Natural Parks

There are three natural parks in the Hautes-Alpes. That is quite something! The result of an ambitious challenge to develop the area’s economy in total respect of the environment and mountain traditions.

The Écrins National Park was established in 1973 and is the largest and most well-known French park. The Barre des Écrins, highest peak in the Hautes-Alpes, overlooks the park, which covers a large part of the Hautes-Alpes. There are five National Park Centres in the departement: Briançon, Vallouise, Embrun, Champsaur and Valgaudemar.

The Queyras Regional Natural Park was founded in 1977 and covers a small area of 65 km². The Queyras stands out due to its unusual architecture and its charming villages that become family ski resorts when the first snowflakes fall.

The Baronnies Provençales Regional Natural Park is the latest regional park. It is located on the border of two regions and has two thirds of its area in the Rhone-Alpes region and one third in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, in the surprising Buëch area.