Tour of the Queyras

The Queyras is a dramatic, unspoilt region of the French Alps, between the Durance Valley and the Italian border. Due to being sheltered to the west by the Écrins, it is one of the sunniest areas of the Alps and the absence of glaciers makes the Queyras ideal hillwalking country as it has several high mountain summits accessible to the ordinary walker and scrambler.

The walking Tour in this guidebook includes most of the standard GR58 trail and about half of the GR541 from the Durance valley into the heart of the Queyras at Funfande. Minor variations are taken occasionally where the route and scenery are preferable to the standard trail. There are various optional and alternative routes, all of which are described in this guidebook. In addition, the Tour includes a number of optional ascents of mountain summits that are passed on the way, but which are not part of any official GR route. In total, the

Tour crosses 24 cols and provides optional ascents of 17 peaks.
The Tour has been divided into 12 stages, each a day long and each stage terminates at a convenient place where overnight accommodation is available. Most of the day stages are not especially long which allows plenty of time for admiring the magnificent scenery or attempting an additional summit or footpath.

There is plenty of variety on the trail, from woodland glades to rocky, high-level cols, from Alpine pastures to airy summits. The Tour includes two excursions into the Italian Alps, and there are opportunities to shorten or lengthen the route as time and conditions dictate. The route is ideal for those new to Alpine walking, while also providing optional challenges for the more experienced.

The official mapping agency in France, the Institut Geographique National (IGN), the equivalent of Britain’s Ordnance Survey, produces the following maps, which are of use to those walking the Tour of the Queyras.

1 IGN Carte de Randonnée 1:25 000

Three maps are required to cover the entire route of the Tour described in this guidebook.

• Sheet 3637 OT. Mont Viso (St-Véran – Aiguilles). Parc Naturel Régional du Queyras.
• Sheet 3537 ET. Guillestre – Vars – Risoul. Parc Naturel Régional du Queyras.
• Sheet 3536 OT. Briançon – Serre-Chevalier – Montgenèvre. Only a very small part of the Tour is shown on this map.

All the 1:25 000 IGN maps are of excellent quality and are highly recommended.

2 IGN 1:60 000

Sheet 06. Queyras – Ubaye. This map covers the whole of the Tour du Queyras and also includes the Tour of Monte Viso.

These maps can be bought from specialist map shops in the UK as well as local and main city outlets in France (see Appendix 3).

Each stage in this guidebook is illustrated by a diagrammatic map of the route.

January 2016

Thanks to Donald Degenhardt for the following updated information.

1) See montourduqueyras.fr for a more up-to-date list of accommodation on the Tour du Queyras. This website contains up-to-date opening & closing dates, contact details (addresses, telephone numbers, websites, email addresses) for establishments on the route. The site also allows online booking for many of the gîtes d’étape and refuges listed.

2) Walkers intending to travel to and from the area in September should note that the summer bus schedules now end on 31 August and the only daily service after that is the school bus down from the various villages to Guillestre town at 7 a.m. and back up when school finishes. It is possible for adults to  use this service, but note that this bus does not visit Guillestre rail station.

December 2012

Thanks to Rob Tresidder for the following information.

p32 (final paragraph)

It is now necessary for over 60s to purchase a Carte Sénior to qualify for an age-related discount on SNCF.

p78 (route description, line 2)

The trail is no longer marked with pink dots, there are now just red and white flashes.

p78

When descending from Les Escoyères, a large part of the road can be avoided by a well-engineered footpath (waymarked), which starts at the first hairpin below the church with the sundial.

p81 (final paragraph)

There is no longer a ski lift here. The very ancient remains of a lower station can just be made out.

p86 (route description, line 1)

The route starts opposite the west door of the church. Exit the square by the SE corner.

p96 (route description, line 13)

About 200m, not 50m.

p102

The old waymarking up the Pain de Sucre has now been reported not to be visible on the ground.

p105

There is now no metal cross on the summit of the Pain de Sucre.

p111

The path down the valley towards Chianale has been recently waymarked.

p111 (final paragraph)

The building is the Ricovero Carlo Emanuele III. The ‘sito arrampicato’ has become the ‘Palaestra di Roccia’.

p114

The path descending leads first to the Rifugio Vallante after crossing the stream and climbing back up a few metres. Climb higher still to get to the Rifugio Gagliardone.

p119

The route up Monte Granero is definitely not for the inexperienced, as the absence of waymarking means you have to find your own way. There is also considerable exposure and some moves are probably of ‘Diff’ standard. Be sure to check with the Refugio guardian before attempting this peak.

p140

The gîte in Abriès is found by crossing the bridge next to the square and passing through the gap between the houses opposite. Turn right and find Le Villard immediately on your left.

p149

To leave Abriès climb the wide concrete steps to the left (S) of Le Villard. At the top turn left, down the road and take the first flight of steps on the right. At the top, turn right and at the end of this road, find the GR58 signpost almost hidden in undergrowth. This leads easily left (W) along the calvaire to the church.

p152

Cross a bridge, not a footbridge.

p168

The weather station is on the principal, not the S summit.

One of the less visited parts of the Alps, it is the author’s favourite mountain area in the world. Alan Castle’s aim was to write a comprehensive guide, containing enough information for those making their first trek in the Alps but also with enough options to satisfy the experienced alpine walker, with 17 additional peaks and route variations. In this I feel he has succeeded.
So, if you are a strong walker (as LDWA members are) looking for a first foray into the Alps, or are well-experienced and seeking an area a little off the beaten track, this could be for you. 

John Dixie, Strider August 2009