Serre-Ponçon in the heart of the Hautes Alpes
The Hautes-Alpes, an exceptional place
Serre-Ponçon, a lake in the heart of the mountains
The Hautes-Alpes, a mountainous department with a wealth of diversity, snow and sunshine.
Visiting the Hautes-Alpes means above all skiing, hiking, discovering large and small domains, belvederes, forests, mountain lakes, summits and at the center... Lake Serre-Ponçon! The base camp for your vacation, where you'll find valleys of astonishing charm, a rich historical heritage and villages full of character.
Towns and villages in Hautes-Alpes
The towns of the Hautes-Alpes are a source of curiosity from a historical, cultural and gastronomic point of view.
There are many typical villages to discover: Saint-Véran, La Grave, Montdauphin, Savines-le-Lac... and among them, the 3 largest towns: Gap, Briançon, Embrun. Of course, there's much more to the Hautes-Alpes than just these towns: it's also full of characterful villages and unsuspectedly charming valleys.
Serre-Ponçon is an ideal base from which to explore the department, and this small selection around the lake is just what you need:
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Gap
Capital of Hautes-Alpes
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Embrun
Perched on a rocky outcrop, it houses the Cathedral of Notre-Dame-du-Réal and watches over its pleasantly landscaped lake.
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Savines-le-Lac
The sunken then rebuilt village, one of the region's seaside resorts, has been awarded the Heritage of the 20th Century label.
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Chorges
The former capital of the Hautes-Alpes region, it is the gateway to Lac de Serre-Ponçon, an authentic village on the shores of the lake with its two not-to-be-missed bays (Baie Saint Michel and Baie de Chanteloube).
What to do in the Hautes-Alpes?
The Hautes-Alpes has managed to remain mountainous, sparsely industrialized and sparsely populated! You'll love this département in winter, for its ski resorts, and in summer, for its high mountains and wild landscapes.
A mecca for skiers and hikers, you'll soon be enchanted by the sumptuous Ecrins massif and the Crévoux valley, both of which are protected areas thanks to their national park status.
And in the very heart of the Hautes-Alpes you'll discover Lac de Serre-Ponçon, a vast expanse of water in the heart of the mountains. Winter visitors come here to ski at Crévoux, Réallon and Les Orres, and to enjoy dog sledding and cross-country skiing.
And where there's a lake, there's water sports and beaches too !
Here's a small selection of must-do activities when visiting Serre-Ponçon, from the sea to the mountains:
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Swimming, relaxation and water sports
Mountain lake in the Alps: Lac de Serre-Ponçon
Located between the Hautes-Alpes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence departments, Lac de Serre-Ponçon is at the heart of the Southern Alps. This rejuvenating place awaits you, with its beaches and wild creeks. Bathed in the sunshine of the Southern Alps, Lac de Serre-Ponçon is a veritable inland sea for the Hautes-Alpes department. Soak up the sun in a heavenly setting, the beaches of Serre-Ponçon the beaches of Serre-Ponçon! For those who love water sports, you'll be delighted by the abundance of activities on the lake.
Initially designed to regulate the Durance and Ubaye rivers and generate electricity, Lac de Serre-Ponçon has now become a major tourist attraction in the Hautes-Alpes, with its many water sports activities, lakeside trails and stunning surrounding peaks.
Hiking around Lac de Serre-Ponçon
From the shores of Lac de Serre-Ponçon to snow-capped peaks topping 3,000 meters, explore the mountains of the central Hautes-Alpes.
Between Ubaye and Durance, come and enjoy the richness of a unique region. As the gateway to the Ecrins National Park, with the high valleys of Réallon and Châteauroux-les-Alpes, Serre-Ponçon offers Alpine hiking between forests, mountain pastures, waterfalls and mountain lakes, often under the watchful eye of marmots and chamois.
Lake Serre-Ponçon is dominated by a number of high peaks offering breathtaking panoramic views: Mont Guillaume 2550m, Morgon 2324m, Méale 2426m.
Find even more hiking ideas at: rando-serreponcon
Family outings in Serre-Ponçon
For family hikes, we offer a variety of trails along the banks of the Durance or around the Embrun lake.
Discover the magic of belvederes and authentic villages overlooking Lake Serre-Ponçon..
Linger over the geological curiosities of the demoiselles coiffées or the marmite du Géant above Réallon.
Accessible by car, Lac de St-Apollinaire and Lac de Siguret are ideal picnic spots for families with young children. Lac du Lauzerot will charm you with its Canadian atmosphere, in the middle of the forest, which is quite rare in the region.
Mountain lakes!
Many high altitude lakes nestle in the heart of our mountains. Here you'll find the peace and serenity of these little jewels of nature, as well as remarkable landscapes. Your efforts will be rewarded by the discovery of sumptuous scenery.
The flagship specialities of the Hautes-Alpes are above all mountain products.
