Tuesday, August 27, 2024 In the southern French Alps, high above the Champsaur Valley, the practice of transhumance—driving animals from winter valleys to high summer pastures—is still very much alive. The experience of being surrounded by thousands of sheep, led by a solitary shepherd who will tend to them for the next four months, offers a rare glimpse into a tradition that connects deeply with the region’s mountain culture. However, this vivid encounter isn’t taking place in the pastures but within the modern confines of Cinémathèque, a new museum in the town of Gap, where visitors can immerse themselves in this ancient practice through a virtual reality (VR) headset.
The southern French Alps, stretching from Grenoble to Provence, are quieter and more traditional compared to their northern counterparts. Cinémathèque provides a high-tech introduction to the area’s rich mountain heritage, but the allure of experiencing it firsthand is undeniable. A family’s journey through this landscape, guided by the local outdoor specialist Undiscovered Mountains, combines a stay at La Grange des Écrins—a guesthouse nestled in the valley—with ventures to mountain refuges, offering a condensed form of transhumance.
La Grange des Écrins, a guesthouse named after the surrounding national park, encapsulates the essence of the region. With its vibrant textiles and a pool that opens up to breathtaking views, this ancient farmhouse run by Jean Mellot and his Taiwanese.