Sainte-Catherine: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

Sainte-Catherine is a south-facing hamlet in the mountains and the highest of the three mountain villages of Vars.

Anyone planning a stay in Sainte-Catherine will want to rent a holiday apartment.

Culture

Sainte-Catherine is considered the former granary of Vars. Traditional larch-wood balconies extend across the façades of the buildings in Sainte-Catherine.

Landscape

From Sainte-Catherine, there is a view of the Crêtes de l’Eyssina. The view also extends to the Massif des Ecrins, whose peaks rise above 4,000 metres.

The Bois de la Pinée is considered a protected, wild environment with a diverse range of animal and plant life.

Hiking

The Bois de la Pinée above Sainte-Catherine is suitable for hiking and snowshoeing.

The “Crêtes de Vars par la Pinée” hiking route starts at the school car park in Sainte-Catherine and from there follows a marked trail towards the Bois de la Pinée and Col de la Scie.

A hiking route to the Château de Vars can begin in Sainte-Catherine. The rocky promontory of the Château de Vars offers a 360-degree panorama stretching from the Crêtes de Vars to the peaks of the Ecrins.

The final section to Mortice Sud is very steep and is classified as black difficulty.

The “Lac des 9 couleurs et Mortice / Depuis les Couniets” hiking route begins in Sainte-Catherine.

Mountain Biking

“Farmers Track” is a VTT circuit that starts at the sawmill in the upper part of Sainte-Catherine. The route combines open landscapes, forests and alpine wildlife.

“Under the Crest” is an all-mountain VTT route that starts at the sawmill in Sainte-Catherine.

More local pages: Eyguians, Prunières, Saint-Blaise, Abries, Villar-Saint-Pancrace, L'epine, La Grave, Pelvoux.

To the higher-level travel overview: Hautes-Alpes.