Discover treasures around Camping Napoleon in Gap

The Fruit and Wine Route takes you from the lookout point of Lake Serre-Ponçon to Rousset, then along the Durance to the gateway to Provence. It is an original and gourmet invitation to discover fruit and wine production. The fruit and wine producers along this route will help you discover their land! Contemplate the hectares of orchards and vineyards, visit and taste products bursting with the flavours and aromas of the Buëch, Durance and Avance valleys. Get away from it all and discover even more? Heritage and outdoor activities will mark out your itinerary such as the cliff of Céüze, the castle of Tallard, the site of the capped Demoiselles of Théus, the leisure centre Les 3 Lacs de Rochebrune, or the lake of Serre-Ponçon, the highlight of this superb tourist route. History: Fruit production is very old since documents concerning fruit transactions have been found dating back to 1358. The real boom began in 1930 and developed strongly at the beginning of the 1960s with the setting up of new irrigation networks thanks in particular to the construction of the Serre-Ponçon dam. The lake thus formed, the first large artificial earthen reservoir in Europe, is a water reservoir allowing the irrigation of the Durance Valley. The south of the Hautes-Alpes benefits from an exceptional sunshine which is particularly suitable for the orchards and vineyards along this tourist route. Along the route you will discover local producers as well as restaurateurs, and many perched villages, the castle of Tallard, between the vineyards of the Théus plain and the orchards of the Durance Valley which produce famous fruits: the "Gap pear" known since François I, the Passe Crassane, the Golden Delicious. The National Botanical Conservatory of Gap Charance preserves very old varieties of apples and pears.

A very varied hike with many viewpoints! The panoramic Clape ridge offers views of the Pic de Bure and the Baronnies hills... Departure point: Maison forestière de Matacharre Distance: 12 km D+: 750 m Difficulty: Difficult

An energetic hike on the sunny slopes of Le Piolit.Leaving from the Col de Moissière car park, take the road towards Le Sapet. At Arto, continue along the road towards Baillenq. Take the forest path towards “Torrent du Sapet“ (GR 50). The path winds its way up to Le Piolit. The last section runs along a crest, providing a superb panorama over the Serre Ponçon lake. Go back the same way.

A family hike towards the exceptional panorama of La Croix St Philippe above Ancelle.Leaving from Col de Moissière, head towards Le Sapet as far as Arto. Continue towards Lac de Faudon, then as far as Faudon, where there is an archaeological site. Head towards Saint Philippe via Coulon du Château and Les Dents. La Croix St Philippe offers a wonderful panorama over the Gapençais basin. Return down the same path as far as Les Dents and then head for Chatégré and Col de Moissière via Collet des Auréous and Arto. Go back to the car park.

The village resort of St Léger-les-Mélèzes lives up to its name: the ski slopes, laid out in a larch forest, have the advantage of guaranteeing good quality snow and skiing for all levels.

Chef Mathieu Jaulin's cuisine is family-style, friendly and generous. Daily specials and à la carte dishes, in a warm and welcoming setting. Reservations recommended, open by reservation only in the evening.

Discover Orcières Merlette 1850 at altitude this summer In summer, three Télémix® lifts (Rocherousse, Drouvet I and Drouvet II) take you to the heart of the Orcières Merlette 1850 ski area, up to 2280 m at the Rocherousse plateau and 2650 m at the Drouvet summit. These mixed lifts (cabins and seats) allow you to : - Take advantage of our mountain bike playground; - Explore the emblematic trails, including the Monde des 6 Lacs, a magical hike between high altitude lakes and wide open spaces; - Enjoy a meal at the Rocherousse mountain restaurant; - Have some family fun with the ‘Roule Ma Boule’ games; - Try your hand at the Roll Air Cable, one of the longest zip lines in Europe: 1.8 km of head-first descent between the summit of Drouvet (2650 m) and Lac Long (2500 m), for 1 minute 20 of unique sensations. (Access via Drouvet I & II).

We invite you to relax in our small rustic-chic cottage with its private terrace. This studio-gîte offers a queen-size double bed and a 120cm sofa bed for 1 adult or child, a fully equipped kitchen, a shower room, a separate toilet, a terrace, and garden furniture with pool and lake views. Private entrance. Le Mas du Lac, built in 1763, is a former farmhouse that has retained the character and soul of Alpine buildings. This property has been lovingly renovated to welcome lovers of authentic nature and wide open spaces.

Built at the sources of the White Drac, near the disused Champoléon cabin, this refuge with its stone roof offers tasty regional food at lunchtime and copious Alpine meals in the evening. The refuge is easy to access for families: 1 hr 30 mins from the Auberts car park (elevation: 350 m). Large number of hiking trails leaving from the refuge.

In an old house which was the forge of Les Payas, the musuem is about the old time life and important events of the history.

