Altitude, fresh air, golden larch trees, endless trails... The Serre Chevalier & Briançon valley is an area where nature truly reigns supreme. This is no accident: it's the result of concrete commitments made by the community, local players and visitors themselves. Here's what's happening, in concrete terms, to keep the mountains "SimplyNature".
The Parc National des Écrins begins in the commune of Monêtier-les-Bains.
It is one of France's largest national parks, renowned for its exceptional biological wealth: over 1,800 plant species, a diverse alpine fauna (chamois, ibex, marmots, golden eagles...), and landscapes that have been preserved for decades.
On the part of the territory that directly concerns Serre Chevalier, the park imposes strict rules: no camping outside authorized areas, limited gathering, animals kept on a leash, traffic off marked trails discouraged. These rules are not arbitrary constraints - they are the condition for keeping these areas alive and accessible.
A valley in the heart of an exceptional natural setting
- Natura 2000 areas in the Briançon region
The Serre Chevalier area is also home to several Natura 2000 sites, a European network for the protection of natural habitats and wild species. These areas designate habitats considered to be European priorities for their biodiversity. Alpine meadows, wetlands, larch and hooked pine forests: these are all fragile ecosystems whose equilibrium depends in part on the behavior of visitors.
- The LPO and the protection of local species
In the Briançonnais region, the Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO) works to preserve emblematic species such as the black grouse, the rock ptarmigan and the mountain hare. The Parc de la Schappe in Briançon is classified as an LPO refuge, managed without the use of chemicals, with facilities that encourage wildlife - a haven of biodiversity right in the city center, on the pedestrian path that leads to the Cité Vauban.
Best practices in the mountains 🥾 hiking, swimming, living together
Mountains are for sharing. And it must be respected. Here are the essential reflexes to enjoy without leaving a trace.
On the trails: cohabitation between hikers and bikers
In summer, the trails are frequented by both hikers and mountain bikers.
To ensure that cohabitation remains pleasant and safe for all, a few principles are essential: cyclists must give way to pedestrians, signal their presence as they approach, and reduce their speed in narrow or technical sections. Hikers, for their part, stay on the marked path and avoid off-trail crossings that can damage the vegetation.
- Dealing with patous: the right gestures
Herd protection dogs (patous) are increasingly present on the valley's mountain pastures. Their role is to protect sheep and goats from predators, especially wolves. When confronted with a patou, the reflex is simple: don't run, don't make big gestures, go around the herd at a safe distance, and keep your dog on a leash. The patou is not aggressive by nature - it does its job. Respecting him means respecting the breeders who depend on him.
- Bivouac: what's allowed, what's not
Bivouacs are tolerated in certain areas, but prohibited in the heart of the Ecrins National Park. Outside the park, rules vary according to commune and site. The general principle: set up after 7pm, leave before 9am, no fire, no garbage, and at least 1km from any watering hole or inhabited area. Check with your local tourist office before setting off.
- Swimming in the mountains: organic baths rather than wild lakes
It's tempting to dive into a high-altitude lake at the end of a hike. However, intensive use of mountain lakes weakens the banks and disturbs the aquatic fauna. In Serre Chevalier, there's an excellent alternative: the valley's biological baths. Halfway between a natural lake and a swimming pool, they use water from the Guisane aquifer, filtered naturally by plants and pozzolan (natural volcanic rock), without the use of chemicals. A clean, rejuvenating and truly eco-responsible setting.
Accommodations committed to the environment and labels
- Esprit Parc National label
Several accommodations in Le Monêtier-les-Bains - in direct contact with the Parc National des Écrins - have been awarded the Esprit Parc National label, a registered trademark of the Office Français de la Biodiversité (OFB).
This label guarantees that the products and services offered are part of an ecological approach to preserving biodiversity. Among them: the Gîte Le Flourou, the Gîte Le Rebanchon, the Maison Alliey tourist residence and the Auberge du Choucas.
- Label Bâtiments Durables Méditerranéens
The Briançon media library, built in the heart of the eco-neighborhood, is certified BDM level gold. It was built using wood from the local "Bois des Alpes" industry and bio-sourced materials.
In the same spirit, the new multi-disciplinary health center in La Salle-les-Alpes is also built using Bois des Alpes, with the same certification.
