Eygliers: Hiking, Culture and Water

Eygliers combines hiking and nature watching with climbing and water activities, as well as historic sites. The village is located at the entrance to Parc du Queyras. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Eygliers, you can plan your trip around what matters most to you: a circular walk, time on the rock, water activities or cultural history.

Hiking and nature watching

The “EYGLIERS – Mont-Dauphin fortified village” route is a very easy 3.5-kilometre circular walk. Its name and destination refer to Mont-Dauphin; a route in the area around Eygliers leads to the fortress, considered an important example of European military architecture. This lets you combine a hike with a cultural and historical theme while keeping the length and character of the circular route in mind.

At the Sentier des Marmottes, you can observe wild marmots at close range from a purpose-built path. The animals’ visibility varies by season. This means that you cannot count on seeing them regardless of the time of year. The trail offers a nature experience of its own, alongside routes focused on Mont-Dauphin.

Climbing and water activities

Below the fortified village of Mont-Dauphin, Eygliers has a climbing area with more than 100 routes on conglomerate rock. It is accessible from the car park via an easy path. Supervised half-day or full-day outings are offered there. If you plan to take part in an outing, check what is currently available in advance. The large number of routes and the option of a supervised outing give the climbing area two different points of interest for planning your trip.

The Plan d'eau d'Eygliers covers four hectares and offers water activities. The site includes a fishing pier that is accessible to people with reduced mobility. This information refers to the fishing pier. At Eygliers’ leisure area, La Vague Rafting offers rafting, Canoë-Hotdog, Hydrospeed and kayaking. As operator details may change, check what is currently available before making plans.

Chapels, frescoes and fortress history

The Chapelle des Combattants is located in Eygliers on the road to the hamlet of La Font and overlooks the Durance Valley. It is dedicated to Saint-Jean-Baptiste; the frescoes are by Masson Sam and date from 2001. The location, dedication, artwork and view each offer a distinct reason to visit the chapel. The church of Saint-Antoine also contains the Eygliers cycle of the legend of Saint James and the Hanged Man. It comprises five scenes and covers approximately one square metre.

The history of Mont-Dauphin fortress is also connected to Eygliers: the quarry and spring at Eygliers made its construction possible. The Plateau des Mille Vents, on which Mont-Dauphin was built, belonged to Eygliers at the time. These historical connections complement the hiking and climbing opportunities with a glimpse into the origins of the fortified settlement, without conflating present-day municipal boundaries with the area’s historical affiliation.

Getting there and finding your way

Mont-Dauphin–Guillestre SNCF railway station is in Eygliers Gare. National Route N94 follows the Durance Valley and provides the road connection to Eygliers. The railway station and the valley road are two different reference points for planning your journey.

Discover more destinations: Trescléoux, Freissinières, Ribeyret, La Bâtie-Neuve, Rosans, Saint-Jean-Saint-Nicolas, Saint-Blaise, Serres.

For the overview of the wider region: Hautes-Alpes.