Distillery "La Salettina" since 1961 in the birthplace of Maximin Giraud (one of the children who saw the virgin 1846). Liquor of Génépi of Alpes macerated minimum 3 years and distilled. Material used for more than 100 years. Distillery "La Salettina" since 1961 in the birthplace of Maximin Giraud the shepherd having had the revelation of Our Lady of Salette. Liquor la Salettina recipe from 1865 of Maximin Giraud. Liquor of Génépi des Alpes IGP (Protected Geographical Indication) macerated for at least 3 years and Liquor of Génépi des Alpes IGP distilled, liquors of vulnerable plant, Hyssop plant, Raspberry, wild blackberries, wild blueberries. You will discover, during your visit, a workshop and the daily activity of a liquorist. In this cellar where centenarian material is always used, the manufacture of liqueurs and aperitifs will be explained to you, from the collection of the plants until the bottling. You will also find in our shop carefully selected territory products. Free tours and tastings. Schedule 7 days a week from mid April to mid October. Opening and visit on request from mid-October to mid-April. Groups are welcome by making an appointment at 04 76 30 05 02

Provider of sports and nautical activities at Lac du Sautet. The activities are offered for hire and / or supervision by instructor: Sailing (catamaran, dinghy ...) Sailboard Stand Up Paddle Canoe Kayak Electric boat (without license) Pedalo Electric Stand Up Paddle Via ferrata

Nestled at the foot of the west face of the Sirac, this refuge was built in 2001 from wood and stone. Bright, spacious dormitories with duvets. Hot water showers and indoor toilets. From the refuge, there is a wide range of climbs and hikes: Sirac, Col and Pic de Vallonpierre, Col des Chevrettes, GR 54 footpath, Chabournéou refuge, Tour du Vieux Chaillol. Accessible in 2 hrs 30 mins from Gioberney car park, elevation 700 metres.

The ascent to the refuge from Villard Loubière has become a great hiking classic. Small dormitories with duvets, convivial dining room, hot showers and large equipped terraces. A stop on the GR54 footpath that should not be missed. Ideal starting point for the Pic de Turbat, with 3000m of easy access. A stop on the Tour de l'Oisans (GR54 footpath) that should not be missed. Snacks and refreshments possible. Access in 3 hours; elevation: 900 metres.

Work began on the canal in 1864 and was completed in 1880. The canal is 28 km long, and takes its water from the River Drac, upstream of Pont du Fossé, before channelling it into the Gap basin. In today's money, it cost some 2 billion euros to build! The man in charge of the project, Maurice Garnier, a local member of parliament and contractor, went bankrupt and died in poverty, but managed to improve the life of local farmers.

1912 saw the start of the Champsaur rail works, an old project for a line between Grenoble and Gap which was intended to pass through Champsaur. In service from 1932 onwards, the Mure to Corps section was an undoubted success. From Corps to Gap, the earthworks and engineering works were almost totally complete. However, the onset of the War, a lack of resources and the development of cars all brought the project to an end in 1941. Today, numerous structures along the route bear witness to this past endeavour.

The Gap-Bayar golf course is located at an altitude of 1,250m. In the view of specialists, it is one of the finest golf courses in the south of France. The 18-hole course is surrounded with forests filled with wild fruit, mushrooms and wild animals. Near the pastures, where the cows graze, there is a clear view over the Champsaur, the Ecrins and the town of Gap.

If you make a detour to the Col de Gleize, you may well see some mouflons. An ancestor of the sheep with ammonite horns, it was introduced from 1949 into the Alps from herds in Corsica and central Europe, and seems well settled in the Chaudun area. Even though the European Union recommends strict protection of the mouflon, it is still hunted during the hunting season. Its populations are ill-adapted to extreme Alpine conditions and can fluctuate according to the winter weather.

The work of the Office National des Forêts (National Forestry Office) is not limited to the forests. After buying a large amount of land following the rural exodus (public land), the state delegated to the Water and Forestry agency the difficult task of preserving the natural heritage of a large number of areas (restoration of land and building, maintenance of paths, etc.)

This is the only Protestant church in the Champsaur and it witnessed the dark period that followed the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. Today, with the religious wars firmly in the past, this building is a place of worship and assembly for the valley's Protestants.  Prior to 1685, there were three Protestant churches in the territory, in Saint-Bonnet, Orcières and Ancelle. At that time, when the Duke of Lesdiguières, Jean-François de Bonne, was extending his rule over the Champsaur, Protestants represented a significant proportion of the population. Since this major figure was also the leader of the Protestants, forced conversions were common. But when Louis XIV decided to revoke the Edict of Nantes, all over France pastors were hanged, shot and sometimes sent to the galleys, and Protestant churches were destroyed. In 1789, freedom of religious practice was finally restored.  In the valley, it was not until 1834 - and a ministerial order allocating the sum of one thousand francs for this purpose - that a new church for adherents of the Reformed Church was constructed. But by 1880 the building had become too small and a new church, inaugurated on 26 May 1886, was constructed on its present site, provided by Mr Victor Cesmat. In 2003 significant restoration work was carried out by the municipality on the entire building.