If you've ever been to the Hautes-Alpes region, I'm sure you know of at least one!
Cheese from the Hautes-Alpes is the fruit of exceptional milk. Production is highly varied: cows, goats, sheep, like the Serre-Ponçon mountain pastures. Tommes, bleus, fourmes de brebis, crottins, faisselles and fromage frais make up the traditional cheeseboard.
Tourtons and ravioles from Champsaur are also must-tries on the gourmet plates of the Hautes-Alpes. You can also bring back croquants du Queyras (an ancient speciality), and many other local products found at markets such as Serre-Ponçon.
Here's a small selection to whet your appetite:
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Wines made from Mollard grapes
A grape variety found only in the Hautes-Alpes
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Spring water, La Roche des Ecrins
The Moulettes spring, which flows into the Serre-Ponçon lake, is tapped and bottled under the name "La Roche des Ecrins".
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Rainbow trout
Renowned for its taste! Pisciculture des Ecrins raises rainbow trout in the pure waters of the Rabioux torrent, which rises in the Ecrins National Park.
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HONEY "The gold of our mountains
In Serre-Ponçon, beekeepers benefit from rich flora and ideal sunshine, guaranteeing varied production. Our beekeepers produce delicious, high-quality honey with extraordinary flavors.
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Céard flour, Le Moulin Céard
The last family mill in the Hautes-Alpes! Based in Embrun, the company distributes its flours to artisan bakers throughout the southeast quarter of France. These are natural products bursting with quality for a wide range of uses!
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Serre-Ponçon: a Hautes-Alpes landmark
Between lake and mountains
Forests, mountains and towering peaks overlook turquoise-blue water! Enjoy wake surfing, paddle boarding, hiking to the Aiguilles de Chabrière or the Pic de Morgon. Step into postcard-perfect scenery, with the unforgettably colorful Lac de Serre-Ponçon as your backdrop and the peaks that protect it like a jewel box.
With its wild creeks and turquoise waters, Lac de Serre-Ponçon is a veritable sea in the mountains. The lake's tributaries provide water that is particularly rich in minerals and sediments, giving Serre-Ponçon its surprisingly characteristic South Sea hue. Each beach is unique in its location and the color of its water, which varies from turquoise blue to emerald green, with the mountains always in the background.
The special climate of the Serre-Ponçon valley is characterized by exceptional sunshine, regularly reaching 300 days a year, making it a destination of exotic colors. Lac de Serre-Ponçon surrounded by mountains, a magical and above all unique sight!
Unique and varied experiences
The Serre-Ponçon region boasts an exceptionally rich landscape, shaped by time, the elements and mankind. Divided between lakeside and mountain landscapes, its two tumultuous rivers, the Durance and Ubaye, have sculpted the valley. They were channeled by the hand of Man thanks to the construction of the Serre-Ponçon dam, which offers the most beautiful lake in the Southern Alps!
We have selected a few of Serre-Ponçon's must-see treasures for you:
Embrun lake
Separated from the lake by a surprising promenade, it is fed by water from the Durance River. Just 2km from the town center, this lake has become Embrun's leisure center, thanks to its many facilities and activities.
Les demoiselles coiffées or fairy chimneys
This geological phenomenon can be seen all over the region: at Le Sauze-du-Lac, Châteauroux-les-Alpes and the ballroom at Théus. They are original forms of conglomerate supporting a more or less voluminous rocky cap, created by erosion. According to legend, "the ladies of Théus, renowned in those days for their beauty, let themselves go for one last farandole, one evening at a ball, with their big flat hats on their heads. But as the twelfth stroke of midnight sounded in the Théus church and they danced in the Vallon de Vallauria, a diabolical howl froze them forever. And so they remained frozen for posterity, slender obelisks in moraine skirts forever topped by their broad, flat hats. "
Chanteloube Bridge
Located in the Baie des Moulettes or, more commonly, the Baie de Chanteloube, the Chanteloube bridge is one of the main engineering structures built during the construction of a railroad line between Gap and Barcelonnette (1910-1934). The viaduct was never put into service. When the Serre-Ponçon dam was built, the bridge was exactly at the maximum level the water could reach: 780 meters, and the line was abandoned in favor of the Veynes/Briançon line built further north. The bridge is therefore completely submerged in summer, but reappears whenever the lake level drops.
Wetlands
The wetland around Lac de Siguret is fed by run-off water. The wetlands around the lake are home to the Liparis de Loesel, a small orchid that is rare in France. There are no fewer than 350 plant species, 110 insect species and 52 bird species.
The Liou riparian forest at the northern end of Lac de Serre-Ponçon is home to a rich and varied fauna. Its pedestrian trail on stilts invites you into the heart of this alpine mangrove to observe wildlife and aquatic life at close quarters.
Take in the turquoise waters of our little Caribbean Sea. Come and discover this postcard setting, book unforgettable experiences or stay in quality accommodation in the Hautes-Alpes !
