Explore Ancelle with Camping Caravaneige Les Taillas

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.

This hike will take you to the summit of Le Cuchon, the highest point in the village resort of Saint-Léger.From the village of St Leger, head for La Poureïte, Les Chargeaüs, Jarria, Le Casso, Sous-le-Bois-Fustier, then the GR50 towards Serre Laguenia. Leave the GR50 and continue towards Les Prés Jaunes cabin, then to the summit of Le Cuchon.

A large circuit taking you up to the magnificent panorama from the summit of Le Cuchon before a return down to Ancelle and, in complete contrast, the plain of La Chaup, a light-filled and strangely flat basin in the midst of steep mounts.From the Libouse plateau, head for Sous-le-Bois-Fustier, then take the GR50 towards Serre Laguenia. Leave the GR50 and continue to the Prés Jaunes cabin, then to the summit of Le Cuchon. You then head for Ancelle through the Rouanne valley via Le Ranc and Simonde. Continue on to Oratoire, Le Peintre, Chabottes, Le Moulin, La Rase, Château Lombard and as far as Les Faix. 400m after Les Faix, you meet up with the GR50 again, on the right, and then continue to Champ Garaille. Leave the GR50 and return to Sous-le-Bois-Fustier and the Libouse plateau.

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).

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.

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.

Chabournéou unveils a world of mountains and glaciers. This former refuge with its authentic atmosphere provides a fine alternative on the Vieux Chaillol Tour or GR54 footpath. Meals available all day. No picnic room. An authentic refuge in an Alpine setting at the foot of the north face of the Sirac. Easy to access along a path with the evocative name of "the minister's path", the refuge welcomes visitors for the skiing season in spring and for climbing and hiking during the summer. Access in 2 hrs 30 min from the Gioberney car park; 450-metre incline.

The Clot - Xavier-Blanc refuge, with 100 years rich in history, welcomes you in the shade of colossal trees for a relaxing break. Whether you are on the GR 54 footpath or out for a day's hike, you are sure to be charmed by this refuge, lulled by the murmur of the nearby Séveraisse mountain stream. Access in 15 minutes from Le Rif du Sap.

Perched on an Alpine prairie, at the frontier with the high mountains, the Olan refuge provides a unique panorama on La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar, the prestigious Olan cirque, the Cime du Vallon... A stopover for mountaineers and hikers: a mountain road to the Refuge des Souffles. Shared room and kitchen upstairs, running water and fountain. Meals by reservation. Access from La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar in 4 hours; elevation: 1245 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.

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.

Above the village of Ancelle, the Col de Moissière rises to a height of 1,532 metres and offers a beautiful panorama: on one side, the Champsaur valley, on the other, the Gapençais basin. Just below the pass is the Croix St Philippe, a Gallo-Roman archaeological site.

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. 

After the retreat of the glaciers flowing from the Durance and Roanne valleys, the frontal and lateral moraines formed a natural dam at the end of the Ancelle basin. Over time, a large glacial lake was created. Between the fifth and sixth centuries, the lake dried out. The forest then took over the fertile plateau, and it was only in the eighth century that it was deforested by man for crops.

In the  Libouze water reserve, newly restored by the town of Saint Léger les Mélèzes,  you can see a pretty batrachian swimming around elegantly. This is the Alpine newt. It can be recognised by its orange belly, but unlike the females, the males have lighter-coloured sides with large dark spots and a narrow, light-blue stripe. The species  is strictly protected and is becoming rarer in the plain, on the edge of its area of distribution. 

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.

Avant ou après la balade, découvrez le village de St Léger : vous pourrez vous attarder dans le jardin d’enfants en face de l’Office de Tourisme où se trouve le four à pain du village ainsi qu’une jolie fontaine au 'bacchal' de pierre. De nos jours, le four est remis en service deux ou trois fois par an lors des festivités communales. La présence d’une fontaine près des fours banals est systématique pour des raisons fonctionnelles car il faut de l’eau pour nettoyer la sole (surface de cuisson).

To the south of Champsaur, the town of Gap is the administrative centre of Hautes-Alpes, with a little over 40,000 inhabitants. It stands at an altitude of 700 m on a major communications route between Provence and the Alps, and enjoys generous rates of sunshine with large natural areas in the vicinity. In 2013, L'Equipe newspaper voted the town of Gap as France's most sports-oriented town of over 20,000 inhabitants.

Construit en 1848 le canal de Gap qui alimente en eau potable la ville de Gap, il était déjà un lieu de promenade au XIXe siècle et même de baignade pour les moins frileux. Aujourd’hui la structure est recouverte.

Le patois champsaurin est en fait une langue à part entière dérivée de l’occitan : le « vivaro-alpin ». La toponymie locale témoigne encore de ce parler d’antan : le « Bouscatu » est un lieu boisé, la « Poureïte » un endroit où l’on cultivait les poireaux, le « Casso » un lieu pierreux, la « Poua » est la montée vers l’église…

The Combeau alpine pasture, lying 2,000 metres above sea level.Don't miss the superb panoramic view from the Croix de Combeau belvedere. 

Mountain speciality. Wood-fire pizza, on site or to take away.

Wood-fired pizza, local specialities.

Specialities of sweet and savoury pancakes.

Regional and mountain specialities.

Family cuisine and atmosphere to try some local specialities ('tourtons', goat, etc.). Dining room and terrace.

Traditional and local cuisine, snack bar.

A traditional restaurant with refined and regional dishes. Mountain specialities in the authentic setting of a converted 18th century stable. A simple and generous setting that will delight everyone who loves good food.

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

Bar.

Restaurant at the foot of the slopes. Local specialities and quick lunchtime meals, pancakes, ice creams.... Large, sunny terrace.

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.

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.

After 1 hour and forty-five minutes walking, you will come across the charming mountain refuge that is at an altitude of 2000 m. It is guarded in spring and is the starting point for ski touring routes such as the Jocelme or the Brèche en V. In the summer, backing onto the Sirac, it is at the limit between hiking and mountaineering: a first-rate location. You might be lucky enough to spot chamois that loiter on the neighbouring slopes at the end of the day, as the sun takes its time to leave.

Chabournéou unveils a world of mountains and glaciers. This former refuge with its authentic atmosphere provides a fine alternative on the Vieux Chaillol Tour or GR54 footpath. Meals available all day. No picnic room. An authentic refuge in an Alpine setting at the foot of the north face of the Sirac. Easy to access along a path with the evocative name of "the minister's path", the refuge welcomes visitors for the skiing season in spring and for climbing and hiking during the summer. Access in 2 hrs 30 min from the Gioberney car park; 450-metre incline.

What a strange idea to build this mountain refuge below the road leading to Gioberney, at an altitude of "only" 1397 m. In fact, it was already there more than a century ago, long before the road was built. This simple, sturdy building belonged to the Valgodemar Mining Company that operated in the area extracting copper and lead. When the business closed, the Club Alpin Français bought the building and named it after Xavier Blanc, in recognition of one of the founder members of the CAF, senator of the Hautes Alpes.