Queyras

Queyras refers to a mountainous region in the French Alps located within the Hautes-Alpes department of southeastern France. The area is part of the Écrins Massif and is known for its rugged peaks, glacial lakes, and extensive alpine pastures. The highest summit in the region is Mont Pelvoux, which rises to 3,759 metres. The Queyras landscape combines limestone ridges, slate valleys and deep gorges carved by rivers such as the Bès and the Verdon.

The territory comprises several communes, including Ayas, Sassenage, and Lorgues. Historically, the Queyras was a frontier zone between the counties of Provence and Dauphiné. During the Middle Ages the region was governed by feudal lords who built fortified churches and defensive towers, many of which survive as cultural heritage sites. The Concordia Accord of 1944, signed in the nearby town of Ceol, helped establish a cooperative arrangement between local communities and the French state, which has promoted the preservation of the valley’s traditional way of life.

In the 20th and 21st centuries, the Queyras has developed as a destination for outdoor recreation. The area supports a network of ski slopes, hiking trails, and cross‑country skiing routes that attract visitors in winter and summer. The annual festivals in Ayas celebrate the region’s pastoral traditions with music, dance and local gastronomy. Despite tourism, the central villages retain a strong sense of regional identity, reflected in the use of Provençal dialects and the continued practice of transhumance—a seasonal migration of livestock to high pastures. The Queyras remains a protected zone, partly falling under the jurisdiction of the Écrins National Park and the Regional Nature Park of Queyras, ensuring that environmental conservation and sustainable development are balanced with cultural preservation.