TOURIST GEOGRAPHY

The Ubaye is a tumultuous torrent flowing some 70 km from the high altitude valley of Maurin-Maljasset to its convergence with the Durance at Serre-Ponçon lake. The valley is oriented east-west, and surrounded by high mountains; the Parpaillon massif to the north, the Chambeyron massif to the south-east and the Séolannes to the south.
The summits are all around or in excess of 3,000 m. These detrital mountains were formed under the sea, then lifted and folded during the emergence of the Alps. The Ubaye Valley located between the Queyras Natural Park and the Mercantour National Park is an exceptionally beautiful natural area. It is a land of emigration ; a landmark in its history was the adventure of the Barcelonnettes.

From its source in the vale of Sestrière at an altitude of 2500 m to Saint-André, the clear waters of the Verdon gambol in a narrow valley dominated by Mount Pelat and the Trois Evêchés massif. Springs, torrents and waterfalls add to the force of the river, surrounded by high altitude lakes, glacial amphitheatres and snowy peaks.
Then, from high and low Thorame, the Verdon leaves the Alps. It calms down as it flows south into the Provençal hinterland. The Haut Verdon-Allos Valley region on the edge of the Mercantour National Park is an area of great beauty, from the famous Allos lake, the largest high altitude lake in Europe, to the enchanting La Lance waterfall near Colmars-les-Alpes. The vegetation is rich and diverse and varies according to altitude : larches, spruces, pines, and also alpine clematis, wild peonies and martagon lilies.

A vast area lies between Serre-Ponçon lake to the north and Digne-les-Bains to the south, acting as a bridge midway between the arid alpine foothills and the snowy peaks of the Ubaye.
It comprises the valley of the Blanche river, a tributary of the Durance, and the valley of the Bès river, a tributary of the Bléone. It is bordered by the Monges massif to the west, the Dormillouse and Blanche mountains to the north-east which separate the Blanche and Bès valleys from the Ubaye, and by the Blayeul massif to the south-east.
The Blanche Valley is wide and verdant, with many glacial moraines. The main town is Seyne-les-Alpes, perched on a rocky outcrop. The Bès Valley is narrower, and its landmarks include two impressive narrows at Verdaches and Barles.

The "Barcelonnettes" returned from Mexico their fortune made, and built superb villas surrounded by extensive grounds around Barcelonnette and Jausiers. The Valley Museum at Barcelonnette is housed in one of these villas. The Ubaye was a frontier area for centuries and many fortifications are to be found : Saint-Vincent-les-Forts modified by Vauban, Tournoux built in the 19th century and Saint-Ours, part of the Maginot Line.

Until 1713, Colmars-les-Alpes, as a French fortified town, kept a watchful eye on its neighbour Val d'Allos 1400 (Allos), at that time a Savoy outpost. At the end of the 17th century, Vauban himself ordered the construction of two additional forts at Colmars. The unadorned style of the rural churches and chapels is charming. Notre-Dame-de-Valvert in Val d'Allos 1400 (Allos) is a fine example of 13th century alpine Romanesque architecture.

The numerous abandoned villages and hamlets in Bès valley are very interesting to visit. They demonstrate the scale of the 19th century rural exodus from this area where agriculture was centred around sheep. Until the 1930s, Blanche Valley mules were exported as far afield as Spain. Seyne-les-Alpes, overlooked by a citadel rebuilt by Vauban, has preserved an interesting religious heritage.

Barcelonnette
Chabanon
Col d'Allos
Lac d'Allos
Col de Larche
Colmars-les-Alpes
Maurin Maljasset
Pra Loup
Saint-Jean-Montclar
Saint-Jean-Montclar, l'hiver
Saint-Vincent-les-Forts
Sainte-Anne-la-Condamine
Sauze Super Sauze
Val d'Allos les stations de ski

Click the card to enlarge

Apart from the information centre for the Ubaye Valley (Maison de la Vallée de l'Ubaye), which centralises all tourist information about the valley, four tourist offices will provide you with all the information you need for your holiday in the Ubaye, whether it be sporting or cultural. The Pra-loup and Sauze/Super-Sauze offices are the foot of the ski slopes ; at Barcelonnette and Jausiers they are in the village centre.

Two tourist offices are available to give information about the many possible sports and leisure activities in Allos.

The Blanche Valley Intercommunal Tourist Office located in the main square of Seyne-les-Alpes centralises all tourist information for the area.
The staff here will give you all the information you need for your stay. There is also a tourist information point at the bottom of the ski slopes at the Saint-Jean-Montclar resort.

>> list of the Tourism Information Offices

The Ubaye Valley is an area of high mountains. Mountaineering techniques make it possible to ascend spectacular 3,000 m summits such as the Brec du Chambeyron. The Ubaye river is ideal for rafting and kayaks, and its tributaries perfect for canyoning. For nearly 70 km there is not a single dam. Serre-Ponçon lake is given over to family bathing and water sports windsurfing, sailing, etc. Paragliders will be able to fly over magnificent scenery.

Haut-Verdon - Allos Valley is devoted to winter sports in that season, and in the summer becomes the ideal area for hiking.
For instance, you can set off on a family walk to discover the mountain flora and animals near high altitude lakes, or follow the sinuous path of a stream on a mountain-bike.
Fishing enthusiasts will appreciate the wild Fario trout which can be caught in the mountain torrents.

The tranquil beauty of the countryside in the Blanche Valley and the more tormented setting of Bès Valley make this area an excellent place to go hiking and exploring. Ascend the peaks of Dormillouse, take a walk in the alpine meadows, ride off into the sunset on a horse, or take a mule ride.
In the winter you can enjoy skiing, snow-boarding, etc. in the family-oriented ski resorts with their friendly atmosphere.

Skiing is a traditional activity in the Ubaye. The valley boasts two internationally renowned resorts : Pra-Loup and Sauze/Super-Sauze. All snow sports have their place : snowboarding, parabolic skiing, telemark, sledge dogs, etc. Larche and Saint-Paul offer fine cross-country skiing routes designed for traditional technique and skating. The Ubaye is also the area for alpine ski touring, ski mountaineering which requires great technical skill, and ice falls.

In 1977, the two international ski resorts in Haut-Verdon - Allos Valley - Val d'Allos 1500 (Le Seignus) and Val d'Allos 1800 (La Foux) - were linked to Pra-Loup by the "Espace Lumière", creating what is today one of the largest skiing areas in the Southern Alps. There are facilities for all types of winter sports ; downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding as well as skating and ice-driving.
Starting from the Colmars-Ratery skiing centre the beautiful cross-country routes go through the larch forest. The routes starting at La-Colle-Saint-Michel cross-country skiing centre demand greater endurance, in a very Nordic setting.

The family-oriented Blanche Valley ski resorts - Saint-Jean-Montclar, Chabanon-Selonnet, Grand-Puy - are located in a carefully preserved environment. The facilities are on a human scale, and the villages have been able to preserve their traditional mountain identity. Down-hill skiing, cross-country skiing, alpine ski touring, snow-shoe excursions, etc. Grand-Puy is ideal for beginners, snow cover is excellent at Chabanon-Selonnet, and Saint-Jean-Montclar offers an excellent high altitude skiing area.