Discover Embrun

Built on an 80-metre-high puddingstone cliff, Embrun overlooks the Durance. This gives your stay two distinct focal points: the historic townscape and the landscape around the river and Plan d’eau. If you’re looking for a hotel in Embrun, you can plan your trip around whether you’d like to spend more time exploring the old town and its heritage or enjoying the trails and leisure activities by the water.

Old Town and Architectural History

Embrun’s historic centre is protected as a “Site Patrimonial Remarquable” (Remarkable Heritage Site). The old town includes centuries-old buildings, 14th-century overhanging houses, Renaissance houses, portals, fountains, Lombard arcades and sculptures. The focus is therefore not only on individual buildings, but also on the variety of the historic townscape.

The Maison des Chanonges is Embrun’s oldest civil building. The house dates from the 13th century and has been listed as a historic monument since 1988. Since 2007, it has housed the Maison du Patrimoine de l’Embrunais, an interpretation centre devoted to the heritage of the Embrunais. Here, the history of a single building comes together with a place dedicated to the region’s heritage.

The Cathédrale Notre-Dame-du-Réal features Lombard-inspired architecture, combining black slate and white limestone. The Tour Brune adds to the historic townscape as the former keep of the archbishops of Embrun, built from the late 12th century onwards. The former archbishop’s palace is also part of the centre’s architectural history: its garden is now open to the public, and the palace, including the ground beneath its eastern and western courtyards, has been listed as a historic monument since 20 September 2005.

Plan d’eau and Activities by the Water

The Plan d’eau d’Embrun covers 27 hectares and is two kilometres from the town centre. A free hybrid shuttle serves the area. As shuttle arrangements may change, check the latest information before travelling. At the Plan d’eau, you can enjoy sailing, rowing, canoeing and kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and other leisure activities. Specific activities and their opening times may vary by operator and season.

The “Au Fil de l’Eau” trail offers a loop around the Plan d’eau, following a 2.6-kilometre route around the lake. When planning your day, you can choose between water sports and a clearly defined circular route, without needing to combine the two into a single outing.

Walking Trails and Scenery

For a walk through the town, the panoramic Promenade du bord du Roc leads from the cathedral through the gardens of the archbishop’s palace to the city walls. There are orientation and information panels along the way. Unlike the loop around the Plan d’eau, this route focuses on the connection between the townscape, palace gardens and city walls.

Another option is the Tour du plan d’eau. It runs between the Plan d’eau and the Durance’s wild riverbed, is completely flat and accessible to everyone. You can start in central Embrun, at the Tour Brune car park. The Plaine du Roc, meanwhile, lies between the Durance and the foot of the Roc; the area is protected as a Natura 2000 site and is used for walking and jogging. These details distinguish the possible outings by their scenery and trail character, without assigning them a walking time that has not been specified.

A guided tour may also be part of your plans: “Embrun, coeurs et âmes” ends at the former church of Saint-Donat. Whether it is available during your travel dates depends on the programme.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Firmin, La Bâtie-Montsaléon, Saint-Léger-Les-Mélèzes, Sainte-Colombe, Saint-Pierre-D'argençon, Serres, Crots, Rochebrune

For the wider travel overview: Hautes-Alpes.