Discover history, culture and stunning alpine landscapes in Guillestre. The town is nestled in a lush valley and surrounded by rugged peaks. Be charmed by cobbled streets, pastel-coloured townhouses and bubbling fountains in the town centre. Easy access to Écrins National Park and the Alpe d’Huez ski area make Guillestre an excellent base for outdoor adventures in the French Alps.
Things to do in Guillestre
Guillestre’s main square is surrounded by historic buildings and anchored by a fountain made from pink-tinged marble. Start your day with coffee and croissants at a sidewalk café overlooking the square. Notre-Dame d'Aquilon towers over the square and, like the fountain, is built from beautiful pink marble. The church dates back to the 16th century and features a handsome Romanesque-Lombardic façade with an impressive archway and belltower.
Écrins National Park protects 1,000 square kilometres of glaciers, rivers and peaks. Summer is ideal for hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing in the park. Whitewater rafting along the Guil River will get your pulse racing while warm updrafts flow through the valleys and make the park a prime destination for paragliding. Experienced mountaineers can summit Barre des Écrins, which towers more than 4,100 metres above sea level.
Winter snowfall transforms Écrins National Park into a popular destination for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Guided hut-to-hut ski trips take you deeper into the park. The nearby Alpe d’Huez ski area is part of a larger resort where you can discover almost 250 kilometres of groomed runs, plus endless off-piste routes. At 16 kilometres, the famous La Sarenne black run is one of the longest in Europe.
Getting around Guillestre
Guillestre is pedestrian-friendly and easy to get around on foot. The town is located in the Hautes-Alpes department, a four-hour drive from Nice and Lyon. Montdauphin Eygliers Train Station is a 10-minute drive from Montdauphin Eygliers and offers connections to Nice, Lyon and other cities. Mont-Dauphin - Saint-Crépin Airport is a 10-minute drive away.