Saint-Crépin can be explored through several themes: its spiral-shaped village centre, the Sentier des Thurifères and the history of its church architecture offer different perspectives on the village, alongside opportunities for flying and whitewater sports. When planning your visit, you can decide whether to focus on village history, a route with an elevation gain or sporting activities.
Sentier des Thurifères: an old mule track to Les Guions
The Sentier des Thurifères is an old mule track linking the village with the hamlet of Les Guions. The route climbs from an altitude of 910 m to 1,280 m. Along the path, you can admire remarkable specimens of the rare conifer known as the Phoenician juniper. This route therefore focuses both on the elevation profile and on a distinctive plant.
Village centre and church architecture
The centre of Saint-Crépin is laid out in a spiral around its church. In summer, the Pays Guillestrin organises guided tours to explore the village centre. Dates vary; check the programme if you would like to plan a tour.
The Église Vieille was built in the 5th century on an earlier Gallic place of worship. The restored choir, the foundations of the nave walls and the bell tower are still visible at the church. Very few churches from this period remain in a comparably well-preserved visible condition.
The parish church of Saint-Crépin and Saint-Crépinien replaced the former Notre-Dame Church, which served the communities of Saint-Crépin and Eygliers when the two communities were united. The parish church’s narthex forms the base of the bell tower. This layout is considered unique among churches built during the same period. The north façade is made of dressed and coursed pink marble from the region.
The Chapelle Saint-Michel in Le Villard incorporates an existing chapel first mentioned in 1560. The present-day building was constructed around it; work began in 1856 and lasted two years. The base of the bell tower is made of dressed and coursed pink marble. The heritage inventory notes that the building is in poor condition.
Another aspect of the architectural heritage is the Copropriété du Barry in Saint-Crépin. It bears the French “Patrimoine du XXe siècle” label, awarded by the Commission régionale du patrimoine et des sites on 15 March 2007.
Airfield and whitewater sports
Gliding lessons are offered at Saint-Crépin Airfield. You can also take part in or train for mountain flying there. Check locally that these activities are available before including them in your plans.
There is a whitewater centre at the entrance to Camping de l’Ile. In the valley, the Durance, Guil and Clarée rivers offer a range of whitewater sports, including kayaking, rafting and whitewater swimming. Providers and conditions vary by season; bear this in mind when planning a specific activity.
Stip-Yaks in Les Pasques, Saint-Crépin, offers introductory, beginner and advanced courses for groups of no more than five people. The listed programme includes kayaking, rafting, Air-Boat and Hot Dog on rivers in the Hautes-Alpes and abroad, including Italy and Slovenia. The offer may change, so check the course details in advance.
Discover more destinations: Briancon, Champoléon, Le Sauze-Du-Lac, Montgenevre, La Bâtie-Montsaléon, Saint-Léger-Les-Mélèzes, Manteyer, L'epine
For the broader travel overview: Hautes-Alpes.
