BURE DÉVOLUY
Massif du Dévoluy
On the border of Hautes-Alpes and Dauphiné, the Massif du Dévoluy has wide-ranging scenery alternating between meadows and forests, making it a super all year round venue for numerous outdoor activities : walking, mountain biking, rock climbing, fishing, winter sports, plus a Via Ferrata and caving for those seeking the ultimate in adventure and thrills.
The four main villages are typical examples of mountain architecture and peaceful places to stay.
Dévoluy Nordic ski area
The Dévoluy Nordic ski area encompasses the whole of the southern part of the mountains, between Col du Festre and Superdévoluy, via the resort of Joue du Loup. It is ideal for families wanting to go Nordic skiing as well as for experienced enthusiasts.
The vast ski area between the resorts of Superdévoluy and La Joue-du-Loup has over 100km of pistes for all winter sports. You only need to go a short way from the resorts to find yourself at one with the flora and fauna of the Alps !
Visit the Sources des Gillardes to discover one of the main geological curiosities of the region. In winter, the scenery is absolutely magical with frost and ice crystals.
The Plateau de Bure
At 2,550m altitude, the Plateau de Bure is the site of an astronomical millimetric wave observatory whose ten antennas which look like giant sunflowers observe the Universe at all times. The atmosphere at the site, where scientists monitor the stars, is calm and offers unforgettable scenery to walkers. There are magnificent panoramic views of the surrounding mountains from the summit of Pic de Bure (2,700m).
The Romanesque chapel known as La Mère Eglise, built on a rocky spur, is one of the oldest chapels in Hautes-Alpes. A listed historic building since 1927 it has many secrets and is one of the heritage gems of this magnificent region.
From Champsaur to Dévoluy
Champsaur is linked to Dévoluy by the Route du Col du Noyer. From the top of the col, you can see the peaks of Dévoluy on one side and the fields of the Drac Valley on the other. The road through the col was made in 1850 to facilitate traffic between the Champsaur and Dévoluy valleys. Up until 1900 the road between Saint-Bonnet-en-Champsaur and Saint-Etienne-en-Dévoluy was used every day by valley to transport mail and goods in all weathers. Today the road is for tourists and is only open in summer. The col is the site of one of the six Refuges Napoléon built in 1858. The Tour de France has climbed the Col du Noyer on several occasions and the last time was in 2010.
How to get to Massif du Dévoluy
From Marseille : Autoroute A51 exit Gap/Tallard, follow Veynes, then Le Dévoluy.
From Paris or Lyon : Autoroute A6 to Lyon, then A48 to Grenoble, then take N85 Route Napoléon to Corps then Le Dévoluy.
