Prunières: Holiday Apartments and Houses
The Chapelle Saint-Michel stands on an island measuring only a few dozen square metres and narrowly escaped being flooded by Lac de Serre-Ponçon by just a few metres. The chapel is closed to the public because the island is now a breeding ground for gulls. However, when the water level is low, it can be approached by boat or on foot.
When planning a trip to Prunières, you may wish to rent a holiday apartment.
Culture and History
In 1140, the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem established a priory and a hospital at the Chapelle Saint-Michel to accommodate travellers.
The parish church of Prunières was formerly dedicated to Saint-Sauveur. The feast of Saint-Sauveur is celebrated on the first Sunday in August. The Saint-Sauveur church was probably partially rebuilt towards the end of the 15th century and has six stained-glass windows donated in 1902.
The Château de Prunières is one of the last reminders of the influence of the noble families in the valley. Throughout its history, the château was burned down three times, in 1580, 1692 and 1925; its architecture was altered by these events and subsequent restorations.
The Thubaneau Viaduct was built between 1880 and 1882 for the PLM railway company and began operating in 1883. The railway viaduct formerly connected Prunières and Chorges and carried the railway across the Combe de Marrasse.
Landscape
The hamlets of Prunières stretch from the Aiguilles de Chabrières to the former bed of the Durance; above them, larch forests rise over steppes with Mediterranean influences. The small roads around Prunières are suitable for panoramic cycling tours offering views from Lac de Serre-Ponçon to the Aiguilles de Chabrières.
Activities
Along the small coves between the Riou-Bourdoux and Baie Saint-Michel, excursions by stand-up paddleboard or canoe are possible away from the official beaches. From spring to autumn, hot-air balloon flights take off in Prunières at sunrise over Lac de Serre-Ponçon.
Kite Légende is a kitesurfing school on the shores of Lac de Serre-Ponçon in the Hautes-Alpes, offering suitable conditions for learning and practising kitesurfing.
Local Tradition
In the hamlet of Les Gourres, the communal bread oven preserves the tradition of baking and breaking bread together during local festivals and events.
For the higher-level travel overview: Hautes-Alpes.
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