Ceillac’s biathlon stadium is open year-round and gives beginners aged eight and up the opportunity to try biathlon under the guidance of certified instructors. For the rest of your stay, options range from hiking and climbing to exploring the valley’s history and architecture.
Hikes and trails
A marked hiking trail leads to Lac Miroir. The ascent is listed as taking two hours, with an elevation gain of 550 m. Check trail conditions locally before setting out, and bear in mind that the stated time refers to the ascent.
If you’re looking to plan a stage rather than a hike to a single destination, the official Tour du Queyras includes a section from Ceillac to Saint-Véran via the Col des Estronques. This stage has a different destination from the trail to Lac Miroir: it continues from Ceillac to Saint-Véran. Trail conditions and transport connections can change, so take them into account when planning.
Climbing options and other activities
The Via Ferrata de Ceillac is 550 m long and has an elevation gain of 315 m. It is freely accessible year-round; from the car park at the start of the approach, it’s a ten-minute walk to the start. As weather, maintenance or safety requirements can affect access, check current availability before your visit.
The Via Corda requires mountaineering skills and is reserved for specialists. Seek up-to-date professional advice before undertaking it. For the natural ice-climbing area of Ceillac, the Mélèzet car park at the foot of the alpine ski slopes is the starting point for the easily accessible area; this access information does not apply to Cristal Salace. Cristal Salace, by contrast, is in the Vallon des Pelouses. The grades range from 3 to 5+; check equipment and safety requirements before your climb.
In the Queyras, the Tête en l’air paragliding school offers tandem flights and courses. Whether an appointment is available depends on the weather and arrangements with the provider. Contact them to ask about options for your travel dates.
Fishing is another option in the Ceillac valley: fishing is permitted in the Mélézet stream. Check the rules and conditions for the relevant season before planning your fishing day.
Chapel and valley architecture
The Sainte-CĂ©cile church is now used as a chapel. Its present building dates from the late 14th or early 15th century. A visit to the site can therefore also include a look at a building with a history stretching back several centuries.
The traditional residential architecture of the Ceillac valley is compact and somewhat austere in appearance. Many buildings are laid out in an L shape. Larch wood is found mainly in the upper parts of buildings, such as the roof frame, the gable of the barn and the roof. The L-shaped layout and the use of wood in these parts give the style its characteristic structure. Visitors interested in architecture will find a subject here that differs from the sporting activities but is also part of discovering the valley.
Getting there and planning
Montdauphin-Guillestre SNCF railway station is 20 km from Ceillac and is connected to the town by ZOU shuttle buses. As timetables and connections may change, check the times that suit your travel dates in advance.
When choosing accommodation in Ceillac, the range of activities can be a useful starting point: the ascent to Lac Miroir has a stated duration, the Via Corda is reserved for specialists, and beginners aged eight and up can try biathlon with an instructor. Consider which of these is most important for your stay, then plan the rest of your activities accordingly.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Julien-En-Champsaur, Gap, Briancon, La Chapelle-En-Valgaudémar, Crots, Saint-Martin-De-Queyrières, Montbrand, Montgenevre.
See the regional travel overview: Hautes-Alpes.
