AREA
Things to do in the Buëch and Dévoluy
Renowned climbing cliffs, high plateaux and the first hints of Provence: the south-west of the department holds surprises.
Area at a glance
- Towns and resorts
- Veynes, Serres, Laragne-Montéglin, Orpierre, SuperDévoluy, La Joue du Loup.
- Access
- Veynes-Dévoluy station.
- Landscapes
- The limestone Dévoluy massif, cliffs and sunny valleys.
- Best season
- Spring and autumn for climbing, summer for hiking, winter for skiing.
AREA
The spirit of the area
The Dévoluy is a limestone massif with mineral landscapes, dominated by the Pic de Bure.
Further south, the Buëch hints at Provence, with renowned climbing cliffs such as Céüse and Orpierre, and the Chabre mountain for free flight.
Key figures
2,789 m
The Obiou, the highest point of the limestone Dévoluy massif
Source: CRT Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (new tab)12
15 m antennas at the NOEMA observatory, at 2,550 m on the Bure plateau
Source: CNRS INSU / IRAM (new tab)100 km
of linked pistes between SuperDévoluy and La Joue du Loup
Source: CRT Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (new tab)600+
equipped climbing pitches at Orpierre, from 3a to 8c
Source: CRT Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (new tab)
Dates for your diary
July to AugustBuëch
Cols réservés
Every summer, from July to August (in 2026: Orpierre-Laborel on 21 July, Chabre on 28 July, Col de Pommerol on 29 July, Col de Moissière on 20 August). 2027 calendar not yet published.
Free, without registration.
Source: Hautes-Alpes Développement / Département des Hautes-Alpes (new tab)All yearLaragne
Free flight at the Montagne de Chabre
All year depending on the weather
FFVL-labelled international site, host of the world hang-gliding championship in 2009.
Source: CRT Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (new tab)
What to do, season by season
Hiking towards the Pic de Bure and free flight.
Our highlights
Pic de Bure
The emblematic summit of the Dévoluy.
The cliffs of Céüse
A benchmark for climbing.
Orpierre
A village and its climbing cliffs.
Chabre mountain
Free flight near Laragne-Montéglin.
SuperDévoluy and La Joue du Loup
Family skiing.
The editorial selection
- Guide and mountain leader
Luc Bernard, accompagnateur en montagne
A mountain leader based in Saint-Étienne-en-Dévoluy, Luc Bernard offers outings to discover the Dévoluy's wildlife and plants, practical herbalism courses and forest bathing.
Buëch & DévoluyView entry - Guide and mountain leader
Roc'Addict
Crag climbing and multi-pitch routes in the Buëch, the Dévoluy and beyond, for beginners and experienced climbers, gear provided. From age 6 or 7.
Buëch & DévoluyView entry - School and instructor
ESF SuperDévoluy
The French Ski School in SuperDévoluy, 40 instructors: alpine and cross-country skiing, ski touring, freeride, freestyle, snow garden and adaptive skiing.
Buëch & DévoluyView entry
Latest stories
Your questions
Practical guides
Practical information
- Getting here
- Take the train to Veynes-Dévoluy, then continue by car.
- Where to stay
- Gîtes and guesthouses, resort apartments.
- Find out more
- The local tourist office can advise you on accommodation, conditions and current events.
Key organisations
IRAM (new tab)
Institute for millimetre radio astronomy, operator of NOEMA
FFVL (new tab)
French free-flight federation, labelled sites and schools
FFME (new tab)
Climbing at natural sites
Sources
- Massif du Dévoluy (new tab) · CRT Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- NOEMA (new tab) · CNRS INSU / IRAM · 01/10/2024
- SuperDévoluy (new tab) · CRT Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- L'escalade à Orpierre (new tab) · CRT Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Cols réservés (new tab) · Hautes-Alpes Développement / Département des Hautes-Alpes · 2026
- Site international de vol libre de la Montagne de Chabre (new tab) · CRT Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Figures checked on 19 October 2026. Event dates may change: check with the organisers.