VALLOUISE lies under a steep wooded spur at the junction of two valleys, the Gyrond (or Gyr, as it's called upstream of Vallouise) and the Gérendoine, about 10km from Argentière. The great glaciered peaks visible up the latter valley are Les Bans; up in front is Mont Pelvoux. The nucleus of the old village – narrow lanes between sombre stone chalets – is again its church, fifteenth-century with a sixteenth-century porch on pink marble pillars. A fresco of the Adoration of the Magi adorns the tympanum above the door, itself a magnificent object, with carved Gothic panels along the top and an ancient lock-and-bolt with a chimera's head. Inside are some more frescoes, and a collection of naive wooden statues.The GR54, which does the circuit of the Écrins park, passes through Vallouise: the stage on from here to Le Monetier via Lac de l'Eychauda is one of the best. Another good walk is to the hamlet of PUY AILLAUD, high on the west flank of the Gyr valley. The path starts just to the right of the church and zigzags up the steep slope behind it with almost aerial views of the valley beneath. Vallouise has a campsite and some gîtes, and several hotels: the Edelweiss is the least expensive (tel 04.92.23.38.58, fax 04.92.23.33.46; €55–70 half-board; closed mid-April to mid-June & mid-Sept to mid-Dec), but all rooms in the village are likely to be full in July and August. The Vallouise Maison du Parc des Écrins provides Hiking information (tel 04.92.23.32.31) and there's a tourist office in place de l'Eglise (May–Sept daily 9am–noon & 3–7pm; Oct–April daily 9am–noon & 2.30–6.30pm tel 04.92.23.36.12, www.lavallouise.com). There's a minibus service as far as Ailefroide in summer, starting from the bar next to the Edelweiss hotel; to walk takes two hours or so.
Pages in section ‘Vallouise’: The Valdois.
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