Saint-Julien-En-Champsaur: Hiking, Water Sports and Heritage

Saint-Julien-En-Champsaur brings together hiking opportunities and activities at the Plan d'eau du Champsaur with local architectural history. Different options are available as you plan your trip: hiking routes of varying lengths, water sports and climbing at the Plan d'eau, as well as the parish church and the chapel. When choosing a destination for its mix of activity and culture, you can sort your interests by route length, type of activity and historical connections.

Hiking and choosing a route

The St Julien hiking route is a 4.7 km circular trail starting in Saint-Julien-en-Champsaur. As a circular trail, it forms a loop; the 4.7 km refers to the entire route. It is rated very easy and follows old, shaded paths between the bocage landscape and viewpoints. Bocage refers to a cultivated landscape divided by hedgerows. These are separate criteria to consider when choosing a route: the rating indicates the difficulty, while the route itself conveys the character of the landscape. The rating may be reassessed; access conditions may also change. Check the latest route information before setting out.

A 1.5 km path runs around the Plan d'eau du Champsaur. The 4.7 km St Julien circular trail is more than three times as long. This lets you choose by distance between a shorter loop by the water and the longer hiking route, which is rated very easy.

At the Plan d'eau: water sports and climbing

The Plan d'eau du Champsaur is set in natural surroundings by the Drac. Activities offered there include kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, wakeboarding and rides on an inflatable towed buoy. The activities are seasonal; exact operating periods may change. Check which activities are currently available before your visit.

The Sens'Actions adventure park is also located at the Plan d'eau. It has seven tree-climbing courses and around a hundred play elements. Sens'Actions welcomes children aged three and older as well as adults. Age requirements and the park layout may change; check the latest information in advance.

There are two distinct activity options to choose between: water sports at the Plan d'eau and tree climbing at Sens'Actions. You can tailor your stay to your interest in water or climbing courses.

Parish church and chapel

The present-day Saint-Julien parish church dates from 1862. Its nave has a round-arched barrel vault. A barrel vault is a vaulted ceiling running lengthwise; the round arch describes the shape of its cross-section. The date and the form of the vault highlight different aspects: the date places the church in time, while the vault form identifies an architectural detail. The form refers to the nave ceiling, while the date provides a chronological reference for the church.

The Chantaussel chapel in Saint-Julien-en-Champsaur may date from the 16th century and has been dedicated to Saint Roch (Saint-Roch) since 1720. The 16th century indicates its possible construction period, while 1720 refers to its dedication; the two dates represent different aspects.

Discover more destinations: Réotier, Le Sauze-Du-Lac, Villar-D'arêne, Savines-Le-Lac, Saint-Blaise, L'argentière-La-Bessée, Vallouise, La Piarre.

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