The Region - Culture
There is a wealth of history and culture to be discovered in Champsaur and Valgaudemar.The local people have been farming and working the mountains for centuries and the culture of the valley is inextricably linked to the farming calendar. Life was tough in the valleys with cold winters, little work other than farming and poor access. People lived off the land and had fun when they could and their traditions are still very much alive today.
There are a series of festivals and events throughout the year to mark important agricultural events and to celebrate the history of the area. Have a look at our events page to see what's going on when you plan to visit.
Food
A mixture of wild flowers, berries and plants, the produce of local farmers and some creative cooking gently evolved over the centuries and ..... voila... a range of seriously delicious dishes totally unique to the region - a 'must' for food lovers to try out!Historical Buildings
From ancient fortified castles and chateaux including the home of the last ‘Connétable’ of France (the Connétable was the highest ranking officer of the crown, ranking in precedence after the peers) to traditional mills with their famous horizontal wheels.
Museums
There are 8 museums celebrating the history and culture of the valleys with a variety of exhibitions and events throughout the year. Each museum focuses on a different theme: history, traditions, animals, flowers, traditional trades, schools, mills, shepherding.
Agriculture
There are at least 400 farms in Champsaur today, of which there are 120 sheep and goat farmers, about 100 dairy farmers (16.5 million litres of milk are produced each year) and 100 beef farmers. And about 80 others producing goats’ milk, pig farming or involved in farm-tourism.
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