Les Vigneaux village and nearby facilities

The map below with Les Vigneaux at its centre will give you and idea of what you can find in the immediate area of our apartments. The map extends to about 10km (6 miles) radius from Les Vigneaux. Click on the blue circles on the map to discover more about what Les Vigneaux and the surrounding villages have to offer.

Les Vigneaux Village

The beautiful and historic village of Les Vigneaux (pronounced vin-yo) welcomes you at the eastern entrance to the Ecrins national park. The backdrop to the village is the spectacular Montbrison (2,818m) and its 800m vertical rock walls to its summit. The villages outlook is southerly to catch the best of days sun.

Les Vigneaux, as its name suggests, was in former days winegrowers' land. Although wine is no longer made here you can still see vines in the village and much evidence of the stone walls that were used to terrace the steep ground. You can also visit the nearby ancient, and no longer inhabited, hamlet of Vignette. Here families lived in houses that were part cave, part house and every family cultivated the vines to make a living. Some vines and terracing are preserved here to give you a feeling for this old way of life.

At the centre of Les Vigneaux you will discover the marvellous church Saint Laurent. Originally of Romanesque style it was built and changed during several periods starting from the 14th century. The outside walls of the church are decorated with 16th century frescoes illustrating the seven deadly sins. Inside the church you can find more well preserved frescoes. Ask for the key to the church from the village hall.

This area is famous for sundials too and on the church you will find two of them, but there are plenty more to find in Les Vigneaux and the surrounding villages.

These days it is the numerous opportunities to partake in mountain sports that are at the core of the village life:

• Climbing on the Montbrison - which has numerous routes.

• Via Ferrata - the most frequented route in France is in the village

• Canoeing - The Gyronde river passes through the village on its way to meet the Durance.

• Walking, Mountain biking - Numerous trails of all difficulties start from village

• Skiing - Cross country ski trails start from the village and alpine skiing is within 5km at Puy Saint Vincent and Pelvoux

• Road biking - fantastic and challenging road biking with the big cols from the Tour de France nearby

• Paragliding - a take off point just outside the village and a landing field down by the river

For those that want to take it easy a gentle walk towards the river or to Bâtie des Vigneaux and back couldn't be better. Alpine meadows and the beautiful river surrounded by mountain scenery.

Facilities in the village:

• Newsagent /tobacconist

• 2 local bars

• Restaurant / Café

• Post Office

• Excellent bakery

• Azimut Mountain Guides

• 2 campsites

  • Le Courounba 3*

  • Les Vaudois 2*

• 2 climbing crags and 2 via feratta routes

• Easy access to the river for white water canoeing, rafting and fishing

Vallouise Village

The large and bustling village of Vallouise is 3km further up the valley from Les Vigneaux.

This big village has mixture of traditional mountain architecture in stone and wood as well as more modern sections of commercial facilities on its outskirts.

In the centre of the village is a medieval church and a 16th century chapel with beautiful painted frescoes and sundials. The church and the chapel stand on the edge of a pleasant square with water fountain at its centre dating back to 1894.

A great place for an evening meal out or to visit the open air market on Thursday mornings.

Facilities in the village:

• Newsagent /tobacconist

• 3 bars

• Several restaurants

• 2 small supermarkets

• 3 sports equipment shops

• 1 campsite (year round for caravans)

  • Les Chambonnettes 3*

• Easy access to the river for fishing

la Bâtie des Vigneaux Village

This area is just a kilometer from Les Vigneaux which makes it an interesting option for a short walk. La Bâtie des Vigneaux has two primary points of interest. Firstly there is the historical wall the "Barris de la Bâtie" sometimes also called the "Mur des Vaudois". This wall and fortification along it were built around 1376. There is not much left today, but these wall orignally served as protection for the inhabitants of the Durance valley.

The other big attraction just on the outskirts of Bâtie is the via ferrata of the Gorges de la Durance. At a grade of TD (Tres Difficle) this is not for the faint hearted. This via ferrata sports one of the longest wire bridges in Europe at nearly 90m in length at its finish.

l'Argentière la Bessée

The market town of Argentière-la-Bessée is just outside of the Ecrins national park and is just 3km from Les Vigneaux. It provides all the commercial facilities required by the area. Argentière-la-Bessée is also the location for the renouned purpose built white water kayak course and school which hosts the french national championships each year amongst other events.

Argentière-la-Bessée takes its name from the silver mine that was opened up in the 11th century. Now no longer in use, guided tours can be taken into the mine to explore some of its 20km of passageways. There is also a museum for those who want to find out more nearby.

Argentière-la-Bessée also has a number of fantastic churches, chapels and buildings from as early as the 12th century:

• Church Saint-Apollinaire (15th century and 16th century frescoes)

• Chapel Saint-Jean-Baptiste (12th century)

Facilities in the town:

• Newsagent /tobacconist

• Several bars and restaurants

• 2 supermarkets

• Hardware shops

• Chemist

• Main post office

• 3 banks

• Cinema

• Railway station

• Sports equipment shops

• Indoor swimming pool

• Artificial ice climbing wall (winter only)

• White-water canoeing complex and school

• 1 campsite (last week in April to 2nd week September)

  • Camping des Ecrins 3*

• 4 climbing crags and 1 via Ferrata route

• Easy access to the river for white water caneing, rafting and fishing

• Doctors

Puy Saint Vincent Ski station - 1600m

The ski station of Puy Saint Vincent 1600m has all the facilities of a self contained town. In the high summer and winter season you will find everything you need all within this self contained resort.

Winner of “Best Family Resort of the Year” – Golden Ski Award 2004, Puy Saint Vincent go out of its way to provide a friednly atmosphere with facilities for families to enjoy. However, don't be fooled that this is a beginners only ski resort, a lot of the terrain here at Puy is steep and there is also a lot of opportunities for serious off-piste too.

In the winter the apres ski revolves around the bars and restaurants in and around the ski station with plenty to see once the ski lifts stop for the night. Husky sledge trips start from the station and always cause excitement when the slege arrives with its 10 dogs. Weekly firework displays and the ski guides descending the mountain in procession by flaming torch light are always spectacular distractions from another vin chaud.

In summer the ski slopes are transformed into runs for the summer luge, devilkarts (gravity powered buggies) and mountain bike downhill routes. Of course you don't have to walk up as you can use the ski lifts. You will also find activities such as archery, a swimming pool, tennis courts and forest adventure park.

Facilities in the ski station:

• Several bars and restaurants

• Supermarket

• Several ski hire shops

• Sports equipment shops

• Chemist

• Post office

• Cash machine

• Cinema

• Doctors