable features of Saint-Chaffrey: a cool path along the Torrent de la Guisane and its canal, followed by a tour of the hamlets of Chantemerle, Villard Laté and La Villette. Beautiful views of the valley and surrounding mountains complete this walk.

A very pleasant route through a pine forest. Panoramic views of the Serre Chevalier valley, the village of Saint-Chaffrey and the Écrins mountain range.

A route away from the crowds, leading to one of the most beautiful larch forests and a ridge offering a stunning panoramic view stretching from the Écrins and the Briançonnais region all the way to the Aiguilles d’Arves. Navigation here is made easier by the Visorando app.

A pleasant walk through the larch forest overlooking the mountain pasture hamlet of Mélézin, ending in the Plan Vallon cirque where, normally, the lake acts as a mirror for the surrounding peaks. Unfortunately, this lake dries up by mid-July, which is a bit of a shame.

This thirteenth stage marks the start of the crossing of the Queyras Massif. From La Vachette, the previous day’s trail joins the GR®5. After a flat start, the forest path winds its way along the banks of the Durance as it descends towards the hamlet of L’Envers du Fontenil, before climbing up to a fortification at the foot of the Fort des Trois Têtes and then crossing the remarkable Pont d’Asfeld. The GR®5 climbs to the Cité Vauban in Briançon, one of France’s finest fortified towns, and descends via the Portes d’Embrun to the Parc de la Schappe. It heads south towards Villar-Saint-Pancrace, then veers off towards Les Ayes via the hamlets of La Mourande, Sachas and Soubeyran, from where it climbs to the Chapelle Saint-Laurent, then on to Le Lauzin, before reaching the Chalets des Ayes. It reaches the Col des Ayes, descends the opposite slope, joins a track at L’Eychaillon and turns left onto it, running alongside the Torrent de la Rivière as far as Brunissard and then La Chalp.

A circular route along the edge of the Écrins National Park that follows two GR® routes, the 653d and the 50.

A circular off-trail hike with a distinctly alpine character, offering panoramic views over the Durance and Vallouise valleys, the Écrins, Mont Blanc, the Queyras and the Viso. A challenging hike requiring a good sense of direction, but also a very beautiful route. I recommend using the Visorando app.

A fine walk with two passes and some very beautiful scenery. Swimming available.