Vars reveals its special character where winter sports meet striking landscapes and history. Since the early 1990s, world speed records on snow have been set on the Chabrières slope, including records set on skis. At its highest point, the Chabrières speed corridor has a gradient of 98%.
When planning a stay in Vars, you may wish to rent a holiday apartment.
Nature
The Val d’Escreins has been a protected natural area within the municipality of Vars since 1964. The nature reserve covers 25 km² and extends from an elevation of 1,600 m to 3,385 m; Font Sancte is the highest point of the reserve and the park. The Val d’Escreins has hiking trails, and visitors can also observe alpine animal species such as marmots, chamois, black grouse and eagles there. A free shuttle runs from the villages of Vars to the Val d’Escreins nature reserve.
The Sentier des arbres remarquables also leads through nature: it passes around ten trees that are several hundred years old, some of which have a circumference of more than four metres.
Activities
The Vars Bike Park offers at least 60 km of trails for mountain biking and cross-country riding. The 1,027 m-long Luge du Caribou toboggan run has an elevation difference of 123 m and is located in the upper part of the winter sports resort towards the Col de Vars.
La Trace de Sibières is a difficult ski touring route covering 2.2 km, starting in Vars les Claux, Fournet. The Route du Vallon des Prises is a winter circular route accessible from Sainte-Marie via Bois Noir by chairlift. The Chemin du Barjo is a prepared snowshoe trail for families running from the upper end of the Télémix de Chabrières to the Le Barjo mountain restaurant. The Sentier de Faudon is a hiking trail from Lac de Peyrol to the village of Vars Sainte-Marie.
Culture
Saint-Marcellin is the oldest village in Vars. Construction of its old church began in the 15th century. The grounds of the Château de Vars preserve the remains of an 11th-century watchtower. The Circuit des 3 villages passes through Vars’ traditional villages and showcases the historic ensemble of houses, sundials and religious heritage.
At the Col de Vars, the Refuge Napoléon was built in 1856 under Napoleon III. The Col de Vars is also one of the best-known stages of the Route des Grandes Alpes. In Saint-Marcellin, the temple is used for exhibitions. During the summer grazing season, the Cabane de Chabrières served as accommodation for shepherds in the last century and was restored in 2016.
Other destinations: Gap, Chorges, Champcella, La Joue Du Loup, Le Monêtier-Les-Bains, Orpierre, La Bâtie-Neuve, Baratier
