Puy-Saint-Pierre brings together trails through its hamlets, sacred heritage and traces of mining. The Sentier des Chapelles follows old mule paths and leads through the hamlets’ architectural and religious heritage. A viewpoint along the route offers views over Briançon and the upper Durance Valley. Exploring here means focusing both on the trails themselves and on the places and buildings along the way.
Trails and elevations
The Boucle des Mines is listed as 3 km long, with a stated duration of 2 hours and 30 minutes. The distance and time provide a specific guide for planning your day. Another route leads from the church square to the Chapelle Notre-Dame des Neiges. The chapel stands at an elevation of 2,292 metres in the uplands of Puy-Saint-Pierre and Prorel. No time estimate is given here for this route, so plan it based on the current trail and visitor information available to you.
Churches, chapels and local history
The Chapelle Saint-Sixte can be explored through several historical details: the Archbishop of Embrun approved its construction in 1497. The interior frescoes include a 16th-century Pietà . On the exterior façade is an 1808 fresco depicting Saint Sixtus, Saint Peter and Saint Anthony. The building’s history and its various frescoes reflect different periods. The parish church of Saint-Pierre is also listed as a historic monument; it was listed by decree on 29 August 1989.
The Musée de l'Église is located in the sacristy of the Église Saint-Pierre. Exhibits include sacred relics, military objects and a model of the village. Visits are possible only as part of organised guided tours. Check in advance which tour may be suitable for your stay. The sundial on the church offers another specific date: the Cadran solaire de l'Église de Puy-Saint-Pierre dates from 1994 and is located on the church tower.
Another sundial is the Cadran Zarbula du Pinet, dating from 1842. As part of the Maison, au Pinet, it was listed as a historic monument by decree on 21 March 1995. Along with the history of the village, it offers another way to explore local history: large parts of the traditional village were destroyed during the liberation fighting in 1944; the village was rebuilt after the Second World War.
Mining history and winter activities
The Mine de Combarine tells the story of a long period in local industrial history. It was operated artisanally from 1824 to 1929, then industrially until 1962. Explanatory panels line the trail, and the mine can be visited independently. Check local conditions before your visit. At the Four Ă Chaux, rare remains of lime production can be found, with a direct connection to the history of coal.
The local geological history is also explored: the Domaine GĂ©ologique et Minier de Combarine has educational platforms where you can explore Carboniferous landscapes and observe fossils of tree ferns. For winter sports, Puy-Saint-Pierre offers access to the Serre Chevalier ski area. At the Prorel mid-station on the Plateau de Pralong, there are kilometres of ski runs. These details offer two different perspectives on the area: mining and geology can be explored through history and geological eras, while the ski area adds another focus for planning your trip.
If you are looking for a hotel in Puy-Saint-Pierre, you can start by choosing an area based on the themes that matter to you during your stay: trails and chapels, village and mining history, or winter sports.
Discover more destinations: Neffes, Sainte-Catherine, Arvieux, Champoléon, Saint-Firmin, Manteyer, L'argentière-La-Bessée, Saint-Bonnet-En-Champsaur.
For the broader travel overview: Hautes-Alpes.
