Serre Chevalier B and B Chalet Holidays

General

Briancon is the highest town in Europe at 1326m, and has approximately 12,000 inhabitants. Located at the meeting point of five valleys, and 15km from the Italian border, which is on the Col de Montgenère, 15 minutes drive from the chalet, Briancon is a strategically important town, and has been fortified since Roman times; it is one of the most fortified areas of France.

Old Town

Briancon is known as 'Le Ville d'Art et d'Histoire' (the town of art and history), it has two main parts, a new town and an old town.

Old Walled Town

The old town is a magnificent fortified walled town, designed by the military genius and architect Vauban, who also designed the Eglise de Notre-Dame, which is a large outstanding church in the old town. You enter the fortified town through one of three draw-bridged entrances; there are many sights to see, fountains, squares, sundials, and gargouille streets. These have a small waterway that runs down the centre of the street, there are only two towns in France with gargouilles, the other is St Martin-Vésubie in the Alpes-Maritimes. Briançon has two gargouilles running down through the fortified upper town, one runs down the central Rue Grande, also called Grande Gargouille, the second runs down Rue Mercerie, called Petite Gargouille.

There are many up-market tourist shops and restaurants in the old town, and the architecture is similar to a ‘Mediterranean’ style, and is a popular tourist destination in both winter and summer.

Inside the old town

Climate

The area has an exceptionally sunny and dry climate, it boasts over 300 sunny days a year. Briançon is well-known throughout France as a health centre with the high altitude, sunny climate, and dry air being regarded as being beneficial for range of medical conditions.

Serre Chevalier

The term ‘Le Grand Serre Chevalier’ refers to the whole ski area and its piste, which ranges from 1200m below Briançon to 2800m just below the summit of Pic de l’Yret (2830m). The resort is named after the mountain Serre Chevalier, one of the major peaks in the area (2491m). Briancon is at the eastern end of the ski area, as you travel west along the valley you first come to Chantemerle, then Villeneuve, and finally Monetier.