The Alps of Provence

Situated in both the Southern Alps and Provence, our département offers a diversity of landscapes, from the high mountains to the hills of Provence, to the delight of visitors in both summer and winter. We have a lot to offer: a sunny climate, exceptional unspoilt countryside with the Mercantour National Park and the Verdon Regional Park, and magnificent lakes like Serre-Ponçon. And let's not forget our heritage, with towns like Barcelonnette, Sisteron and Embrun, and the many typical villages of the Ubaye valley, where we can discover a rich history and the know-how of these "Alpine Provençals"! A region where life is good!

Top 5 Charmhotel

1 - Lake Serre-Ponçon

Lac de Serre-Ponçon is France's largest man-made lake, and one of Europe's largest earth dams, covering more than 2,800 hectares. Straddling the border between the Hautes-Alpes and Alpes de Hautes-Provence, the 120km tour of Lac de Serre-Ponçon offers magnificent views of its turquoise waters. The most impressive viewpoints: Sauze du lac with a plunging view over the widest part of the lake, and the stop at the Yvan Wilhem belvedere above the dam. What's more, a refreshing swim on one of the many beaches will bring this tour of the Serre Ponçon lake to a successful conclusion.

Allow one day : 120 km

2 - The "Demoiselles Coiffées" of Sauze and Pontis

Les Demoiselles Coiffées du Sauze et du Pontis: a natural curiosity linked to erosion. A 95-step discovery trail has been created to help visitors understand this phenomenon, with explanatory panels.

25 km from the hotel - 30 minutes

3 - Barcelonnette the Mexican

At the beginning of August, the Ubaye valley and Barcelonnette go Mexican! History meets the present, much to the delight of summer visitors. In the 19th century, Ubayans left for Mexico in the hope of making their fortune. Those who returned showed off their wealth by building beautiful villas and majestic tombs. We still have cultural exchanges with Mexico: Barcelonnette is twinned with Valle de Bravo. Every summer in August (between 7 and 15 August), we sing and dance to the rhythm of Mexican music!

22 km - 30 minutes

4 - Our environment!

On foot, by bike, by car or by coach! Take advantage of our tourist routes such as the Grande Traversée des Alpes, which crosses the Alps from Lake Geneva to the top of Menton, or the Route Napoléon, with its varied landscapes from mountains to lavender fields. For hikers, the Ubaye valley offers a range of walks to suit all levels. Cyclists and bikers will love our 7 passes, including the famous Col de Restefond la Bonnette, the highest road pass in Europe!

50 km to the Col de Restefond (1 hour)

5 - Our terroir

At the crossroads of several Italian, Provençal and Alpine influences, our terroir is divided between traditional pasta, lamb from our mountains, cheeses and olive oil, and vines in the south of the department. The Maison des Produits de Pays in Jausiers brings together all these local products.

25 km - 30 minutes

Jimmy et Agnès Champalou

Jimmy et Agnès Champalou

The Lauzetane hotel and restaurant is situated at an altitude of 900 m in the heart of the mountains, next to the small Lac du Lauzet, where you can swim in fine weather. The 68-bedroom establishment, rated 3 stars by the new standards, welcomes individuals, families and groups of all kinds. Our catering is buffet style (breakfast) and a different themed buffet each evening with different specialities if more than 20 people. Outdoor swimming pool, whirlpool, tennis court and petanque area are available free of charge. We'll be happy to advise you on your excursions, as we know our region inside out!

At the crossroads of the Route Napoleon and the Grande Traversee des Alpes: a discovery tour including Barcelonnette la Mexicaine, Col de Vars St Véran Col de l'izoard, the Gorges du Verdon, Lake Serre Ponçon with an optional lake cruise and, for a change from the coach, a visit on foot to discover the village of Le Lauzet and the surrounding area, where you will be staying, with its miraculous fountain reputed to chase away bad moods!

Departing from the hotel, you can explore our mountain passes: Col d'Allos, Col de la Cayolle, Col de Vars, Col de Larche and the highest of them all, Restefond la Bonnette, Europe's highest road pass at 2,802m.

Starting from the hotel, our suggestions for tours include: Tour of Lac de Serre-Ponçon. The 3 passes: Col de la Cayolle, Col des Champs, Col d'Allos and of course the ascent of the Col de Restefond la Bonnette. For your information, the Alpes Aventure Moto festival takes place in Barcelonnette in September (7 8 9 Sept 2022). Equipment manufacturers and motorcycle enthusiasts come together to share their passions.

The Ubaye valley passes circuit: one pass a day! Col de Vars, Col d'Allos, Col de la Cayolle, Col du Pontis, Col Saint jean and the famous Col de Restefond la Bonnette, the highest in Europe! And don't forget, there are plenty more tours to be done... We have bike garages and a water point for cleaning bikes if necessary. You can recharge your bike batteries free of charge.

Our valley offers a wide range of walks to suit all abilities. An example of a hike (accessible with a coach if necessary): the Roburen lake or the Lauzanier valley (Mercantour park). Starting from the hotel, you can visit the Costeplane waterfalls, the Villard or the Provence lakes, and many other possible outings...

Our establishment is located 15 minutes from the family ski resort of St Jean Monclar or 30 minutes from Pra Loup, the largest resort in the Southern Alps. We can offer you a weekend or week-long break for groups, including accommodation, half-board, lunchtime catering, ski passes and even ski lessons if required.

Our hotel-restaurant can accommodate groups for an evening break or over several days. We have several rooms that can be used as workrooms or exhibition halls, depending on the needs of the association or club. We have equipment for projections, microphones, etc.

We are used to hosting cousinades, communion birthdays etc... We offer half-board (evening meal and breakfast) and accommodation. We can also provide lunches. For weddings, please contact us for an appointment so that we can best meet your requirements.

We are ideally placed for all white-water activities, from rafting to canyoning (5 minutes from the white-water bases). We're lucky enough to be close to the Ubaye torrent, renowned for its different levels and popular with white-water enthusiasts. We are also on the route of the Transubayenne for mountain bikers, and the tour of Lac de Serre-Ponçon, not forgetting the hiking trails.

1- Discover our beautiful Ubaye valley, its generous nature and its proximity to urban centres: 45 minutes from Gap, 2h30 from Marseille Aix en Provence, 3 hours from Grenoble and 4 hours from Lyon.
2- Exceptional microclimate, both Mediterranean and Alpine.
3- Breathtaking scenery from the Lac de Serre-Ponçon to Alpine peaks such as the Col de Restefond la Bonnette!
4- If you're a fan of nature and animals, you can enjoy long hikes or family outings in the Mercantour Park or elsewhere. You can hike on your own or with guides who know their valley inside out.
5- If you're a mountain pass enthusiast, there are 7 passes in the valley, including several at 2000 m, the Grande Traversée des Alpes and the Route Napoléon, which takes you from the Alps to the Mediterranean.
6- Culture lovers: Ubaye offers you its past and present. Italian, Provençal, Mexican, French. This mix has left many traces, such as the military fortifications, the so-called Mexican villas and the rise of the ski resorts with their architectural style.
7- Discover local cuisine: ravioli, pasta, pies and local charcuterie, not forgetting lamb...

8- Less crowds and summer holidays: you can relax and take a breather!

We are open on New Year's Eve. We offer a guided coach tour to discover our beautiful valley and its surroundings in winter. On New Year's Eve, we'll serve a gourmet meal with champagne and party favours, with entertainment during the meal and dancing in the evening!