Ubaye Valley

Mountain routes, alpine landscapes, and historic passes between the Alps and Provence

The Ubaye Valley sits in the south-eastern French Alps, where mountain routes connect high passes, remote valleys, forests, and alpine villages. The valley links some of the most significant routes and landscapes in the Southern Alps, including the GR5 (Nice to Briançon) and the GR5 (Briançon to Lake Geneva). Nearby protected areas such as Mercantour National Park and Queyras Regional Natural Park help define the character of the region, creating opportunities to explore mountain environments, historic routes, and remote alpine landscapes through self-guided journeys.

Centred on Barcelonnette, the valley combines high mountain scenery with a distinctive cultural identity shaped by centuries of movement between Provence and the Alps. Routes follow the Ubaye River, cross historic mountain passes, and connect villages, forests, lakes, and high ridgelines throughout the valley. Together, these routes and landscapes reveal the character of the Ubaye Valley while providing opportunities to explore at a slower pace through self-guided travel and independent exploration.