Fours (kilns) refer to holes in which gypsum was cooked to make plaster..At the end of a path of the cross, the chapel was built on the site of the appearance of the Virgin Mary to the shepherdess Benoîte Rencurel in 1664.

What are these piles of stones lined up in the grass below the Croix St-Philippe? In a perfect position on a small, sunny plateau, there are walls, entrances, streets. This is the former village of Faudon, and was once home to the inhabitants of Ancelle.  Archaeological excavations have dated occupation of the site back to around 400 to 600BC, so the village appears to be older than Gap itself! The strategic position of this promontory made it perfect for a succession of observation structures down the centuries, including a Roman signal tower which was fortified in the eleventh century. In the Middle Ages, the site was occupied by more than 400 people but in 1210 a fire destroyed the Tour Saint-Félix together with the church and homes, leading to the abandonment of the village. The inhabitants settled in the hamlet of Château d'Ancelle. 

A quick ride takes you past the Croix Saint-Philippe to the remains of the Gallo-Roman village of Faudon, meaning mountain of fayards or beech trees) Settled during the Bronze Age by the Tricorians with a population of up to 400, in the Middle Ages this village became a stronghold for the local nobles before being abandoned in the seventeenth century.

Between the Durance, Avance and Luye rivers and the Lac de Serre-Ponçon, this forest encompasses hills and demoiselles coiffées. The site is home to a host of different plant species, birds and butterflies.

Gourmet stopover in the heart of the Hautes-Alpes! Discover our traditional cuisine. Country atmosphere and warmth with a decoration of objects and family memories. Restaurant (local cuisine, family meals, groups). Shady park, terrace. For more than 15 years, Bruno and Delphine have been cooking with passion, the products of the Haut-Alpin region: meats, vegetables, cheeses. Chef BRUNO offers you dishes full of local flavours: terrines, poultry, stews, gratins, meats and local specialities. All dishes and desserts are "Fait Maison". For the sake of quality, our menu is deliberately small, but changes regularly. The restaurant is located near the village of Valserres and its wine cellar "Cave des Hautes Vignes". In the entrance hall, you will find local products selected by the Inn: Local wines, Alpine honey, Pure Fruit Juice, Aperitif Fruit Wines, Digestive Alcohols, Mountain Pork Sausages... etc. At your disposal: 1 terrace on the village side, 1 summer terrace, 1 shaded park, Boules pitch.

A restaurant and shop dedicated to cheeses, in a converted farmhouse. Somewhere not to be missed for people who love cheese. The specialities of the valley are also given pride of place.

You will taste the sisters' cooking! A unique menu, which varies according to the rows in the vegetable garden and the market stalls. Fresh herbs, seasonal fruit and vegetables, colours of the sun: a real cocktail for inspiration. Don't forget to book! The old mill is a large family house that opens its doors to you in a soothing setting, in the middle of the fields. Between Gap and Embrun, south of Grenoble and just an hour from Briançon, come and take a break in the peace and quiet between Provence and the mountains... The table : The red check tablecloths and the rustic yet feminine decoration set the tone all year round. But as soon as the weather is fine, it is in the shade of the large plane tree in the courtyard that you can enjoy lunch. The fountain sings, the colours of the flowering balconies explode and you can enjoy a nap in the deckchairs... Are you coming for dinner? Then it's under the trellis, just at dusk and around the aperitif that you'll start the evening before leaving the crickets in the garden to return to the table. Winter also delights the guests, warm behind the large bay windows to watch the snowflakes fall and the countryside transform into silence. - The kitchen: Fresh herbs, seasonal fruit and vegetables, the colours of the sun: a real cocktail for inspiration. You'll get a taste of the sisters' cooking! A unique menu, which varies according to the rows of the vegetable garden and the market stalls. For the main course, however, it will be poultry: a speciality! Chickens, pigeons, ducks, quails... always something new. A gourmet dessert to finish? Profiteroles, lemon pie, citrus salad, pear soufflé, strawberry and peach gratin are also part of the recipe booklet and everything is "homemade"! The meal is served with a regional wine, but the cellar offers a wide range of choices. It is necessary to book at least the day before, as you will only eat fresh products! - The gîtes and guest rooms: We also welcome you in our gîtes. The Auberge du Moulin offers you to spend the night in a large, quiet, cosy and bright room. For more space and autonomy, two 2-seater gîtes are at your disposal with a living room/TV area, a small fully equipped kitchen and a bathroom with bathtub and separate toilet. Contact us now!

