Unterwegs

ORCIÈRES-MERLETTE

Orcières-Merlette winter sports resort
Built by the village shopkeepers, the commune's first ski lift was inaugurated in Orcières on 10 January 1952. Ten years later, the Merlette 1850 resort was created on the initiative of the municipality at the time. Revived as part of the 1964 Snow Plan, the resort took off in the 1970s.  Today, Orcières Merlette 1850 has 18,000 tourist beds and stands out for its wide  range of activities and new snow sports.  The Orcières Merlette 1850 ski area is the largest in Champsaur with 100 km of marked slopes. It includes slopes of all levels of difficulty (7 green, 14 blue, 17 red and 6 black) served by 28 ski lifts. At an altitude of 2,280 metres, the cross-country skiing area includes two trails (4 km) accessible via the Rocherousse telemix. The cross-country skiing offer is complemented by the Haut-Champsaur Nordic area (43 km in total). Since early 2009, Orcières Merlette 1850 has had the longest zip line in Europe, with a length of 1,870 m and a top speed of up to 140 km/h. In summer, Orcières offers an increasingly important downhill mountain biking area. The resort also opens its ski lifts for hiking. Among the famous skiers who trained at the resort are Alizée Baron (ski cross) and Valentin Giraud-Moine (downhill).

Ecrins National Park Half of the municipality of Orcières lies within the central zone of the Ecrins National Park. In early summer, the unspoilt slopes are ablaze with rhododendrons, orange lilies, martagon lilies ... At first light, the colours are exceptional and perfect for surprising encounters with chamois, roe deer, foxes... Everywhere, marmots let out their shrill cries. Above 3,000 metres, glaciers dominate a striking mineral world of vast mountain pastures and larch forests. In winter, the park can be explored on snowshoes or cross-country skis: a majestic and secret space beneath its immaculate blanket. White dominates, of course, but it also reveals the tracks of the animals that inhabit this territory.

Prapic Located on the edge of the Drac Noir valley, at the foot of majestic peaks (Petit and Grand Pinier, Mourre Froid, etc.), Prapic is a village of character that is well worth a visit. Under the blessing of the Church of Sainte-Anne, its heavily cobbled streets and sturdy stone houses bear witness to the history of the hamlet and its harsh life at the time. Prapic is a bit like the end of the world. Nevertheless, close to several mountain passes, including Les Tourettes and Les Terres Blanches (which provided access to the Val de Durance via the mountains), this village had a reputation for being the place where even flies were shod. This was undoubtedly a reference to the fact that the inhabitants had to fend for themselves in their daily lives, far from the major urban and commercial centres.  

Champsaur and Valgaudemar valleys Orcières is located in the Champsaur and Valgaudemar valleys, more specifically in the Haut-Champsaur. This is also what makes it so rich, with its variety of landscapes and multitude of atmospheres to discover, from the gentle bocage of Champsaur to the rugged Himalayan reliefs of Valgaudemar.  Around Orcières, the Champsaur region first reveals itself through the Champoléon valley, where the Drac Blanc river flows and numerous hamlets with discreet charm are nestled. This opens the door to a multitude of hikes in the heart of the Ecrins National Park, with itineraries for the more experienced linking Orcières, Champoléon, Valgaudemar and even Freissinières and Vallouise...