If you like meeting local people and want a more personable experience, then the small friendly bed and breakfasts in the valley are really good value for money.
Unlike British B&Bs, the French 'chambre d'hotes' generally have a comfortable lounge (often with a log fire or wood burner) and dining area for you to relax in with your friends so you're not confined to your room.
And most of them offer an evening meal as well. These are often a set menu of four courses with wine.
There are many more to choose from in the valleys but these are our favourites. We also offer other ranges of
accomodation in the French Alps.
The Forest House
The Forest House is a lovely wooden chalet with alpine character situated in the heart of one of the pretty ski villages in the Champsaur valley.
It is a family house run by Marie and her family who will give you a warm welcome and look after you during your stay.
The bed and breakfast rooms have their own private entrance.
There is a large spacious double room with the possibility to add two extra people and a suite which also has a lounge with TV and sofa bed sleeping up to six people in total.
Both rooms have private bathroom and toilet facilities, a garden and storage area for skis or mountain bikes (there is a bike wash as well).
Breakfast is served in a private dining area and it is also possible to eat evening meals. Marie is a very good cook!
Perfectly situated for a family
winter multi activity holiday or
summer activity holiday.
If you would like to see some larger photos of The Forest, have a look at
The Forest on our Flickr page.
Click to enlarge
The Sunflower
The sunflower is a totally unique ecologically friendly living concept that turns in the sun!
The concept is
domespace and The Sunflower is the first of its kind in the Hautes-Alpes. It is made from chemical free, sustainable wood sources and insulated with cork and recycled materials.
It uses a wood granule burner, one of the most ecologically friendly forms of heating.
But the most exceptional thing about this concept is that the whole house can rotate using a clever chain system so you can make the most of the sun and views depending on which room you are in!
This special accommodation also has a jacuzzi for guests to use.
Herve and Isabel live in The Sunflower all year round and will welcome you to their unusual house and make sure you are well looked after during your stay. Isabel is a great cook so it is worth eating in and staying on a half board basis!
If you would like to see some larger photos of The Sunflower, have a look at
The Sunflower on our Flickr page.
Click to enlarge
Emile's Farm
Jean-Marie and Dominique have lovingly restored this traditional Champsaurian farmhouse into a fabulous bed and breakfast.
With a beautiful vaulted dining room and lounge with open fire, a kitchenette for residents use (so you can make up your own picnics and keep supplies fresh in the fridge), a cosy children's area to keep the little ones occupied and beautiful views, this is a great place to stay.
It is situated in Les Forestons, a beautiful small hamlet near St Bonnet, the main town of Champsaur.
It's a great location for walking, mountain biking, caving, watersports, climbing, canyoning..... in the summer and perfect for snowshoeing or winter multi activity holidays in the winter.
Dominique and Jean-Marie don't speak much English but they are very hospitable and will make sure you enjoy your holiday. They do evening meals and breakfast.
Please have a look at more photos of
Emile's farm
Click to enlarge
Village Bed and Breakfast
Donald - the valley's resident Scot, and Agnes will give you a truly warm welcome to the valley in this perfect village bed and breakfast.
It's situated on the edge of the medieval village of St Bonnet, which is a great central location for all activities.
The accommodation is superb, with a large sociable dining table for dinner and breakfast, comfy areas including the all important wood burner for those cold winter nights, a games table for chess or cards and for summer holiday makers, the downstairs rooms all have their own deckchairs and tables for relaxing and sunbathing in front of magnificent views.
They also provide evening meals - four courses with wine and are happy to cook anything you fancy so just let them know.
Click to enlarge
the bear stone
The Bear Stone is a traditional stone farmhouse of the region that has been recently renovated to a high standard by Marie and Xavier, a young couple with a passion for the mountains.
It is situated in a tiny hamlet in the beautiful Champoleon valley just at the entrance to the Ecrins National Park, one of the most dramatic mountain ranges of the French Alps.
For winter it is just 15 minutes drive from the main ski resort of Orcieres 1850 and close by the ski villages and activities so although it feels like being in the middle of no-where it isn't far way from anything! And there are cross country ski pistes and snowshoe walks straight from the door.
In summer there are some fantastic walks and mountain bike rides straight from the door and it is close to paragliding, canyoning, high ropes adventure, tree climbing ... and more.
There are two large (25 square meter) rooms, one twin and one double, both with ensuite toilet and bathroom facilities and a private entrance.
Marie is a passionate cook and for breakfast you will taste her homemade jams and goodies! She doesn't offer evening meals at the Bear Stone, but in her second life, she works at the Auberge, a 2 minute walk in the same hamlet where you can go for a drink and evening meal!
Peace and quiet, with a rustic feel and alpine ambiance and character ... this is a great place to stay for a romantic week away in the Alps.
Have a look at more photos of the
Bear Stone here.
Click to enlarge
Alpine Meadow Chalet
This is a luxurious mountain chalet situated where three valleys meet; Champsaur, Valgaudemar and Devoluy, in the old mountain village of Poligny.
It's newly built in a traditional wooden chalet style and is set in 2000 square meters of grounds with magnificent views.
The bedrooms are really well presented and it has a large, beautiful open plan lounge and dining area with a fantastic open fire.
There's also an outdoor hot tub for winter and a jacuzzi spa and sauna room inside to relax away all those aches and pains after a day of activity in the mountains.
Outside in the extensive grounds there is a Finnish style BBQ cabin for fun sociable evening BBQs.
Breakfast is included and an evening meal is available with wine and aperatif included.
Check out some more photos of this stunning accommodation including its new Finnish BBQ Hut on its
Flickr page!
Click to enlarge
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