Bar.

Grilled meats, burgers, specialities and daily specials. Takeaway also available for lunch and dinner: burger, pizza, snack, crêpes.

Gastronomic cuisine.

Traditional and local cuisine, snack bar.

Specialities of sweet and savoury pancakes.

Wood-fired pizza, local specialities.

A former Alpine chalet converted into a mountain refuge. Five dormitories for 4 to 6 people with individual beds, showers and sanitary facilities. Top-quality food with mountain specialities. The refuge is located on one of the Tour du Vieux Chaillol paths. A large number of hikes leave from the refuge: Cascade de la Pisse (20 mins), Col de la Vénasque (3h), Col de Côte Longue (4h), the summit of Le Vieux Chaillol (3163 m), but also the unspoilt valleys of the Muande and Mal Cros! A little paradise only a 1 hr 30 min walk away! Elevation 345 metres.

Isolated 15-place forest house in the heart of the Durbon state forest. Restored 17th-century building: runs on renewable energy 500 Kwatts max. Ideal for outdoor activities: climbing, Via-ferrata, hiking, mountain biking, etc...

We invite you to relax in our small rustic-chic cottage with its private terrace. This studio-gîte offers a queen-size double bed and a 120cm sofa bed for 1 adult or child, a fully equipped kitchen, a shower room, a separate toilet, a terrace, and garden furniture with pool and lake views. Private entrance. Le Mas du Lac, built in 1763, is a former farmhouse that has retained the character and soul of Alpine buildings. This property has been lovingly renovated to welcome lovers of authentic nature and wide open spaces.

Built at the sources of the White Drac, near the disused Champoléon cabin, this refuge with its stone roof offers tasty regional food at lunchtime and copious Alpine meals in the evening. The refuge is easy to access for families: 1 hr 30 mins from the Auberts car park (elevation: 350 m). Large number of hiking trails leaving from the refuge.

The pastoral cabin at Champoléon was built by stockbreeders in 1921. It was in 1972 that the cabin was restored for the first time... Two years later, the French Alpine Club (CAF) took over its management in order to insure shelter for the increasing number of hikers of the GR54. Having become too cramped, the refuge was rebuilt in 1979 on the ruins of the hamlet and became the Chaumette Meadow. The decorative stones were cut on site at  Champoléon. The imposing Lauzes stones used to cover the roof underline the effort made to integrate with the landscape. Today flocks of sheep are brought up to the mountains at the end of June and are visited once a week.

The pastoral cabin at Champoléon was built by stockbreeders in 1921. It was in 1972 that the cabin was restored for the first time... Two years later, the French Alpine Club (CAF) took over its management in order to insure shelter for the increasing number of hikers of the GR54. Having become too cramped, the refuge was rebuilt in 1979 on the ruins of the hamlet and became the Chaumette Meadow. The decorative stones were cut on site at  Champoléon. The imposing Lauzes stones used to cover the roof underline the effort made to integrate with the landscape. Today flocks of sheep are brought up to the mountains at the end of June and are visited once a week.

Nestled at the foot of the west face of the Sirac, this refuge was built in 2001 from wood and stone. Bright, spacious dormitories with duvets. Hot water showers and indoor toilets. From the refuge, there is a wide range of climbs and hikes: Sirac, Col and Pic de Vallonpierre, Col des Chevrettes, GR 54 footpath, Chabournéou refuge, Tour du Vieux Chaillol. Accessible in 2 hrs 30 mins from Gioberney car park, elevation 700 metres.

A small lake, pretty meadows and the benevolent Sirac... This magical setting would lead to the construction of a refuge at an altitude of 2270 m in 1942. However, it was a victim of its own success and in 2000 the decision was made to build a second, bigger one. It can accommodate 37 instead of 22. This new building was the first modern mountain refuge to be built using stones on site rather than imported materials. It copies the simplicity and the crow-stepped gable from the "small refuge" which has been kept as lodgings for a warden's helper.

A small lake, pretty meadows and the benevolent Sirac... This magical setting would lead to the construction of a refuge at an altitude of 2270 m in 1942. However, it was a victim of its own success and in 2000 the decision was made to build a second, bigger one. It can accommodate 37 instead of 22. This new building was the first modern mountain refuge to be built using stones on site rather than imported materials. It copies the simplicity and the crow-stepped gable from the "small refuge" which has been kept as lodgings for a warden's helper.

The ascent to the refuge from Villard Loubière has become a great hiking classic. Small dormitories with duvets, convivial dining room, hot showers and large equipped terraces. A stop on the GR54 footpath that should not be missed. Ideal starting point for the Pic de Turbat, with 3000m of easy access. A stop on the Tour de l'Oisans (GR54 footpath) that should not be missed. Snacks and refreshments possible. Access in 3 hours; elevation: 900 metres.