Montclar is a family-friendly village ski resort in the Southern Alps. The Montclar Les 2 Vallées ski area stretches across the Blanche Valley and the Ubaye Valley. Alongside winter sports, the destination’s character includes activities, an ecologically significant natural area and historic buildings. Montclar therefore offers something for different interests, from skiing to local history.
Skiing and activities
The ski area reaches an altitude of 2,500 metres. Together with its extent across the Blanche and Ubaye valleys, this altitude defines the geographical scope of Montclar Les 2 Vallées. The resort combines its village character with a location spanning two valleys.
Activities around the resort also vary in type and in their connection to the starting point. Parc des écureuils is 200 metres from the resort and offers adventure courses for children and adults. The Circuit des Chapelles starts at the Montclar Les 2 Vallées resort and heads towards Col Saint-Jean. Tandem paragliding flights are also offered at the resort. It is advisable to check the booking conditions for these flights in advance.
These options offer different ways to shape a trip: an adventure course, a route starting at the resort and a tandem flight. Those choosing Montclar as a winter sports destination can take these differences into account when planning alongside skiing, rather than treating the activities as a single programme.
Nature at Lac de Saint-LĂ©ger
Lac de Saint-Léger is more like a marsh. The area is designated a Natura 2000 site and is of great ecological importance for flora and fauna. The lake therefore offers a distinct focus alongside the destination’s winter sports and historic buildings.
Protected plants in the area include orchids, among them the lady’s slipper orchid. The rare mollusc Vertigo angustior is also found there. These named species give a concrete sense of the natural value of Lac de Saint-Léger: alongside its marsh-like character, this natural area is home to distinctive plants and a rare mollusc. This is another facet of Montclar for travellers interested in species and habitats.
Chapels, a church and the history of Montclar
The former village of Montclar stood on the summit now called La Salette. A chapel and a clock tower can be seen there; both were built in the 19th century. The summit’s present name and the site of the former village are connected here with two visible buildings from that century.
The Chapel of Saint-Jean was built in the early 13th century by the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem. In 1644, the Hospitallers restored the chapel. The construction and restoration dates thus mark two distinct historical moments for the same building.
For the Chapel of Saint-Léger, its architectural classification should be distinguished from its restoration: its architecture is considered rustic Romanesque and is dated to the 13th century; the chapel was restored in 1968–1969. The Church of Saint-Pierre in La Chapelle belongs to a different part of the local history and was built in 1555. Together, these details provide several historical reference points: an early construction date and a later restoration for Saint-Jean, a stylistic classification and restoration for Saint-Léger, and the construction date of the Church of Saint-Pierre.
Montclar therefore offers more than a winter sports focus: its valley and high-altitude setting, the different activities at the resort, the natural area around Lac de Saint-LĂ©ger and its dated buildings provide a range of points of interest for travellers with different interests.
Discover more destinations: Lardiers, Bellaffaire, Saint-Paul-Sur-Ubaye, Senez, Brunet, Puimoisson, Ongles, Digne-Les-Bains.
For the broader travel overview: Alpes-De-Haute-Provence.
