Buëch & Dévoluy
Montagne de Chabre near Laragne-Montéglin, a well-known free-flight site.
ACTIVITY
Unusual experiences
Fly above the valleys, sleep under the stars and solve puzzles deep in the forest: there are other ways to experience the Hautes-Alpes.
Four essentials at a glance
- Best time
- All year, depending on the experience.
- Level
- Accessible to most people.
- Guidance
- Qualified professionals for free flight and guided activities.
- Key areas
- The whole department.
ACTIVITY
Why here
Known for its sunshine and some of the clearest skies in France, the department lends itself to free flight and stargazing; the Saint-Véran observatory in the Queyras reflects this.
Between the lake, forests and hilltop villages, there are plenty of opportunities to go off the beaten track, in summer and winter alike.
Key figures
2,930 m
Pic de Château-Renard observatory at Saint-Véran, open for observation nights (8 visitors per night)
Source: Office de tourisme du Guillestrois et du Queyras (new tab)12
antennas at the NOEMA observatory, the largest millimetre radio astronomy observatory in the northern hemisphere
Source: CNRS INSU / IRAM (new tab)1937
Opening of Gap-Tallard aerodrome, now one of the major European centres for leisure aviation
Source: CRT Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (new tab)2009
World hang-gliding championship at the Montagne de Chabre
Source: CRT Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (new tab)
When to go
- January : Possible months
- February : Possible months
- March : Possible months
- April : Possible months
- May : Possible months
- June : Favourable months
- July : Favourable months
- August : Favourable months
- September : Favourable months
- October : Possible months
- November : Possible months
- December : Possible months
Favourable monthsPossible monthsOutside the stated periods
Dates for your diary
Early JulySaint-Véran
Rencontre en ciel pur
Every early July (7th edition on 5 and 6 July 2026; 2027 dates not yet published)
Free astronomy festival.
Source: Association française d'astronomie (new tab)WinterVars
Vars Speed Masters
Every winter (2027 dates not yet published)
Speed skiing competition on the Chabrières piste, where the world record was set in 2023.
Source: Comité régional de tourisme Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (new tab)
Our advice
- For free flight, choose a qualified professional and go in the morning, when the air is calmer.
- For stargazing, avoid nights with a full moon.
- Book small-group experiences ahead in high season.
- Bring warm clothing: nights remain cool at altitude, even in summer.
The editorial selection
- Leisure activity
Coezia - Escape Game Nature
COEZIA runs outdoor escape games halfway between hiking and puzzles: in the forest at Embrun in summer and on snowshoes at Les Orres 1800 in winter. Four scenarios, including "La Quête de l'Oracle" and "Traque en Forêt", for families, friends, stag and hen parties and team building.
Embrunais & Serre-PonçonView entry - School and instructor
Confident'Ciel – École de Parapente
A paragliding school in La Grave, Confident'Ciel offers tandem flights with instructors to see the Meije massif from the air.
ÉcrinsView entry - Leisure activity
Leila'Venture
From Molines-en-Queyras, dog sledding in winter; climbing, via ferrata and canicross hiking in summer. Family-friendly.
Guillestrois & QueyrasView entry
Latest stories
Your questions
Practical guides
Spots by area
Guillestrois & Queyras
Stargazing at Saint-Véran.
Embrunais & Serre-Ponçon
Unusual overnight stays by the lake and a forest adventure game in Embrun.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE GAME
Solve puzzles deep in the forest
COEZIA offers life-sized adventure games combining walking and puzzles: in the forest in Embrun in summer, and on snowshoes at Les Orres 1800 in winter. Games last around 90 minutes, for groups of 2 to 14 players, with family, friends or colleagues.
Discover COEZIA(opens in a new tab)Key organisations
AstroQueyras (new tab)
Operates the Saint-Véran observatory
IRAM (new tab)
Operator of NOEMA
FFVL (new tab)
Labelled free-flight sites
Sources
- Observatoire astronomique de Saint-Véran (new tab) · Office de tourisme du Guillestrois et du Queyras
- NOEMA (new tab) · CNRS INSU / IRAM · 01/10/2024
- Aérodrome de Gap-Tallard (new tab) · CRT Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Site international de vol libre de la Montagne de Chabre (new tab) · CRT Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Festival Rencontre en ciel pur (new tab) · Association française d'astronomie · 2026
- Le Sud en 10 records (new tab) · Comité régional de tourisme Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Simon Billy flashé à 255,5 km/h et empoche le record du monde (new tab) · Eurosport · 22/03/2023
Figures checked on 19 October 2026. Event dates may change: check with the organisers.