Val-des-Prés walks

Lovely loop above Val-des-Prés providing a bird's eye view of the famous Clarée Valley.

A very pleasant route along the banks of the Clarée with the discovery of a historic cave. (Please note: the path through the Ravin des Sables is currently completely destroyed, so it is advisable to reverse the direction of the hike to reach the cave.)

This circular walk starting from Montgenèvre will take you to the high-altitude area of Le Chalvet after a pleasant climb through the forest. All the while, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the Clarée Valley and the surrounding mountains.

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 visit to Fort Janus is a very interesting experience. To enable hikers and tourists to visit this fortification, I suggest a route that combines a mix of ski lifts and walking, which is sure to delight young and old alike.

A hike starting from the Montgenèvre resort towards a border peak offering a fantastic panorama of the surrounding French-Italian summits.

This long circular route starting from Montgenèvre first takes you through a beautiful forest before reaching the high-altitude areas of Les Gondrans and L’Aigle. The three peaks over 2,500 m along the route offer superb panoramic views of the surrounding peaks.

This easy route, which crosses the French-Italian border, will allow you to discover the magnificent San Gervasio Gorges, the stream that flows through them, and the charming village of Clavière.

This walk, starting from Montgenèvre, passes through a beautiful forest before reaching a vast natural terrace offering superb panoramic views, particularly of the Grand Charvia, the small pass and the surrounding mountains.

A walk through a beautiful, open forest canopy dominated by larch trees, which grow alongside a few deciduous trees such as oaks, alders and birches. Higher up, the forest features other conifers, including various species of pine and fir, where the bird cherry grows. The path is lined with beautiful flowering willowherbs and coltsfoot. From the Bois des Bans, there is a stunning view over the Clarée valley. This walk is classified as difficult as there are a few sections with steep, challenging gradients.

A very beautiful, easy walk through the larch forest. It runs alongside the Bois du Prarial before taking a lovely path (Le Brousset) which offers magnificent panoramic views of Mont Chaberton and the summit of La Loubatière. You then head towards the headwaters of the Durance, which converge in a beautiful glacial cirque dominated by the Sommet de Château Jouan and the Janus military fortification. The walk ends as you follow the river along its left bank.

A pleasant circular route through the forest along the watershed. You first follow the Durance, which is then just a small stream and which will eventually flow into the Rhône and then the Mediterranean. The circular route ends along the Doire, another small stream that is a tributary of the Po, which in turn flows into the Adriatic Sea.

This very long route starting from Montgenèvre first passes through a beautiful forest before reaching the Col du Chaberton. After a short descent, the route continues through a second wooded area before reaching the Cresta Nera.

This route, starting from Montgenèvre, will take you to the mountain pastures of Col des Fonds and along a beautiful ridge, reaching a highest point of 2,549 m after a pleasant climb through the forest.

Behind the famous and very popular Mont Chaberton lies a magnificent, little-known but equally impressive ridge. This route takes you there after a pleasant climb through the forest and mountain pastures of the Col des Fonds, before descending via the Italian side of the ridge. Please note: this route is reserved for experienced walkers accustomed to long hikes, as it includes some very steep and stony sections. I strongly recommend bringing walking poles to make the ascent and descent of the ridge easier.

This very long hike starting from Montgenèvre will first take you through the forest before reaching a high-altitude pass. After a short descent, you’ll continue along a mountain-side path offering beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding peaks, before carrying on through wilder and more challenging terrain. With several stony and steep sections, this hike is suitable for experienced walkers.

A visit to two passes at the head of the Vallon des Frères Mineurs in the Montgenèvre ski resort.

Hike to one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the Écrins, from Sirac to Meije and Cerces. Panoramic view of the Italian peaks of Piedmont and some of the peaks of Queyras.

This walk, starting from the Télémix des Chalmettes, will allow you to enjoy several magnificent viewpoints, such as the Grand Charvia or Lake Gignoux, and to discover the eight lakes near the route, all whilst taking in a magnificent view of the Clarée Valley.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.