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The Queyras: 2500 inhabitants, 2500 chamois, 2500 flower species.
The Queyras is a sort of archipelago sheltered from the irritations of the modern world. Here the sun shines for 300 days a year. Valleys perched from 1600 to 2000 metres, home to the highest villages in Europe, wend their way towards Italy. In these mountain villages, buildings wrought from wood and stone seem to melt into the natural environment.
Tourist activity here has developed thanks to the richness of Nature, never to its detriment. Flora and fauna of impressive variety may be seen: there are 650 square kilometres in which a rare gem may be sought. Royal eagle, marmot, chamois, wolf, Eurasian eagle owl, black grouse, brown trout, arolla pine, larch, edelweiss, Turk's cap lily...
Holidays from mid-June to mid-September.
You can begin your stay any day June and September.
In the high season, holidays start on odd dates (1st, 3rd, 5th...) in July, and even dates (2nd, 4th, 6th...) in August.
Itineraries (please click for details)
8 days / 7 nights 
4 days / 3 nights
Characteristics of circuits
Walking holiday with a donkey suitable for families
Difficulty: 3/5
Daily stages between 8 and 13.5km, 3hrs to 5hrs 30mins walking
Total daily uphill from 270 to 780 metres per day
Altitude between 1820 et 2740 metres
For people with adequate physical condition
Children from 6 years old.
What's included?
Half board in 2 star hotel and chalet-inn.
(Long stay includes one night half board in comfortable mountain hut.)
Baggage transfer by vehicle.
Roadbook and routemarked map provided.
Private parking for your vehicle.
Technical and logistical assistance.
Reservation request
Booking form
Once you've filled in the form, Safran will suggest a made-to-measure holiday adapted to your personally chosen dates during the week or at the weekend.
Tariffs 2012
| Price per person, on the basis of two people sharing same room | Additional services | ||||
| Duration | July - August | Low Season | Child 6 - 11 | Donkey hire | Baggage Transport |
| 8d/7n | € 590 | € 550 | -30% | € 280 | included |
| 4d/3n | - | € 220 | -30% | € 155 | € 45 |
| Picnic: €10 per person, reductions for children. | |||||
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Sundials
 Sundials were widespread from the Renaissance to the 19th century. They often represent a stylised image of the world. Their construction required technical knowledge in the domain of mathematics, even if the timetelling function was secondary. For the primary function of a sundial was to symbolize the social and cultural distinction of the owner. Naturally the aesthetic element was equally important.A strong Italian influence meant that sundials painted al fresco were more in view than the sculpted variety. On a hydrated lime base, natural pigments were appled to produce decorative design elements. The Italian artist Giovanni Francesco Zarbula is famous throughout the High Alps in general and the Queyras in particular. He was the author of a large number of distinctive sundials recognizable by the presence of painted birds and baskets of flowers. The time lapse between a sundial and "clock time" is explained by the situation of the Queyras in relation to the meridian of Greenwich. Queyras is to the east of the latter, and therefore has a natural advance of half an hour. "State time" is determined by decree, which explains why the sundials of Saint-Véran are an hour and a half ahead in summer, half an hour in winter... Wall-mounted sundials consist of a pin called the "gnomon" ("style" in French) whose shadow follows the hour lines painted on the sundial. They only work when the sun shines, but they are not necessarily seen only on south-facing walls. East and west walls also have their sundials - those which work in the morning and in the evening...indeed in rare cases one can find two sundials on the same house to cover all the sunny hours of the day! |
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Agence Safran - Les Cascades - F. 26400 Mirabel et Blacons
Tel. +33 (0)4 75 25 78 78 - Fax +33 (0)4 75 25 78 79
info@safrantours.com - Agence de voyages LI.026.99.0001