Val-Des-Prés lies at the entrance to the Clarée Valley and brings together a range of interests for a stay: Nordic winter sports routes, historic churches, sundials and the story of an author born there. If you’re looking for activity in winter, you can consider the Nordic area; culture lovers will find several distinct themes. This lets you explore the village according to your own interests, without limiting it to a single season.
Cross-country skiing and Nordic routes
The Val-des-Prés/Les Alberts Nordic ski area includes 25 kilometres of cross-country ski trails and an additional 13 kilometres of Nordic routes. These figures refer to different types of routes: the 25 kilometres are ski trails, while the additional 13 kilometres are Nordic routes. It helps to distinguish between the two when planning. Check snow and operating conditions before you travel, as both are seasonal.
Churches, bread ovens and sundials
The churches also provide tangible historical points of reference in the village. The Église Saint-Claude in Le Serre was classified as a historic monument by decree on 13 November 1989. The Église de l'Annonciation was listed as a historic monument by decree on 29 August 1989. Their names and decree dates make the ecclesiastical heritage tangible and distinguish the two buildings.
The Mini musée du four à pain du Serre offers a different cultural perspective: it showcases the traditions and use of local bread ovens. Visitors who want to explore regional culture beyond its churches will find a distinct theme here, centred on breadmaking. The connection between tradition and practical use complements the history of the monuments with another perspective on the village’s cultural life.
Along the Clarée between La Vachette and Val-des-Prés, there are numerous sundials that form part of the high-alpine heritage. There are about twenty between La Vachette and Ville-Haute. The sundials complement the churches and museum with a heritage that stretches across several named places along the Clarée.
The “Les Arcades” building can still be admired today. It adds another architectural feature alongside the churches, while the sundials give the heritage a geographic connection along the Clarée. This places individual buildings alongside a theme that spans several named locations.
A personal cultural story
Émilie Carles was born in Val-des-Prés on 29 May 1900 and wrote the autobiographical book “Une soupe aux herbes sauvages”. This connection between a person and a place complements the architectural themes with a life story. For culture lovers, the book is a distinct point of interest alongside churches, bread ovens and sundials: the focus here is on an author and an autobiographical work, not only on monuments.
Choose the focus of your stay
When planning, you can clearly distinguish between the different interests: the ski trails and Nordic routes offer a focus on winter sports, while the churches, bread ovens, sundials, Les Arcades and Émilie Carles open up a range of cultural experiences. Consider which of these themes you want to shape your stay. If winter sports are part of your plans, take seasonal snow and operating conditions into account.
Discover more destinations: Ribiers, La Roche-Des-Arnauds, Saint-Jacques-En-Valgodemard, Chabottes, Villar-D'arêne, La Salle Les Alpes, Champoléon, Saint-Eusèbe-En-Champsaur
For the main travel overview: Hautes-Alpes.
