spring french alps

 

Spring

Nature awakens in spring, with an overwhelming color palet of spring flowers, a blue sky and a very agreeable sun. A season that’s ideal to recharge your batteries, after a long and cold winter. Just sit and relax in the garden, to read or simply revitalize in the absolute silence of our valley.

And if you’re tempted to do some sports, the choice is large enough, all of them in the vicinity of your vacation rental.

On land

The area around the guest house between Queyras and Ecrins is loaded with hiking trails differing from medium to high altitudes. Enjoy the wildlife and flora in this beautiful area. A trail that links up with the “Tour du Queyras” GR Trail (France’s national trail system) passes right by the house. For more information, visit the Pays du Guil website, or go to  Rando – Ecrins and the website of the  Parc du Queyras.

With your partner, your family or friends, if you want challenging sensations or just relaxing walks, in the footsteps of mountain goats or just to explore our flora, the guides from  Montagne Liberté for sure will provide you with custom made tours.

Fans of biking or mountain biking have a large choice between several mythical summets of the Tour de France (le col de l’Izoard, le col Agnel, le col de Vars, le col du Galibier) and a multitude of mountain bike trails. 185 km of well maintained mountainbike tracks in the Guillestrois and the Queyras, and 22 round trip tracks in the vicinity of our house, what more could you ask for?

If you’re into rock climbing, canyoning or via ferrata, if you’d like to take a course to discover or to progress, don’t hesitate to contact  Crescendo.

If you'd like to go mountaineering of climbing, the mountain guide Jean-Philippe Cherbonnier can help you out.  

Several climbing sports as well as Via Ferrata welcome beginners as well as experts.

Are you tempted to discover the beauty of our region on a motorcycle trip?  Find some ideas on the site of   Motorcycle Diaries.

On water

Water is present in many different forms in our region, and accomodates very different sports.
Discover the banks of the lake of Serre-Ponçon, go windsurfing on the blue water, go sailing or just go swimming.

Head of rafting or kayaking on the Guil, the Durance or the Ubaye with professional guides like Olivier ( Pure Rafting) or Nathalie and Laurent ( CanyonPro).

If you’d love to go fishing you’ll need to choose between wild rivers like the Guil or the Durance, or calmer water of mountain lakes and the icy blue of the lake of Serre-Ponçon.

In the air

Treat yourself to a discovery flight in a plane or a glider plane, at the  airstrip of St Crépin, at 10 minutes from la Maison du Guil. For a duo flight in parapente or paraglider you’ll start in Ceillac with  Tête en l’Air.

For your mind

The fortified village of Mont Dauphin, a Unesco World Heritage Site is just a short walk away. The town’s architecture – designed by Vauban in the late 17th century and executed in local rose colored stone – is particularly harmonious. The site offers guided tours, horse shows in summer and a variety of exhibits.

The old town of Embrun, a 20 minutes drive away, has a fine architectural heritage. Don’t miss Notre Dame du Real, a cathedral built in the 12th and 13th centuries, the Archbishop’s Palace with its Tour Brune, as well as the historical centre’s houses, sundials and fountains.

If you go just a bit further, overlooking lake Serre-Ponçon you’ll discover the wonderful Abbaye de Boscodon, a 12th century structure of which the architecture is reminiscent of primitive Cistercian art. It’s privileged location above the lake of Serre-Ponçon is truly unique.

Beautiful images of our region in this short video...