Southern Alps: The Southern Alps include two rural departments, Alpes de Haute-Provence and Hautes-Alpes.

The Southern Alps comprise two rural départements, Alpes de Haute-Provence and Hautes-Alpes.

The Southern Alps, an unspoilt land, is located in the north of the Provence Alpes Côte-d'Azur region.

These sunny Alps offer visitors a remarkable quality of travel.

The ski resorts here are on a human scale, and nature is never far away!

The two départements boast a record number of protected natural areas!

There are 2 national parks (Mercantour and Écrins) and 4 regional nature parks (Queyras, Baronnies Provençales, Verdon and Luberon).

And in the towns and villages, you'll always receive a warm welcome.

The two departments of the Southern Alps offer a remarkable patchwork of landscapes.

From the lavender-covered lands of Haute-Provence to the snow-capped peaks of the Écrins massif, the difference is enormous.

With peaks topping 4,000 metres, the region is marked by splendid mountain scenery.

But here the sun helps to sustain an extraordinary biodiversity. Nature teems with animal and plant species

There's no better way to observe these extraordinary sites than on the many hiking trails in the Southern Alps.

What's more, you can discover these wonders all year round.

There's nothing to compare between the immaculate white spaces of winter and the green forests and fields under the summer sun!

The Southern Alps can be discovered all year round, that's for sure!

You'll love the local ski resorts, which have nothing to envy the resorts of the Northern Alps.

Some ski destinations are renowned far beyond the region's borders.

Some of the most famous ski resorts include :

• Serre-Chevalier
• Vars
• Risoul

Other ski resorts offer a village atmosphere and a sun-drenched ski area (Ancelle, Ceillac, Seyne les Alpes)...

Traditional winter activities are on offer in the Southern Alps.

Thousands of kilometres of ski runs will take you right up to the Alpine peaks.

You can also try your hand at snowboarding, dog-sledding or snowshoeing.

From late spring onwards, it's all about the pleasure of hiking and discovering nature!

The Southern Alps offer visitors a host of well-maintained trails.

What's more, you'll have the chance to explore a number of protected natural areas!

You'll love the unspoilt areas of the Écrins National Park and the superb Queyras Regional Nature Park.

You can also discover the Southern Alps from a town's point of view!

Some of the most beautiful towns in the Southern Alps include :

• Sisteron and its remarkable citadel
• Briançon, the highest town in Europe
• Gap, the human-sized capital of the Southern Alps

While you're here during the summer season, take the opportunity to stroll through the local markets in Haute Provence and the Southern Alps!

Each commune in the Southern Alps has a weekly market where you can sample local produce, some of it organic.

In fact, the region is bursting with good produce. So there's plenty of fruit, vegetables and olive oil for you to enjoy on the spot or back home!

On the savoury side, there's Banon cheese, made from raw goat's milk and wrapped in chestnut leaves before maturing. The result is a soft, creamy cheese with a nutty flavour.

On the sweet side, you'll find delicious blueberry tarts in every resort in the Southern Alps.