Experience La Chapelle-En-Valgaudémar

Waterfalls, lakes, and glaciers are part of the landscape of La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar. Hikes lead to a lake in the Cirque du Gioberney or to the Oulles du Diable; meanwhile, bridges, traditional houses, and mountain refuges tell the story of the Valgaudemar. The different destinations combine experiences in nature with insights into the valley’s culture.

Landscape and orientation

A large part of the municipality lies within the core zone of the Parc national des Écrins. A few kilometres farther from the village, the core zone begins at the Refuge du Gioberney. The hike to Lac du Lauzon starts in La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar. The circular route is 6.6 kilometres long, rated moderate, and listed as taking three hours. It lies in the Cirque du Gioberney above the Voile de la Mariée waterfall and leads to a small, high-altitude lake.

Another natural destination is the Oulles du Diable. The trail passes behind the Romanesque bridge over the Torrent de Navette and leads to the bubbling giant potholes known as the “Oulles du Diable.” The route to the Refuge de Vallonpierre also ends at a small high-altitude lake. Here, waterfalls and lakes are not just part of the scenery; they shape very different hiking destinations.

Hikes and mountain refuges

The access route to the Refuge de Chabournéou is listed as taking two hours and 30 minutes from the Gioberney car park, with an ascent of 450 metres. The refuge also offers an alternative route along the GR54. The circular hike to Lac du Lauzon and the approach to Chabournéou differ in the planning details provided: for the first, the distance and difficulty level are described; for the second, the time and elevation gain. When planning the approach and the GR54 alternative, take seasonal trail conditions into account.

The Refuge du Clot-Xavier Blanc combines a visit with a piece of regional history. Its stone building originally housed miners who worked the quartz veins above Gioberney. Later, it became one of the first mountain refuges of the Club Alpin Français. Today, the refuge welcomes visitors for a day trip or a first experience of staying in a mountain refuge. It is also a starting point for the Tour du Valgaudemar.

Culture and traditions in the valley

The municipality’s pastoral tradition is reflected in the Fête de la chèvre, held every year on October 4. It marks the herds’ descent to the valley floor and the start of winter. If you would like to include the celebration in your travel plans, check the dates locally.

The Maison du Parc du Valgaudemar offers information and documentation, permanent and temporary exhibitions, and products from the park. Another testament to the area’s history is the Pont du Casset: the old bridge survived the floods of the Séveraisse. A distinctive feature of traditional houses in the Valgaudemar is the “toune,” a vaulted projection on the façade that usually contains the entrance. In the past, these houses were thatched.

Explore the wider Valgaudemar

The wider Valgaudemar offers a variety of hiking experiences, too. The Valgaude Trail explores the lower valley; in the upper valley, trails lead to mountain refuges and peaks such as Olan, Rouies, Bans, and Sirac. This regional overview complements the hikes around La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar without treating destinations in the lower and upper valleys as equivalent.

Another destination with historical significance is the L’Aup route. It starts at the abandoned village of Navette and follows a small, steep path in the direction of the Cascade de Buchardet. Alongside routes to lakes and mountain refuges, this gives you the option of hikes that trace the history of an abandoned village. Which destinations you include depends on whether you want to combine a circular hike, a longer approach, or natural and cultural sites in the valley.

Discover more destinations: Veynes, La Motte-En-Champsaur, Poligny, Ristolas, Les Infournas, La Grave, Guillestre, Neffes.

For the regional travel overview: Hautes-Alpes.