Buissard – Bocage, wildlife and village history
Accommodation in Buissard
Landscape and biodiversity
Buissard lies on the south-facing slope of the Drac Valley. The landscape ranges from the banks of the Drac through a dense network of paths and bocage to steeply sloping farmland. Waterside areas, hedgerows and open, farmed land give the local landscape its varied character. If you would like to plan your stay around nature watching or village history, Buissard offers several distinct themes to explore.
The bocage is crisscrossed by paths, hedgerows and canals, making it ideal for walks to observe local wildlife and plant life. The open farmland and bocage are home to nearly 200 animal species and around 50 plant species. Along Buissard’s waterways, the riverside vegetation is a habitat of heritage interest that should be preserved. In the Champsaur, Buissard is one of the municipalities with the greatest diversity of birdlife. Buissard’s natural character therefore ranges from the biodiversity of its open farmland and bocage to the distinctive richness of its birdlife.
Circular walks and horseback tours
Les balcons de Buissard is signposted as a circular walking route. The route description recommends that hikers stop at the Chapelle des Rissents. This walking loop offers a different option from the horseback routes, for which duration, distance and difficulty are specified.
The horseback routes offer two different timeframes to compare. The moderately difficult Du Domaine Ă Gap Bayard stage is 29.1 km long, takes five hours and passes through Buissard. The ten-day Tour du Champsaur-Valgaudemar Ă cheval multi-day horseback tour covers 172.7 km and passes through Buissard, among other places. The five hours for a single stage can thus be compared with the ten days for the multi-day tour. These details help distinguish the time commitment of the two formats. Check trail conditions before setting out; weather and trail conditions may affect seasonal access to the multi-day tour.
Church, parish and chapels
The Church of Saint-Barthélémy stands at the highest point of the village of Rissents, on a promontory overlooking the Drac Valley. The parish of Saint-Barthélémy-du-Buissard has existed since at least the 12th century; the present-day church was built in 1848. The earlier date refers to the parish, while 1848 is the year the present-day church was built.
The Chapelle des Rissents is one of Buissard’s most important historic heritage sites. The Chapelle des Michauds has been restored. Alongside the parish church, the two chapels are distinct landmarks for anyone interested in the area’s architectural heritage. This makes it possible to choose different focuses for your stay: walks to observe wildlife and plant life on the one hand, and the church and chapels with their local history on the other.
Discover more destinations: Arvieux, Dévoluy, Le Poët, Sigoyer, La Beaume, Guillestre, Ristolas, Les Infournas
For the main travel overview: Hautes-Alpes.
