Heritage favourites
♡ Notre-Dame du Réal Cathedral
Embrun | Serre-Ponçon
Perched on the Embrun rock face, Notre-Dame-du-Réal cathedral dominates the Durance valley. Built between 1170 and 1220 as a cross between Romanesque and Gothic, it features Lombard-inspired architecture: pyramidal bell tower, porche du Réal, etc. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Embrun Cathedral is the largest religious building in the French Alps!
▷ Everything you need to know about Notre-Dame-du-Réal Cathedral?
We strongly recommend taking a guided tour tour organized by Pays Sud.
Entering the treasure room of Embrun Cathedral is a striking experience, which we share with you here: "Discover Embrun Cathedral... And its treasure!"
Before or after your visit, don't hesitate to stop off in the Jardin de l'Archevêché for an incredible view of the Durance valley.
♡ Le clapier des Monges archaeological site
Baratier | Serre-Ponçon
Tas de pierres des Moines (in local dialect)
Archaeological excavations in the 2000s uncovered over 200m2 ofthe remains of the spa part of a Gallo-Roman villa (between the 3rd and5th centuries BC), probably an inn that welcomed travellers (our tourists of the time!) The only site in the entire Southern Alps to concern this Roman era. Explanatory panel and observation platform.
♡ Boscodon Abbey
Crots | Serre-Ponçon
A highlight of Serre-Ponçon's cultural heritage, located in an idyllic setting in the middle of the Forêt de Boscodon at an altitude of 1150m, classified as an exceptional forest. Boscodon Abbey is a 12th-century Romanesque building. In the Middle Ages, it was the largest abbey in the region and the main house of the Chalais monastic order. After 40 years of restoration work by theAssociation des Amis de l'Abbaye de Boscodon, the abbey has been returned to its original quadrangular layout! Year-round tours, a museum area and a rich and varied cultural program will introduce you to a remarkable edifice with over 1000 years of history. Come and enjoy a surprising experience at the heart of the Abbey.
▷ How do I get to Boscodon Abbey?
In the commune of Crots, between Embrun and Savines-le-Lac, a small road perpendicular to the N94 runs alongside the Boscodon torrent towards the Morgon crests.
Contact : www.abbayedeboscodon.eu | Virtual Tour
Adjacent to the abbey church, the monastery is made up of three "U"-shaped wings, delimiting an interior space that is in a way the monks' world.
♡ LE CHATEAU DE PICOMTAL
Crots | Serre-Ponçon
Chateau de Picomtal overlooks Lake Serre-Ponçon. Starting with an 11th-century watchtower, the first château came to life in the 14th century and was enlarged in the 16th. Visitor reception area and guest rooms. French garden redesigned in the late 20th century.
Originally a simple watchtower, it has been altered and converted several times over the centuries. Today, set in wooded parkland with a small terraced garden, it forms a charming and tranquil ensemble overlooking the Durance valley, making us forget its primarily military past. The current owners are keen to offer guided tourstours workshops and cooking demonstrationsand concertsand treasure hunts for children and conferences. The site is also an exceptional guest house, with 9 characterful suites and rooms, each different from the next..
▷ How do I get to Château de Picomtal?
In the commune of Crots, between Embrun and Savines-le-Lac, head towards the village center, then climb above the town hall and square.
Contact: www.picomtal.fr
♡ Musée embrunais de la charcuterie
Crots | Serre-Ponçon
Discover thestory of the migration of charcutiers from Embrun to Marseille, and how for over a century the know-how of the Hautes-Alpes took root in the city of Marseille.
▷ M ore information
Conviviality, human relations and sharing are on the menu for this visit.
♡ St-Florent church
Savines-le-Lac | Serre-Ponçon
Designated a "20th-century heritage site", this church, rebuilt in 1961, evokes the shape of a ship's bow facing the lake. Its architectural lines, choice of materials (concrete, etc.) and colorful stained glass windows are the work of Achille de Panaskhet, a contemporary architect. He was also responsible for the reconstruction of Savines, a town that has been fully recognized as atwentieth-century heritage site.
Magnificent stained glass windows to admire even at night
♡ Le XXe cultural center (CIAP)
Savines-le-Lac | Serre-Ponçon
The Interpretation Center is dedicated to the 20th century heritage of the Serre-Ponçon Ubaye Durance region. Discover an original exhibition dedicated to the modern architecture of this region, including the emergence of ski resorts, the creation of the Serre-Ponçon lake and the reconstruction of Savines-le-Lac. You'll find never-before-seen documents that plunge you into the modernity of the early 20th century.
To find out more, click here for details of opening times.
Open the racks, feel the materials, listen to the testimonials ... here it is advisable to touch everything!!!
♡ Eglise St-Victor
Chorges | Serre-Ponçon
Built in the 12th century by the monks of St-Victor Abbey in Marseille, it was listed as a Historic Monument in 1862. Originally built in the Romanesque style, it has undergone numerous restorations over the centuries, notably in the 15th and 17th centuries. It is the village's landmark, a vestige of times gone by.
It hosted the first departmental assembly from July 4 to 15, 1790, to form the Hautes-Alpes department.
♡ Fort de Réallon
Réallon | Serre-Ponçon
A 30-minute walk above the main town takes you to an unsuspected plateau where this 12th-century fort sits enthroned, with its breathtaking panorama from the summit of the Barle to Lake Serre-Ponçon. A little history:
The Réallon fort was used to watch over the access road to the Coupa and Barle passes on the way to Champsaur, as well as to protect the population living nearby at the time. The castle consisted of a square keep surrounded by an enclosure 77m long and 35m wide. Today, you can admire the ruins of this keep and a tower. The discovery of three treasures in the Réallon area, dated to the Final Bronze Age (2000 BC), shows that this valley has been occupied for over 4,000 years (two of these three treasures are on display at the Musée Muséum départemental des Hautes-Alpes in Gap and at the Musée d'archéologie nationale in Saint-Germain-en-Laye).
♡ Villages of character
Puy Sanières, Puy St Eusèbe, St Sauveur | Serre-Ponçon
From snow-capped peaks to sun-drenched beaches, our region boasts grandiose natural sites, a rich historical heritage and a host of sporting activities. villages of character. Get up high for breathtaking views over the lake and enjoy authentic villages such as :
* Puy-Sanières with its communal oven where the baker makes bread the old-fashioned way...
* Puy St-Eusèbe, with its stained-glass church windows created by local residents...
* and St-Sauveur with its church and remarkable murals...
