City break in Briancon. Active leisure ideas for Briancon - attractions, recreation and nightlife

It doesn’t matter if you visit Briancon in summer or in winter, the city always has much to offer to its guests. Fans of recreation and various outdoor activities will not need to worry they will get bored during their vacation in the fabulous Alpine city. Without a doubt, no Briancon holiday is possible without exploration of the Serre Chevalier. This valley has been famous since the Roman Empire times. Back then, it was already a popular recreation destination with famous baths. There are still some ruins of the Roman Empire period in the region, such as fragments of the ancient road that is located below the Lautaret pass.

The glorious history of the region didn’t end together with the Roman Empire. In the 14th century, Serre Chevalier became a part of the Republic of Escartons, and Briancon became its capital. Later, this region joined the French kingdom. Nowadays, there are many hiking tours that unleash the history of those times. These tours are great for learning more about the region and enjoying the beautiful nature at the same time. For example, take a walk to the Galibier or the Rochilles, and in the area between Nevache and Valloire you will see unusual ancient signs that have a Savoie cross and the French lily on different sides.

Not only fans of history will be delighted with Serre Chevalier. It is an ancient geological formation with many extraordinary spots. The Rocher blanc in the valley of Guisane is one of them. It is possible to see an extremely rare phenomenon here – the 300-meter tall rocks unleash more than 300 million years of history of the Earth. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The military architecture of the region is, perhaps, its biggest attraction. The Fort des Tetes, the Pont d’Asfeld, town fortifications, the Communication Y, the Fort Dauphin, Sere de Riviere, the Ford des Gondrans, the Fort de la croix de Bretagne, and many more – the Vauban fortresses are truly spectacular and unique, so no wonder why they are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If architectural wonders do not attract you that much, simply explore the local flora and fauna. Glaciers, pine forests, rocks, and humid zones – wild nature near Briancon has all these and more. Naturally, the diversified environment is home to various species of animals. Head to guided tours to see local fauna in full splendor. Ermines, marmots, and voles are just some of the typical animals of the region. It is also possible to see rare Apollon butterflies and hear cries of nutcrackers in local silver pine forests. If you decide to make a hiking tour to the mountains and are lucky enough, you may see some predator birds, such as the peregrine falcon and golden eagle. These birds nest on rocky cliffs. Go a bit down, to steep rocky gradients, so see white partridge and alpine ibex.

These are not all exciting activities that visitors in Briancon may be interested in. The region has a rich mining heritage – last mines closed here only in the 60s of the previous century. Now, these abandoned mines attract numerous tourists who come to see old equipment, much of which belongs to the 19th century. Mountain rivers of the region are also suitable for rafting.

Travelers with children will enjoy a visit to Grimp’in Forest – a forest camp with various amusements, escape routes, and rope ladders. Do not plan to spend just a few hours because the park is so interesting that you will want to spend a whole day there. There are many entertaining activities for children of different age and their parents. When you are tired head to the picnic area to relax and enjoy some food. Attentive staff speaks at least two languages and has safety of visitors as the main priority. All trails are marked with different colors, ranging from green (easy) to black (the hardest).