The Region in Summer
Les Hautes Alps
The Hautes Alps is an area of outstanding natural beauty from towering peaks permanently covered with snow to rolling flower filled meadows swarming with butterflies and crossed by meandering mountain streams, pine forests, gorges and old villages scattered along the valley. The high mountain meadows provide grazing for sheep and for visitors spectacular walks among the mountain greenery and thousands of colourful flowers.
Climate
The weather is consistently good with over 300 days of sunshine per year – a Mediterranean climate but in the Alps, with hot sunny days virtually guaranteed. In spring and early summer, May to July, the mountains provide a constantly changing carpet of colourful flowers. From September to October the broad leaf trees together with the larch forest provide some of the most spectacular autumn colours prior to leaf fall in Europe.
Motoring in the Alps
A continuous series of autoroutes from Calais makes the Haute Alps easily accessible. The route from le Bourg-d’Oisans is the beginning of a spectacular drive past the Ecrins massif at La Grave with views of La Meije and its glacier and onward over the Col du Lauteret to Serre Chevalier. There are a variety of excursions by car to the Nevache in Vall de la Claree, Valloire via Le Col du Galibier, the Col d’Izoard and St Veran, the highest village in Europe, in the Parc du Queyras.
The National Parks
There are two National Parks Les Ecrin and Les Queyras as well as the beautiful Claree Valley not far from the Italian border. The Italian border to the East is reached via the historic walled city of Briancon the highest in Europe with its fort, narrow cobbled streets, small craft shops, restaurants and bars. To the West on the slopes of the Col du Lautaret over 2000 species of plants are to be found in Le Jardin Alpin, a botanist’s paradise. The Lautaret is influenced by both Atlantic and Mediterranean climates and by geological formations with crystalline Ecrins to the south and sedimentary rocks of the Galibier massif to the North. As the result of this climatic and geological mixture the flora in both quantity and variety is unique. Here a monument can be seen to Captain Scott who used the area to test his equipment before journeying to the South Pole.
Summer Activities in the Serre Chevalier Area
The mountain range of Serre Chevalier can provide the environment for many outdoor activities. In addition to walking another way to explore this is by mountain bike or by horse riding. Other outdoor activities include water rafting and kayaking, fishing, cycling, tennis, golf, hang-gliding, parascending and rock climbing.
Of the three main traditional villages of Chantemerle, Villeneuve and Monetier les Bains, Chantemerle combines modern facilities with rustic charm and is a good starting point for many summer activities. Monetier is almost undeveloped as a mountain village but has the unique thermal baths.
