Tour du Queyras
The place
long distance hiking route in France
Why go
Saint-Véran, the highest village in Europe. Col Agnel with views over the Po valley on the Italian side. Château-Queyras (a Vauban fort). Abriès and its water mills. Pic de Rochebrune (3,320 m) as a panoramic backdrop from the passes. Exceptional alpine flora: edelweiss, arnica, saxifrages. Monte Viso (3,841 m) in the background.
A bit of history
The Queyras was once a territory cut off by snow for six months of the year, developing its own unique architecture and traditions (stoves carved from soapstone, painted sundials). The GR58 was waymarked in the 1980s to showcase this territory, drawing on the old mule tracks that linked the villages before the motorable roads of the 1950s.
Getting there
Abriès is accessible by bus from Guillestre (40 min) or Gap. By car from Gap via the D902 or from Briançon via Guillestre. Seasonal bus line from Marseille and Grenoble.
Recommended gear
High hiking boots. Trekking poles. Warm clothing (cool nights at altitude). Rain gear. Sunscreen (exceptional sun exposure). IGN 1:25,000 Queyras map or FFRP GR58 topo-guide.
Best season
Late June to mid-September. Col Agnel and the northern passes may still hold snow in June. Best period: July–August. Gîtes and refuges open from mid-June to mid-September.