Vars: Villages, nature and mountain sports

When looking for a hotel in Vars, the activities planned for your trip are a useful starting point: villages and cultural heritage, trails in the protected Val d’Escreins, or winter activities each offer a different focus. The area’s history spans from an 11th-century watchtower to a church built in the 15th century, alongside nature trails and clearly described sports routes.

Villages and cultural heritage in Vars

Saint-Marcellin is the oldest village in Vars. Construction of the old church of Saint-Marcellin began in the 15th century. Remains of an 11th-century watchtower are preserved on the grounds of the Château de Vars. The watchtower remains and the start of the church’s construction thus represent different periods in the area’s history.

The Circuit des 3 villages passes through Vars’s traditional villages and offers a glimpse of the old houses, sundials and religious heritage. The Temple of Saint-Marcellin, which is used for exhibitions, is also part of the area’s cultural life. During the summer grazing season in the last century, the Cabane de Chabrières served as accommodation for shepherds; it was restored in 2016. At the Col de Vars, the Refuge Napoléon was built in 1856 under Napoleon III. The Col de Vars is also one of the best-known stages of the Route des Grandes Alpes.

Val d’Escreins: natural area and hiking trails

The Val d’Escreins has been a protected natural area within the municipality of Vars since 1964. The nature reserve covers 25 km² and ranges in elevation from 1,600 to 3,385 metres. The Font Sancte is the highest point in both the reserve and the park. These figures convey both the area’s size and its wide range of elevations.

There are hiking trails in the Val d’Escreins. Visitors can spot Alpine wildlife such as marmots, chamois, black grouse and eagles; which animals appear may vary. A free shuttle runs from the villages of Vars to the nature reserve. Check current transport options before your trip. Another nature trail is the Sentier des arbres remarquables, which leads to around ten trees several centuries old, some with a circumference of more than four metres.

Distinguishing hiking and winter routes

The Sentier de Faudon leads from Lac de Peyrol to the village of Vars Sainte-Marie. The Route du Vallon des Prises offers a different type of route: it is a winter loop accessible from Sainte-Marie via Bois Noir by chairlift. The Chemin du Barjo, in turn, is a groomed snowshoe trail for families. It runs from the top of the Télémix de Chabrières to the Le Barjo mountain restaurant. This makes it easy to distinguish a hiking trail, a winter loop and a groomed snowshoe trail when planning your trip.

Winter sports and route figures

La Trace de Sibières is a difficult ski touring route covering 2.2 kilometres; it starts in Vars les Claux, Fournet. The Chabrières piste is the focus of a different kind of winter sport: since the early 1990s, world speed records on snow have been set there, including on skis. At its steepest point, the speed corridor has a gradient of 98 percent.

The other sports and leisure options can also be distinguished by their stated details. The Vars Bike Park offers at least 60 kilometres of mountain bike and cross-country trails; check the current route layout on site. The Luge du Caribou toboggan run is 1,027 metres long, with an elevation difference of 123 metres. It is located in the upper part of the winter sports resort, toward the Col de Vars. Check its seasonal operating availability.

Discover more destinations

Saint-Véran, Château-Ville-Vieille, Chabottes, Saint-Blaise, Villar-D'arêne, Chabestan, Puy-Saint-Pierre, Ribiers

For the main travel overview: Hautes-Alpes.