Saint-Véran, highest village in Europe at 2042m

Why stay in Saint-Véran?

Saint-Véran is like a vast book open to the sun at an altitude of 2042 metres.

Volume I: myriad efforts and pleasures in sight! There’s so much snow in the vast alpine domain linked to Molines that you’ll think you’ve skied for a lifetime! The cross-country ski trails and snowshoe tracks are like a carpet. For the rest of the year, head for the lakes, peaks and passes of the legendary GR©58.

Attention Volume II: abundance! The pure air of Europe’s highest commune (2040m) invites you to slow down. Alone or with the family, Saint Véran is designed for the stroller. Its pedestrianised streets are lined with fountains and crosses. The terraces with their breathtaking views will relax you even more, and in the evening you can dive into the stars from the village or theobservatory!

Saint-Véran

All the practical information

Queyras

Accommodation
Restaurants
Shops
Weather

Accommodation in Saint-Véran

Restaurants in Saint-Véran

Tuesday 17 March

Cloudy

11^°C

min : 4^°C / max : 11^°C

Wind : 6km/hHumidity : 68%

Morning

5^°C

Afternoon

11^°C

Evening

5^°C

Wednesday 18 March

Rain

6^°C

min : 1^°C / max : 9^°C

Wind : 9km/hHumidity : 91%

Morning

4^°C

Afternoon

4^°C

Evening

1^°C

Thursday 19 March

Sunny

9^°C

min : 1^°C / max : 9^°C

Wind : 3km/hHumidity : 46%

Morning

1^°C

Afternoon

9^°C

Evening

3^°C

Friday 20 March

Sunny

9^°C

min : 2^°C / max : 9^°C

Wind : 8km/hHumidity : 54%

Morning

2^°C

Afternoon

9^°C

Evening

4^°C

Saturday 21 March

Cloudy

9^°C

min : 3^°C / max : 9^°C

Wind : 6km/hHumidity : 58%

Morning

3^°C

Afternoon

8^°C

See the webcam

Presentation of the village

Saint-Véran highest commune in Europe

Fill up on vitamin D!

The problem is that you never want to go to bed to enjoy the show. So I’ve found the trick. Every time I go hiking, I take a little nap in the sun to bask in the sun. Don’t I look good? I made my sun cream there, at the Maison du Soleil. Their recipe is great, and I never got a sunburn. It’s incredible this climate! They say there’s an average of 300 days of sunshine a year. What’s more, there are sundials on every street corner. I might as well tell you that I put my watch away and never took it out again during the holidays. And that feels really good!

What to do

in Saint-Véran

In winter
In summer

Take a break with a view of Mont-Visoat the heart of a day's skiing

Star-gazing!From the Maison du Soleil or the Pic de Chateaurenard observatory

Diving in the far norththen take comfort in the warmth of the welcome at the refuge de la Blanche

The Pic de Caramantran and the Blanchet lakesTaking on a 3000-strong border region

A guided tour of the starry skyfrom the village

Picnica picnic in the mountains at Saint-Véran

All activities in Saint Véran

The downhill skiing area

The Saint-Véran alpine ski area is linked to that of Molines-en-Queyras. It reaches an altitude of 2,830 metres and offers panoramic views of the neighbouring peaks from the Crête de Curlet to the Tête de Longet and the emblematic Mont-Viso! Molines – Saint-Véran is a high-altitude ski area with virgin slopes but also skiing in the mélézin! There are runs for all levels, from descents suitable for beginners to those approved for competition. There’s something for everyone!

Discover the estate

Astronomy

Under a lucky star

Here, “rolling your eyes at the sky” is a good omen. From the very first night, it will become your ritual. Every night, the stars come out and resume their ballet. Standing on tiptoe, arms outstretched towards the Milky Way, you feel as if you’re brushing against them.

A villager even told me about an observatory on a peak at 3000m altitude. It’s a bit like a step towards the celestial vault. They say you can sleep there, under one of the purest skies in the world. I think I’m going to have to go back there to try it out!

La Maison du Soleil

In the village, this interpretation centre equipped by the Maison de la Chimie and the Paris Observatory offers guided tours, workshops and events to find out more about our star and its link with life on Earth.

A night at the St-Véran observatory

Perched at an altitude of almost 3,000 metres, the observatory offers a unique experience led by people who are passionate about the stars.

Observing the sky in the village

Once night has fallen, our astrophysical guides will introduce you to stargazing from the village, revealing the mysteries of the universe as you gaze through your telescope.

