Saint-Jacques-en-Valgodemard lies on the left bank of the SĂ©veresse in the lower Valgaudemar Valley. From here, there are views of Olan to the east, the DĂ©voluy Massif to the west, and the steep slopes of Petit Chaillol to the south. Hiking trails explore the surrounding area, while the Canal des Herbeys shapes both the landscape and its history.
Hiking along the Canal and in Valgaudemar
The “Des Barangeards à Charbillac” stage reaches Saint-Jacques-en-Valgodemard along the Canal des Herbeys. It is 16.1 kilometres long, rated moderate, and listed as taking 4 hours 30 minutes. The route can also be ridden on horseback. A much shorter option is the family-friendly out-and-back trail that begins at the canal in Saint-Jacques: it is 2.9 kilometres long and has no elevation gain. This distinguishes two different route options without conflating their details.
Another stage runs from Les Paris to La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar and begins in the hamlet of Les Paris, which belongs to Saint-Jacques-en-Valgodemard. To access the Grenoble–Gap bus route, the stop is in Saint-Firmin, two kilometres from Les Paris. Check connections before travelling; trail conditions and seasonal access may vary.
Longer routes are also associated with the town. The GRP Tour du Vieux Chaillol begins in Saint-Jacques-en-Valgodemard. The six-day “Tour du Vieux Chaillol par le Tourond” route is also associated with the town. For mountain biking, the Tour du Champsaur et de la Valgaude passes through Saint-Jacques-en-Valgodemard.
A canal with a history
The Canal des Herbeys is a 28-kilometre-long historic canal completed in 1773. Bridges and aqueducts are part of its infrastructure. It is still operational and irrigates 289 hectares in the municipalities of Chauffayer and Saint-Jacques-en-Valgodemard. The stage along the canal thus links a specific hiking route with a structure that continues to serve a practical purpose today.
The Moulin du SĂ©chier is also part of the cultural landscape. It was once a lime mill, where blocks of lime produced in kilns were crushed. In summer, visitors can attend exhibitions, performances and conferences about mountain life there; the specific programme may vary.
Church and pilgrimage routes
The Saint-Jacques Church lies on the GR 50. The GR 653 D pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela can be reached via this trail. Those interested in the link between hiking and pilgrimage history will find a connection here that leads directly to one of the routes in the area.
Historically, on Whit Monday, a walking procession went from the church in Saint-Firmin to Saint-Jacques Church. The pilgrims gathered for a picnic in the hamlet of Les Paris. Along with the canal trails, longer routes and the former mill, it shows different facets of Valgaudemar: landscape, movement and local history.
Discover more destinations: Réotier, Barret-sur-Méouge, Sigoyer, Aiguilles, Saint-Eusèbe-En-Champsaur, Baratier, Saint-Blaise, Saint-Pierre-D'argençon.
Go to the overview of the wider region: Hautes-Alpes.
