EMbrun and its surroundings, paradise for your stays in all seasons. Ground, Sky, Light and Water: all here contributes to your wellbeing…

The Mediterranean and alpine influences are based to offer an imposing landscape to us where the men knew to leave a strong testimony of their history.

By far, one would say a city-fortress trônant on his rock. Capital of the Province of the Maritime Alps

at the time Roman, ecclesiastical metropolis in the Middle Ages, Embrun was indeed strengthened by Vauban at the 17th century, but already had a natural protection, perched as it is on her level stretch of rock.

Dominating the plain of the Durance and the water level which finishes the lake of Greenhouse-Ponçon, Embrun has also the privilege to be with two steps of the high mountains of the park of the Jewel cases and with fifteen minutes in the car of several ski resorts.

Called "Nice of the Alps" for the quality of its climate, Embrun will be able also to convince you of the richness of his glorious last. A small blessed city of the Gods which deserves at least a long day of visit, to explore the maze of the malls and lanes of the old city to the frontages with the tone pastels or sharper but always merry and coloured. To admire the superb door carved of a masonry multiséculaire, here a turret, there an old fountain on a shaded placette…

It is with the c?ur of the old city that you will fall in admiration in front of the cathedral from Spray: classified historic building, Our Lady of Réal is a wonder of the Gothic art, mixed with the tradition lombarde and Italian. More significant religious monument of the French Alps, it will impress you by its monumental dimensions, its rosette, its carved lions stylized which support its pillars… Near, draws up the Brown Tower, whose construction goes back to the 13th century. Still in perfect state, you will quiver when you learn that it was used formerly as prison. Further, the House of Chanonges is a superb Romance building of which you will admire the reasons carved on the frontage.

Make to finish a small halt in the garden of the Archbishop's palace, behind the cathedral: accoudé with the high wall which protected the city from the invasions, one embraces there glance all the valley of the Durance, his vegetable gardens and his high mountains.

Of up there, you will begin to dream with the history of Spray and with all those who passed there: counts of Provence and Dolphins royal, as well as the humble pilgrims going out of Holy Land, or those which quite simply came to require a miracle of Our-Lady of Réal!

Dominating the Durance and fixed on its rock which from time immemorial protected Embrunais, the old city of Spray owes its name of Celtic origin with its position (RBE: water and Dunum: rise). Capital of the Alps cottiennes under the Roman empire, Embrun became ecclesiastical metropolis until the French revolution.

Today, this small city hiding place with the turning of its lanes and placettes of many traces of its past. While strolling, leave to discovered modillons, will mascarons, the sundials, the blind arcades and the lions, to sometimes obscure symbolism, which decorate the frontages.

Strengthened by Vauban, the old military fortified town that was Embrun, still takes shape in certain places where walls and crenels determine and perforate the horizon which is prolonged on the mountains and the lake of Greenhouse-Ponçon. Beautiful doors with profiled or carved panels, the transoms openwork, punctuate the rate/rhythm of the coloured houses, and user-friendliness is always present around the pink marble fountains of XVIe century.

Under the limes, the plane trees or the chestnut trees, listen to mix

To see:

The Collar of VAr (2108 m) the Natural Reserve of the Valley of Escreins:

of Guillestre, to take D902 in direction of the collar of VAr: little before St Marcellin, to take a small road on the left

in direction of the reserve (paying parking lot)

Leisures:

Ski in one of the winter sports resorts : Orres, Risoul-VAr, Réallon, Crévoux Ski touring, Rackets. Alpinism

Sports of water Running: rafting, canoraft, kayakraft, canyoning. Water sports on the water level of Spray: board with veil, catamaran, oar, canoe.

And adjustments of leisures: beaches, tennis, miniature golf,

grounds of tennis shoe and volleyball, game of bowls sporting course… Climbing (Via-ferrata) Parapente. Pedestrian excursions:

Lake of Hivernet 2352m, the Mount Guillaume (2550m) VTT (580 km marked out in the area)

Exposure:

The Past of Embrunais, places archbishop's palace (open all the year after midday except Sundays and public holidays)

Market (every saturday and Wednesday morning)

Reception facilities:

10 Hotels. Lodging