Saint-Véran diary

Everything that happens here

All the diary

Taking root

I quickly lost track of time. You know, at this altitude you learn to live with nature and the local people. They deserve a lot of credit for settling in these high valleys. Classed as one of the most beautiful villages in France today, life here wasn’t always so gentle. At the Soum museum, I met Jeanine, a local girl. She knows her stuff. She told me about the traditions. About log houses, woodworking and farming. Then the arrival of skiing, the resort and Nordic activities. An encounter that makes you want to linger and read between the lines.

Soum HouseQueyras Park museum area

Each village in the Queyras has its own unique architecture. The architecture of Saint-Véran reflects the art of adapting to the altitude, the cold and the slopes. The Maison du Soum will help you understand this.

Things to do in St VéranSaint-Véran Activities

Activities to do and discover in St Véran. The panoramic views are a joy to behold, and you can take your time contemplating the mountains. The altitude allows you to slow down at last.

The festival of traditionsEvery year in July

Saint-Véran is proud of its traditions, which are on display in the village streets. An opportunity to discover or rediscover the splendours of Saint-Véran in the summer sunshine of the Hautes-Alpes.

Saint-Véran parking info

Saint-Véran car park winter 2025/2026 and summer 2026.
Pay parking by pay and display machines only.

HOW TO PAY (map of parking zones below) :
Pay and display machines in external car parks, contactless payment by credit card.
Advance payment possible using the EASYPARK application.

– Controls by plate reading – Fine (Forfait Post-Stationnement): €35.
– Maximum of 7 days parking in the same place (even with a parking pass)
– Maximum 24-hour parking in the Clausis walking zone.
– In village streets: maximum 30-minute parking with a BLUE DISK.

Saint-Véran parking

DAY VISITORS

VISITOR ZONE - green zone

Vehicle access to the village: PROHIBITED.
Car parks on the outskirts only VISITORS’ ZONE.
Pay periods: 6am-7pm from 20 December to 30 March and from 1 June to 30 September.

Parking under 1pm / €4
Over 1pm opt for the rates below:
2 days / €6
3 days / €8
7 days / €12

Saint-Véran parking

STAY IN THE VILLAGE

STAY ZONE - yellow zone

STAY IN THE VILLAGE :
Access to the village authorised with payment STAY ZONE .
Payable all year round before entering the village.

Parking less than 24h00 / 5 €
More than 24h opt for the rates below :
2 days / €8
3 days / €10
7 days / €15
Annual / €20

Saint-Véran parking

CLAUSIS HIKING ZONE

CLAUSIS HIKING AREA - red zone

Open: 8 September to 2 November and 1 to 21 June (weather permitting).
– Parking limited to 24 hours: observatory/carrière de marbre car parks.
– Motor homes and caravans are NOT permitted.
Traffic at your own risk.

- Parking less than 24 hours / €10

Saint-Véran parking

MOTOR HOMES AND SIMILAR

Pay all year round, 24 hours a day
No parking allowed in the village except in the dedicated pay area at the Madeleine car park (P3).
– Green Flot Bleu bollard at the car park entrance.
– Parking, emptying and filling of water tank.
– No electricity available.

- Parking / day €8
- Emptying and filling water tank €2

Saint-Véran parking regulations and municipal by-law1MB

Accommodation in Saint-Véran

Looking for accommodation for your vacation in Saint Véran? Rent a chalet, apartment or B&B for an unforgettable stay in Europe’s highest village, nestled in the heart of the Queyras. Discover our selection of quality accommodation for your dream vacation. Whether you’re looking for a luxury hotel, a vacation rental, cosy accommodation or comfortable lodgings, we’ve got everything you need for a top-notch stay.

Restaurants in Saint-Véran

All restaurants in Saint Véran.

The Molines St-Véran area

In altitude, the Molines – Saint-Véran ski area welcomes all ski levels, from beginner runs to competition-approved descents. It’s the largest ski area in the Queyras, it culminates at 2830 m and offers panoramic views from the Crête de Curlet to the Tête de Longet and the emblematic Mont-Viso.

A night in the Saint-Véran Observatory

Before going to bed every night, do you go out and look at the sky? Does contemplating the milky way give you vertigo? Have you always wanted to know everything about constellations? Do you make a wish each time you see a shooting star? Then we’ve got something for you. Quite a thing in fact: spend a night at almost 3,000 meters high, face-to-face with galaxies and nebulae, your eye glued to the telescope like a real astronomer.

Activities St Veran

Whether you’re a skier or a cyclist, summer or winter, a top athlete, a beginner or an enthusiast of enriching discoveries, you’ll find here the activities you can do in St Véran.
We’re bound to have one for you, your friends or your family. Make the most of your vacation by trying out a new experience to book with our experts.