Besse-en-Oisans village

Historic site and monument

38142 Besse-en-Oisans

Besse en Oisans, the perfect example of an authentic mountain village. All the houses of this charming village are made in wood and stone. A unique place in Oisans thanks to its typical and preserved architecture.

The village of Besse is listed as a "remarkable heritage site", and the Emparis plateau is a Natura 2000 site.

The village of Besse is typical of the uissan mountain habitat. Even a hundred years ago, the face of this small mountain village was identical. The inhabitants of yesteryear, whether peddlers, craftsmen or rugged mountain farmers, have left their permanent mark. Come and enjoy the gentle way of life in this unusual village, one of the most beautiful in the Oisans.
This large mountain community used to be called "St André au milieu de la forêt". Then, after a major fire on August 24, 1540, legend has it that all that remained of the forest were birch trees. Hence the commune's current name, which comes from Bes, meaning "birch" in local dialect.

Facing due south, Besse is famous for its squat stone houses, huddled together to protect themselves from the cold. They are separated by narrow, steep, cobbled streets, built to withstand heavy snowfalls. The walls are made of lauze, whose dark, austere appearance is enhanced by the quartz-veined granite, which glows in the sunlight.
It's a busy, bustling village that has retained the soul of yesteryear. At the heart of the village is the Maison des Alpages, a major tourist and cultural attraction in the département, at the heart of pastoral activities. Young and old alike can discover Uissan cultural traditions and traditional activities linked to pastoralism in a fun and entertaining way.

"Who hasn't seen Besse and Paris hasn't seen anything...".
By "Paris" we mean the Emparis plateau, whose 2,900 hectares stretch out like a natural balcony at an altitude of 2,200 m, facing the grandiose panorama of the Aiguilles d'Arves, the Meije and the Sarenne glacier. A "giant screen" on one of the finest panoramas in the Alps.
This listed natural site is one of the largest mountain pastures in Europe. Every year, it welcomes numerous herds that keep the landscape "open" and perpetuate the ancestral culture of high-mountain pastoralism.

Practical information

Equipments

Restaurant,
Car park,
Bar,
Picnic area,
Book shop

Services

Pets welcome,
Wi-fi,
Tourist brochures,
Tourist information

Theme

Historic patrimony,
Town / Village

Time schedule

From 01/01/26 to 12/31/26

Monday :

Open
Tuesday :

Open
Wednesday :

Open
Thursday :

Open
Friday :

Open
Saturday :

Open
Sunday :

Open
Jours fériés :

Open

Prices

Free access.

See more

Go there

Latitude : 45.071801

Longitude : 6.16856

Height : 1550

38142 Besse-en-Oisans

Go there

Depuis le barrage du Chambon, en direction de Briançon, tourner à gauche pour monter dans la vallée du Ferrand. Passer Mizoën et suivre Besse-en-Oisans.