To explore the Alps from an original angle, go and visit the cheese-makers, the manufacturers of toys, and local sculptors, who will welcome you into their workshops to share theirs savoir-faire. Off the beaten track, these company tours will plunge you into a world of scents, colours and tradition. This is the chance for convivial moments and to track down some beautiful finds.
Since 1920, les Jouets du Queyras have produced toys, games and wooden chalets from local materials. They are 100% made in France. In Arvieux, in the Hautes-Alpes, you will learn about their manufacturing production line, from the raw material to the finished product. During this 20‑minute visit you will see, among other things, how a fret saw works and how it shapes toys. Then, let yourself be tempted by some of these unique and colourful pieces!
Perched at a height of 1,000 metres, in the commune of Guillestre, the Fromagerie de la Durance manufactures cheeses using the raw milk of cows, goats and ewes which graze in the surrounding valleys. You will uncover the secrets of the artisanal manufacturing methods of their various hard, soft, fresh, veined and lactic cheeses. Finish off with a moulding workshop or a tasting of home-made savoury inventions!
Lasting two hours, the tour of the EDF hydro-electric plant at the Barrage de Serre-Ponçon is simply exceptional. Established in 1960, it ensures the regional water management for all of Provence. The full visit has four parts: a multimedia area to understand the construction of the dam, the machine room (which produces the annual energy requirements of 290,000 people!), the external path and the belvedere, which offers one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the region.
