Chorges
Discover Chorges
Ideally located between Gap and Embrun, Chorges opens the door to the Serre-Ponçon region. Here, the tourist footprint respects the rural DNA of the small town (the second largest agricultural commune in the department). Lively and welcoming, Chorges offers visitors a true village life: shops, accommodation (hotels, campsites, and holiday centers), a renowned Sunday market, and numerous summer activities. Between the two famous bays—Saint-Michel and Chanteloube—small, secluded coves, still unspoiled, await only Robinson Crusoe and their swimsuits.
Did you know? Chorges owes its name to the Caturiges, a Celtic tribe who developed trade in this strategic location on the Via Domitia. Today, the inhabitants of Chorges are still called by this name.
Chorges live: the Saint-Michel Bay webcam
Check the water level of Lake Serre-Ponçon throughout the year, or simply the weather forecast, before taking a dip or renting your paddleboard. Our camera, focused on the lake and the Saint-Michel chapel, will instantly immerse you in the atmosphere of your next vacation.
Practical info:
The launching ramp visible on the webcam is designed to allow boats to be launched up to a level less than approximately 15m below the maximum level of the lake (slipway designed up to the 764,20m mark – quay foot at the 761,10m mark).
Visit Chorges
In Chorges, people enjoy strolling around the town centre as much as wandering along the lakeside path that discreetly leads to the hidden gems of the town.
Witnesses to Chorges' rich past: the Saint-Victor church (12th century ), the medieval house (13th century ), the Souchons gate (16th century ) and the fountain in the Lesdiguières square (16th century ).
Chanteloube Viaduct
Along with the Saint-Michel chapel, the "Viaduc des Moulettes" is one of the most photographed monuments in the area. The main engineering structure of the Grenoble-Barcelonnette railway project (1910-1934), it was eventually replaced by the Veynes-Briançon line and ultimately submerged by the lake.
Partially submerged at the normal level (780 m), it is passable on foot or by bicycle at low water levels (less than 773 m) from winter to the end of spring.
Moulettes Park
Nestled in nature, a stone's throw from the city centre, the Moulettes park, its picnic area and its fitness trail await you in all its coolness thanks to the eponymous stream.
Sourced at 1150 meters, the Moulettes spring water is bottled in Chorges under the name Roche des Écrins.
Chorges Marshes
This vast protected wetland (70 hectares) consists of a large reed bed, natural meadows and willow groves where more than 150 species of birds nest during migratory stopovers. Another remarkable ecosystem to discover discreetly in the commune: the Natura 2000 Piolit-pic de Chabrières site with its exceptional sunshine.
Where to stay in Chorges?
Find your base camp
A campsite right on the water with a view of the lake? An authentic cottage perched on the heights? The comfort of a hotel or holiday village a stone's throw from the bay of Chanteloube?
Chorges is full of places to stay and explore the area around Serre-Ponçon.
What to do in Chorges?
Swimming, sailing, hiking... But also enjoying the scenery from a paraglider or hot air balloon. We told you that Chorges was a place of great times!
Did you know? Chorges and the Tour de France have a history dating back to 1936. With the highlight being 2013 when the second "smallest stage town" became a finish town.
Market on Sunday morning (all year) and at night on Wednesday (July-August)
Enjoy life at Pommiers Beach in Saint-Michel Bay
This is one of the most beautiful sites in Serre-Ponçon, with breathtaking views of the lake, its picturesque chapel saved from the waters, and the surrounding mountains. Saint-Michel Bay has everything you need for a successful seaside holiday: a shaded beach, a marina and recreational facilities, campsites, restaurants... and all the most popular water sports. The whole package!
Note! An accessible route allows you to reach Saint-Michel Bay on foot or by mountain bike from the village of Chorges (5 km).
Having fun with “The Stone Giants”
An educational family hiking adventure exploring the old pink marble quarry of Salados. The idea? Find the "Story Hideaways," walk in the footsteps of the stonemasons, and take on dozens of exciting challenges. Ages 6 and up.
Wet your swimsuit at Trémouilles beach in Chanteloube Bay
Wilder than Saint-Michel Bay, Chanteloube Bay offers breathtaking views of an iconic monument on Lake Serre-Ponçon: the Chanteloube Viaduct. While here, you'll appreciate the shaded beach at the tip of the bay, the snack bar for a gourmet break, the small port, and its unique water sports in the heart of nature.
Note! A walking route and free shuttles in summer connect the bay of Chanteloube to the village of Chorges (5 km).
Walk along the Curattes trail
This hiking trail is distinguished by the richness of its landscapes: lake, black earth valleys, vertiginous Scots pine forests, agricultural plateaus and still wild lands. A photo stop and/or picnic are mandatory at the Curattes belvedere overlooking the bay and the Saint-Michel chapel, with the Morgon peak in the background. A glance to the left at Savines-le-Lac and its famous bridge; a glance to the right at Turtle Island.
Serre-Ponçon craft brewery
A true success story! Over the years, this brewery has established itself as the flagship of locally produced beers in the Hautes-Alpes region. Their range can be found at every good restaurant and on every good counter...
The brewery is open for tours, offering a comprehensive look at the key stages (and little secrets) of brewing beer using spring water from Les Moulettes. Right next door, the Apex Brew Pub, the brewery's bar, offers a wide selection of limited-edition beers to enjoy on-site, and in moderation.
Cycling to the Lebraut Pass (1110 m)
A tipping point between the Gapençais region and the Durance Valley, this viewpoint offers mountain bikers technical access, alternating between panoramic climbs and descents (the site is also one of the key points of the Serre-Ponçon Lake cycle tour). Special mention goes to the descent to the Hyvans, one of the most beautiful in the area.
Hiking to the Gardette Pass (2125 m)
A bucolic climb through the mountain pastures, rewarded by a breathtaking view of the lake. At the summit, the Réallon Valley is revealed in the rays of the sun. Majestic.
Surpass yourself at Piolit (2464 m)
Certainly, the trip is worth it because of the elevation gain. But what a summit (emblematic of the region, shaped like a pointed tooth) and what a view upon arrival—360 degrees—from the first ridges of the Écrins to the emerald shores of the lake!
