The Gorges de la Méouge begin in the commune of Barret-sur-Méouge and lie in the Hautes-Alpes department between Châteauneuf-de-Chabre and Barret-sur-Méouge. There are several ways to plan your trip: a viewpoint overlooking valleys and mountains, a cycling loop, a hiking route that starts and ends in the village centre, and traces of the village’s history. This lets you decide whether to focus your time more on scenery, activity or culture.
Gorges, nature reserve and viewpoint
The Réserve Naturelle Régionale des Baronnies orientales extends across Barret-sur-Méouge, Éourres, Salérans and Val-Buëch-Méouge in the Hautes-Alpes department. The protected area covers 970 hectares and gives the commune a regional context that extends beyond the village itself. A specific viewpoint is the Belvédère du col Saint-Ange on the Route Crête de Chabre. From there, views extend over the Céans and Méouge valleys, the Ecrins massif and Mont Saint-Genis; visibility depends on the weather.
When parking is limited in the Gorges de la Méouge, shuttle buses operate from Barret-sur-Méouge and Châteauneuf-de-Chabre. Check the current shuttle arrangements before your visit, as they may change. This practical information can help you plan your trip to the gorges, but the service should not be taken to mean that shuttles run continuously.
Cycling loop, hike and climbing crag
The En balcon sur la Méouge à vélo (N°19) cycling loop is rated easy, is 16.6 kilometres long and is listed as taking two hours. It starts and ends at the Auberge in Barret-sur-Méouge. By contrast, the GRP® Tour du val de Méouge starts and ends in the village centre. The two routes therefore have different starting points: the Auberge is the reference point for the cycling loop, while the GRP® starts from the village centre.
Another activity option is the Site d'escalade du Col Saint Ange on the Crête de Chabre. The beginners’ crag has 25 routes graded 4 to 5. From Barret-sur-Méouge, the described approach follows the road to Barret-le-Haut and the Col de la Crousette; from the pass, it is a 45-minute walk. This walking time refers to the route from the pass, not to the cycling loop or the GRP®. Road and trail conditions can change, so check the latest information before setting out.
Village history and cultural details
The former 12th-century Eglise Saint-Laurent is now a ruin. It belonged to the Benedictine abbey of Saint-André-les-Avignon. Local people revered the church and considered it the first place of worship built in this valley. These details provide historical context for the ruin without losing sight of its present condition.
Remains of the Chapel of the Penitents can be seen on the heights above Barret-sur-Méouge. Another local detail can be found on the wall of the village school: the Cadran solaire de Barret-sur-Méouge sundial. Its motto reads «Certains resteront, d’autres choisiront l’illusoire chemin du partir». The schoolchildren depicted on the sundial are regarded as a symbol of the village. The ruin, chapel remains and sundial point to different aspects of local history: a former church building, visible remains on the heights, and an image with local significance.
The F(ê)aites de la Vannerie basket-weaving festival was scheduled to take place in Barret-sur-Méouge from 14 to 16 August 2026. The announced programme included basket-weaving workshops, a basketry market and demonstrations.
Discover more destinations: La Bâtie-Vieille, Abries, Eygliers, Embrun, Rochebrune, Crots, Espinasses, Saint-Eusèbe-En-Champsaur.
For the broader travel overview: Hautes-Alpes.
