AREA
Things to do in the Briançonnais
A listed fortified town, major ski areas and wild valleys: the Briançonnais combines heritage with wide-open spaces.
Area at a glance
- Towns and resorts
- Briançon, Serre Chevalier, Montgenèvre, Névache, Le Monêtier-les-Bains.
- Access
- Briançon station, served by an overnight train from Paris among other services; the Col du Lautaret road from Grenoble.
- Landscapes
- Vauban’s fortified town, glacial valleys, larch forests and passes.
- Best season
- All year round.
AREA
The spirit of the area
Briançon is one of France’s highest towns, and its Vauban fortifications are listed as UNESCO World Heritage.
Nearby, Serre Chevalier and Montgenèvre form major ski areas, while the Clarée valley remains a haven of peace.
Key figures
1,326 m
Briançon, the highest town in the European Union
Source: Comité régional de tourisme Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (new tab)2008
Briançon's Vauban fortifications inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List (7 July)
Source: Ministère de la Culture (new tab)250 km
of pistes at Serre Chevalier, the largest ski area in the Southern Alps
Source: CRT Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (new tab)2,642 m
The Col du Galibier, reserved for cyclists on some summer mornings
Source: Office de tourisme des Hautes Vallées (new tab)
Dates for your diary
Late June and early JulyGalibier, Granon, Échelle, Izoard, Agnel
Tournée des Grands Cols
Every year, late June and early July (in 2026: 29 June to 3 July). 2027 calendar not yet published.
Each morning a major pass is closed to cars from 9 am to 12 noon: Galibier (2,642 m), Granon (2,413 m), Échelle (1,762 m).
Source: Office de tourisme des Hautes Vallées (new tab)June to SeptemberBriançonnais
Cols réservés
Every year, from June to September (2026 dates have passed). 2027 calendar not yet published.
Initiative launched in 1997 by the Département: 28 dates on 19 climbs in 2026, free and without registration.
Source: Hautes-Alpes Développement / Département des Hautes-Alpes (new tab)
What to do, season by season
Hiking in the Clarée, cycling mountain passes and via ferrata above Briançon.
Our highlights
Briançon’s Vauban townSee the address book entries
The urban walls, the Salettes, Trois-Têtes, Randouillet and Dauphin forts, the communication Y and the Asfeld bridge have been listed since 2008.Source: Ministère de la Culture (new tab)
The Clarée valley and NévacheSee the address book entries
Alpine lakes and hamlets.
Serre Chevalier
A large skiing and mountain biking area.
Montgenèvre
A resort linked to Italy.
Col de l’Izoard
A celebrated cycling pass.
The editorial selection
- School and instructor
ESF Serre Chevalier Chantemerle
The French Ski School in Chantemerle, with the Tourisme & Handicap label: skiing, snowboarding, cross-country, ski touring, freeride and adaptive activities.
BriançonnaisView entry - Restaurant
Le Pêché Gourmand
A 20-cover fine-dining restaurant in Briançon run by Sharon and Jimmy Frannais: seasonal cooking with regional produce, alpine lamb and beef. Gault & Millau 2026: 13/20.
BriançonnaisView entry - Guide and mountain leader
Bureau des Guides et Accompagnateurs de Briançon
From Briançon, this guides office covers a very wide range of guided activities, from ice climbing in winter to canyoning and paragliding in summer.
BriançonnaisView entry
Latest stories
Hiking & trail running
Six years tracking a she-wolf in the Briançonnais
For six years, Corentin Esmieu watched the same she-wolf in a valley in the Briançonnais, without camera traps, relying solely on direct observation. The film he co-directed with Baptiste Deturche, Louve, une vie dans les Alpes, hits cinemas on 4 November 2026; the she-wolf herself remains out of reach, and that is just as it should be.
Hiking & trail running
Lac de l'Orceyrette: the golden larch loop
Beside the Orceyrette at 1,927 m, larches turn yellow alongside dark green stone pines and emerald water. Above Briançon, this lake nicknamed 'little Canada' can be reached on an easy two-hour walk or tackled as a proper hike.
Your questions
Practical guides
Practical information
- Getting here
- Take the train to Briançon, including the overnight service from Paris.
- Where to stay
- Town hotels, resort apartments, gîtes and mountain huts in the Clarée.
- Find out more
- The local tourist office can advise you on accommodation, conditions and current events.
Key organisations
Réseau des sites majeurs de Vauban (new tab)
Network of the 12 UNESCO-listed sites, including Briançon and Mont-Dauphin
Source: Ministère de la Culture (new tab)UNESCO – Centre du patrimoine mondial (new tab)
Official entry for the Fortifications of Vauban
Météo-France (new tab)
Mountain bulletins and avalanche risk
Sources
- Le Sud en 10 records (new tab) · Comité régional de tourisme Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Briançon et Mont-Dauphin : patrimoine mondial (new tab) · Ministère de la Culture
- Serre Chevalier Vallée (new tab) · CRT Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Cols réservés, la tournée des Grands Cols (new tab) · Office de tourisme des Hautes Vallées · 2026
- Cols réservés (new tab) · Hautes-Alpes Développement / Département des Hautes-Alpes · 2026
Figures checked on 19 October 2026. Event dates may change: check with the organisers.