Val d’Allos
Val d'Allos in winter – a ski area for all types of boardsports !
Val d'Allos is an approved family destination ‘par excellence’ at the heart of Haut-Verdon, with all the attractive features of Haute-Provence. Its situation, where the Alps meet the climate of the Mediterranean, results in ski slopes and trails with mountain scenery and vegetation with a hint of the Midi !
The mountain resort, bathed in Provence sunshine on the western edge of the Parc National du Mercantour, is surrounded by magnificent, unspoilt scenery which is home to eagles, ibex, mouflon and no less than 24,000 plant species including 220 very rare and 40 endemic ones ! The natural environment, notable for its diversity and authenticity, is marked by the River Verdon : from its source at 2,240m altitude upstream from Allos the lively, blue torrent has fashioned not only the landscape but also the history and everyday life of its inhabitants.
Lac d’Allos, the largest natural, high-altitude lake in Europe (2,228m), is one of the treasures of the area. It was formed by glaciers in the Quaternary era and is fed by melting snow and springs. Covering 54 hectares and with a maximum depth of 48m it is home to brown trout and Arctic char. Val d'Allos comprises a traditional mountain village and two ski resorts 7km apart offering a splendid ski area of 23km of slopes : Val d’Allos - 1500 Le Seignus and Val d’Allos 1800 - La Foux (connected to the Pra-Loup ski area by the Espace Lumière, the largest ski area in Alpes du Sud).
La Foux, high in the mountains at 1800m is perfect for experienced, athletic skiers. All of its buildings are wooden, there are no high-rise buildings or concrete cubes here, only chalets and small, wooden-clad holiday complexes, a skating rink and an all-season Alpine coaster, the Verdon Express. Le Seignus is the ultimate family resort, linked to the charming mountain village of Val d’Allos 1400 by cable car. It combines welcoming, traditional dwellings with a ski area for all types of board sports, even mechanical with a winter driving school.
Val d'Allos in summer – a great big outdoor leisure park !
In summer, the area becomes a leisure park in a magnificent, lush, green setting around a 15,000m² lake suitable for swimming (lifeguards present),with a cocktail of activities to be enjoyed without moderation : water slide, play park, pedal boats, canoes, crazy golf, giant chess board, tennis courts, sports grounds, roller skating park, mini adventure trail. The ski lifts are open to pedestrians and mountain bikers who pay a fixed charge for unlimited access to 21 downhill slopes (160km in total) with a drop of 1,000 metres. The Col d'Allos, a well-known mountain pass on the Tour de France, is a must for cycling enthusiasts.
Let’s not forget white water activities, such as canyoning and aqua trekking, and fishing. Heritage enthusiasts should not miss Notre-Dame de Valvert, built in the 12th century, then restored in the 19th, a fine example of late Romanesque alpine art with an admirably proportioned facade, semi-circular door, small columns with stylised patterns and larchwood roofing; outside there are historic sundials, stone-built fountains and a bell-tower with larchwood roof. 10km away lies Colmars-les-Alpes, a village fortified by Vauban, a ‘Village et Cité de Caractère’ which is a museum in itself.
""I’m very fond of Lac d'Allos, which makes me want to walk up on to the Tours (surrounding mountains) to enjoy the view and take lots of photos before having a picnic by the little chapel near the lake "". Sylvie from the Alpes de Haute-Provence branch of Gîtes de France.
How to get to Val d'Allos :
By road : D908 from Saint-André-les-Alpes or Barcelonnette. NB : the Col d’Allos is closed in winter.
By rail : to Thorame station on the Chemins de Fer de Provence line, then shuttlebus.
By bus : regular services.
Our selection of accommodations
Lodging
La Buissière 1
in COLMARS-LES-ALPES - Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Our new accommodations
Lodging
L'Encombrette
in COLMARS-LES-ALPES - Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Lodging
Nonciere
in COLMARS-LES-ALPES - Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Guest house
Les Transhumances
in COLMARS-LES-ALPES - Alpes-de-Haute-Provence