Saint-véran: Visit The Highest Village In Europe
Perched in the Hautes-Alpes, at an altitude of 2042 meters, Saint-Véran is a mountain village proud of its rural and pastoral traditions. Highly appreciated by tourists for the untouched beauty of its alpine landscapes, the village offers numerous leisure activities both in summer and winter.
A gem in the heart of the Hautes-Alpes
The commune of Saint-Véran, located in the Hautes-Alpes department at the heart of the Queyras Regional Natural Park, prides itself on its title of "the highest village in Europe."
Perched at an altitude of 2042 meters, this mountain village is the highest inhabited village in all of Europe. It is also surrounded by peaks reaching over 3000 meters.
In its mountain setting, the village seems frozen in time. Its rural heritage and houses with typical architecture have earned it a place among the Most Beautiful Villages of France!
Chalets and sundials
Rich in a long historical past, dating back to Antiquity, Saint-Véran has preserved an important local heritage. The wood and stone chalets, fountains, bread ovens, and sundials are among the typical elements to discover in the village's streets.
The commune indeed has more than thirty wall-mounted sundials, some of which were created by the Piedmontese artist Giovanni Francesco Zarbula from 1840 to 1845.
Note: Due to the village's geographical location relative to the Greenwich meridian, the sundials in Saint-Véran are between 30 minutes and 1 hour 30 minutes off from the official time.
The commune also perpetuates various artisanal skills such as wood carving, cutlery, as well as knitting, lace-making, and weaving...
What to do in Saint-Véran?
History and architecture enthusiasts can visit the village church, classified as a Historical Monument, as well as the numerous chapels open to the public once a week during the summer season.
Outside the church, you can see carved lions, one of which holds a child between its paws. Inside the building, you will find wooden statues of saints carved by the villagers and a wooden Nativity scene dating from the 1950s.
Be sure to admire the view from the Notre-Dame-de-Clausis chapel, located at the end of the Blanche valley.
For the more athletic, the village offers a high ropes course (with vines, monkey bridges, and zip lines) in the summer, as well as a multitude of hikes and walks for families.
In winter, Saint-Véran is a family-friendly ski resort that can accommodate around 1800 people. Its ski area extends over 33 kilometers with a vertical drop of 1050 meters and includes about thirty slopes. The resort connected to the Molines-en-Queyras area offers a ski space suitable for all levels.
