The tourist development of Serre-Ponçon has not prevented a strong local identity from continuing! This remains firmly anchored and is still the pride of its inhabitants who take pleasure in sharing it with holidaymakers. If the lake, with its beaches and its nautical activities, is the main source of attraction, the culture of this region is not lacking in interest. We offer you some suggestions and ideas that will allow you to soak up the soul of Serre-Ponçon!
CULTURE
CULTURE, CRAFTS, NATURE
GREENHOUSE PONCONMarkets and local crafts
In the historic center of Embrun, the old Saint-Donat church houses the Maison de Pays The Embrun Hand. Held by an association, it promotes the producers, artists and craftsmen of Serre-Ponçon. Within the sales area you can discover the know-how of potters, stained glass artists, jewelry designers, wood carvers... or taste local productions. An exhibition space renewed several times a year highlights the work of artists from the region.
In several towns bordering the Serre-Ponçon lake, there are also markets where you can meet local producers. The Embrun market, place Barthelon, is held every Wednesday and Saturday morning. That of Savines-le-Lac takes place on Tuesday and Friday mornings while that of Chorges, one of the largest in the region, is held on Sundays, but also on Wednesday evenings at night. Finally, we recommend the night market which is organized every Monday in summer in Baratier during which you can also admire the magnificent larch market.
Discovering agriculture in Serre-Ponçon
The mountain pastures that extend over the mountains surrounding the Serre-Ponçon lake are proof of an ever-dynamic agriculture. The development of tourism has not altered its importance or its authenticity and several farmers have chosen to highlight it and pass on their history and their know-how.
This is particularly the case of the Chèvrerie de Véronique in Puy-Sanières, which opens its doors to visitors wishing to find out more about the farming and cheese-making methods, all concluded with a tasting of the production! In Les Celliers, a hamlet in Rousset, beekeeping is in the spotlight with Apiland, both a museum and a sales area.
The Embrun Charcuterie Museum in Crots retraces the singular history of these local butchers who left for Marseille where their know-how allowed them to occupy an important place in the Marseille city. Some have returned to carry on this age-old tradition. The museum offers guided tours and culinary workshops.
More original, the Jardin de l'Essen'Ciel in Chorges is devoted to the cultivation and sale of Spirulina. This edible microalgae, grown in pure mountain spring water, has many benefits for health and vitality!
Finally, we also produce craft beer in Serre-Ponçon! The artisanal brewery of Serre-Ponçon, based in Chorges, welcomes you for guided tours and a tasting area during which the delicate flavors of these beers brewed with Écrins water will be revealed.
Cultural outing in Embrun
With more than 6 inhabitants, Embrun is the largest town in Serre-Ponçon. It is also she who has known the richest history. Former bishopric and sub-prefecture until 000, the historic center has preserved many traces of this prestigious past, such as the Notre-Dame du Réal cathedral from the 1926th and 360th centuries, one of the most remarkable monuments in the region. If Vauban's fortified enclosure disappeared at the end of the XNUMXth century, many buildings are well preserved and some can be visited. The oldest residence in Embrun, the Maison des Chanonges, which faces the cathedral, is home to the Maison du patrimoine Embrunais. The old Capuchin chapel hosts contemporary art exhibitions, while the Maison de Pays de l'Embrunais, mentioned above, is located in the Saint-Donat church. The Brown Tower, the former dungeon of the archbishops, is also worth a detour and a visit! The Écrins National Park organizes exhibitions there and a panoramic terrace allows you to take in the landscape of Serre-Ponçon at XNUMX°!
Serre-Ponçon, nature side!
If Serre-Ponçon is the ideal place to reconnect with nature, you can also learn more about the geological and biological specificities that contribute to the beauty of the region. One thus finds, on the commune of Crots, one of the vastest cones of dejection of Europe. It is a sedimentary mass deposited by a torrent, the Bragousse. An educational space, the Téthys farm, allows you to learn more about the formation of mountains and the local geology.
A true ambassador for the region and a great tool for promoting the environment, the Ecrins National Park has its visitor center in the hamlet of Gourniers in Réallon. On the program: discovery of natural, cultural and historical heritage, presentation of fauna and flora, public awareness of the preservation of biodiversity... Access is also free.
Our team is at the disposal of residents who want to discover Serre-Ponçon from another angle. We will give them advice to orient them among the many existing tourist visits, all less than an hour from Camping du Lac!
