An overnight stay in Dormillouse, in the heart of the National Park
© Gîte de l'Ecole
It is the last inhabited village before the eternity of the upper mountain reaches. It stretches out on the edge of the Ecrins country and the National Park, and can only be reached by foot, like in the times of the Waldensians.
When the National Park was created in the Ecrins in 1973, there was only one inhabitant left, the shepherd Julien Mathurin. He was joined in 1999 by a stalwart chap by the name of Serge Baridon, who had decided to make his childhood dream come true, to come back and live in his ancestral family home, the old village school, "for the peace and quiet, and the fantastic sunsets over the Freissinières valley, which opens out onto the Durance river". Together with his partner Bénédicte, he transformed the chalet into a hostel, where he treats his guests at the fireside to nettle soup, pork neck stew and blueberry tart, washed down with a draught of larch liquor. He is more than happy. He "listens to the mountain, to the rumble of the avalanches, to the crack of the ice breaking away from the rock", and delights his audience with his countless stories.
Visitors generally come along the magical hiking trails between Freissinières and the Palluel and Faravel lakes, in the direction of the Ruffy pass. To the north, there is an unforgettable view onto the Mont Blanc, and when you reach the end of the path, the spectacle of the entire chain of the Alps unfolds. Dormillouse enjoys extraordinary isolation. This is why the Waldensians, the people of the Middle Ages "damned by God", were safe here. You still need 45 minutes to climb up to this wonderful site, located in the middle of nowhere!
Contact us
Gîte-Refuge de l'École à Dormillouse
05310 Freissinières
(0033) (0)6 99 90 49 57
Half board 38 €, full board 50 €. Meals from 15,50 €. Open all year round.
See the access map
The headstrong Waldensians
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Topic : Gastronomy and accomodation
Published on : 2008/12/23
Tags : overnight stay dormillouse
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