PRACTICAL GUIDE
What to do when it rains
Our ideas to enjoy the Hautes-Alpes even when the weather turns.
A rainy day in the Hautes-Alpes is not a wasted day. Hot springs, Vauban fortresses, a Romanesque abbey, astronomy and fine dining: here are our ideas for enjoying the département under cover. Opening times vary by season: we give those found on the official websites on 19 October 2026.
Relax in warm water
Les Grands Bains du Monêtier (Le Monêtier-les-Bains) are the perfect refuge on a bad-weather day: indoor and outdoor pools fed by naturally warm water, plus the Spa La Rotonde. In 2026 entry costs €25 for 2 hours (€15 for ages 3-13), and the spa €55 for 3 hours (16+). Online booking is mandatory. The Grands Bains are open until 1 November 2026.
Step back in time in the fortresses
- Briançon's Cité Vauban, a UNESCO World Heritage site, can be visited all year with the town's heritage service. Tours are booked online, and the desk is at the Porte de Pignerol.
- Mont-Dauphin, another listed Vauban site, is managed by the Centre des monuments nationaux. Guided tours of the fortifications cost €7. Note that until 23 November 2026, works close the Porte de Briançon: the village is accessible on foot only.
- Fort Queyras has been closed since 21 September 2026 for restoration work, with reopening planned for June 2027.
Visit Boscodon Abbey
Near Embrun, Boscodon Abbey is a gem of 12th-century Romanesque architecture. The abbey church is open freely all year. The cloister, museum and shop are open until 31 October 2026, then close for winter.
Understand the lake and the sky
- The Muséoscope du Lac in Rousset tells the story of the Serre-Ponçon dam and lake, with a 5D cinema. Prices shown: €16.50 per adult, €11.50 for ages 5-15, €52 for a family of four.
- The Maison du Soleil in Saint-Véran introduces astronomy in a village perched at 2,042 metres. It is closed until the 2026 Christmas holidays and can only be contacted by email.
Sit down to a good meal
Rain is also a good excuse for a long lunch. A few addresses from our Directory:
- La Laiterie du Col Bayard, near Gap: panoramic restaurant, cheese dairy and shop (closed 2 to 26 November 2026).
- Le Pasturier in Gap: three Gault & Millau toques, Maître Restaurateur.
- Les Tables de Gaspard in Saint-Crépin: creative cooking in a 16th-century room, selected by the Michelin Guide 2026.
- Le Pêché Gourmand in Briançon: twenty covers and seasonal cooking built on alpine produce.
Make the most of dry spells
In summer, showers are often stormy and concentrated in the afternoon. So keep your mornings for the outdoors: a rafting run, a short hike or COEZIA's outdoor escape game in the Embrun forest (90 minutes of play), then retreat indoors when the sky clouds over.
Sources
- Official websites of the Grands Bains du Monêtier, Briançon heritage service, Mont-Dauphin fortified village, Boscodon Abbey, Muséoscope du Lac, Maison du Soleil and the restaurants mentioned, checked on 19 October 2026 (see the Directory).
- Briançon and Mont-Dauphin, World Heritage (French Ministry of Culture)
- Les Grands Bains du Monêtier (regional tourist board)
- Notre-Dame de Boscodon Abbey (regional tourist board)
- Saint-Véran (Guillestrois and Queyras tourist office)