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The Mont Guillaume

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If there is one place that you must visit during your stay in Embrun, a major tourist attraction in the Hautes Alpes, it is most certainly the Mont Guillaume. From the top of its 1,740 metres of altitude, the Mont Guillaume overlooks the city of Embrun and the emblematic lake of Serre-Ponçon. It is undoubtedly the fabulous view of the Embrun Valley and the Serre-Ponçon dam that attracts many visitors each year. Although the Mont Guillaume is not the highest point of this ridge, it seems to have stolen the spotlight from its neighbour which culminates at 2,623 metres of altitude. Before you reach the summit of Mont Guillaume, a quick trip through the wood and the chapel of Séyères is necessary.

The Mont Guillaume Forest

The Mont Guillaume Forest is located among the Ecrins National Park in Serre-Ponçon and is very popular with travellers on vacation in the area. The path leading to the top of this mythical peak has some nice surprises in store for you, starting with its beautiful green alpine pasture. The forest of larches, which envelops the rocky massif, is a natural site sheltering a luxuriant and diversified flora. The forest is home to many species, each as fascinating as the next. The crossing of this majestic forest of larches, also named trees of light and emblematic symbol of the massif of the Southern Alps, will leave its mark on every visitor. Illuminated by a few rays of sunlight piercing through the branches, the charm and tranquillity of this forest will not fail to seduce you.

The Widman Hiking Trail

The Mont Guillaume Climb is a great hike for walking and nature lovers. This now highly renowned trail to the summit of Mont Guillaume was named after the well-known Charles Eric Widman. The young man, then a lieutenant in the 28th Battalion of Alpine Hunters in Embrun, decided to demonstrate the efficiency of cross-country skiing as a means of transportation for mountain troops. It is thus from the city of Embrun that the young lieutenant headed for the summit of Mont Guillaume, equipped with his skis. It took him 5 hours and 30 minutes to reach the summit. It is only once the sun started to set that he began the descent: in 90 minutes. In 1897, Widman made the first ascent of the French Alps on skis. As a tribute to him and to mark the 100th anniversary of this achievement, this now famous ski route was renamed the ‘Widman Trail’.

The Chapel of Séyères

The trail will lead you directly to the chapel of the Séyères pass, located at an altitude of 2,056 metres. If Mont Guillaume is such a popular place, it is not only because of its breathtaking view over the lake of Serre-Ponçon, but also, because it is the place where the summer festival of the Priors of Mont Guillaume takes place. Each year on the second Sunday of July, the pilgrimage of Saint Guillaume is held. Saint Guillaume is said to have come into the world without a right hand and was subject to numerous celestial occurrences. Indeed, he was visited several times by an angel who warned him of a flood that would destroy the Priory in which he had grown up. However, the warnings of Saint Guillaume was not heeded. The angel who appeared to the young man then decided to give him back his right hand and his warning was eventually heeded.

To this day, only the chapel at the crossroads of the Trampa Latz and Séyères passes remains. Further on, you will come face to face with a second chapel located at the top of Mont Guillaume. The summit chapel will be the picture-perfect place, where you can comfortably enjoy the panorama on the Durance side where the Serre-Ponçon lake is situated. This space will be the perfect place to contemplate the lake and immortalise this moment through vacation pictures!

Outdoor Activities

Mont Guillaume provides a wide range of activities to do in the open air. If the Widman trail promises a hike full of discoveries and surprises, you can extend your tour to discover the beauties of the Embrunais. From the parking lot above Caléyère, follow the marked trail to the Trampa Latz pass. You will then have to follow the ridge, while bypassing by the left or on the right, the obstacles that represent a difficulty. Once you have reached the highest point of Mont Guillaume, you can start your descent towards the Tête de Chante-Perdrix pass before reaching the Hivernet lake.

Around the lake of Serre-Ponçon

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