- Green Key label
In Serre Chevalier, a number of accommodations have taken the step towards environmental commitment by obtaining the Clé Verte (Green Key) label, the first international certification in the field of responsible tourism. Such is the case of the Auberge de Jeunesse, a pioneer in this approach: compost, vegetable garden, local and organic supplies, recycled furniture, rigorous waste sorting... A concrete and constantly evolving approach, completed by the creation of an organic and educational permaculture garden, with workshops open to families and groups. The 4-star Résidence Arts et Vie in the heart of Le Monêtier-les-Bains shares the same high standards: it has also been awarded the Clé Verte label, combining high comfort (spacious apartments with direct access to the slopes, activities for adults and children) with respect for the mountain environment.
- Ecogîte label
Le Cerf Che and Gîte Le Rebanchon have been awarded the Gîtes de France Ecogîte label, which distinguishes accommodation built or renovated using materials with a low environmental impact and in line with sustainable design principles.
- Briançon Ville-Santé OMS and climate resort
Since 2010, Briançon has been a member of the WHO Healthy Cities network, a recognition that extends a century-long history of high-altitude climate therapy. With less than 300 days of fog a year, air quality rated "good to very good" more than 83% of the time, and virtually no allergens, breathing in Serre Chevalier means taking care of yourself - and the environment.
Soft mobility: new ways of getting around the valley
- Electric charging points from Briançon to Monêtier les Bains
Whether you use an electric car or an electrically-assisted bicycle, the valley is well equipped.
Charging stations for electric vehicles and bikes are available in each of the four communes: Briançon, Saint-Chaffrey / Chantemerle, La Salle-les-Alpes / Villeneuve and Le Monêtier-les-Bains. Secure bike boxes complete the system, particularly in Briançon. + info
- The Resalp hybrid shuttle: 65% fewer emissions
Since 2018, Resalp 's hybrid shuttles have been connecting the valley's villages while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions - up to 65% less than a conventional diesel bus. The fleet currently comprises 6 hybrid vehicles.
Since 2023, the gradual switch to XTL (alternative biofuel) has been underway, with the aim of reducing CO₂ emissions by 50% by 2029.
- Carpooling and night trains: the valley accessible without a car
Serre Chevalier is one of the few mountain resorts accessible without a car thanks to the Briançon SNCF station, terminus of the mythical Paris-Briançon line - one of the only night train lines still in service in France.
From Paris or Lyon, the TGV Paris-Milan also stops at Oulx (Italy), just 30 minutes from Briançon.
For those who come by car, carpooling is an option to be favored: national platforms make it easy to find fellow travelers from major cities.
waste management: a collective responsibility borne by the CCB
The Communauté de Communes du Briançonnais (CCB) is the pillar of waste management policy in the Serre Chevalier & Briançon area.
Selective sorting, waste collection, awareness-raising among residents and visitors: the CCB structures a global approach that involves all stakeholders - businesses, associations, accommodation providers and tourists.
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Every year, the European Week for Sustainable Development(from September 17 to October 9, 2026) is the occasion for a strong mobilization on the territory.
On the program: waste collection days on the trails and slopes, organized with the valley's sports ambassadors. A strong, visible gesture that sets the tone.
👉 S taying in Serre Chevalier & Briançon: take your garbage back to the trails, use the collection points in each village, and ask your accommodation provider about local sorting instructions.
The Serre Chevalier ski area, committed since 2006
Serre Chevalier's commitment to the environment is not limited to the institutional players or the label-labelled accommodation providers. The ski area itself - one of the largest in the Southern Alps, with 250 km of slopes - formalized a structured and measurable ecological transition approach in 2006, led by the company SCV Domaine Skiable.
The objectives are public and precise:
Energy transition: produce the equivalent of 30% of the estate's electricity needs using renewable energies - hydroelectricity, photovoltaics and small wind power - and reduce electricity consumption by a further 20% by 2026 compared with 2018.
Low-carbon strategy: reduce greenhouse gas emissions (scopes 1 and 2) by 50% by 2025, and by 80% by 2030. For scope 3 - which includes visitor travel - the target is a 10% reduction by 2030.
Preservation of ecosystems: zero net artificialisation of land by 2030, stabilization of water consumption, and zero net loss of biodiversity across the entire ski area.
In concrete terms, a hybrid snow groomer is already part of the park, chairlifts are undergoing a progressive retrofit program (reuse of materials, more economical and quieter Direct Drive motors), and an environmental observatory has been monitoring the evolution of ecosystems on the 685-hectare Partias regional nature reserve since 2014.
What does this mean for you as a visitor? In concrete terms, every time you take a ski lift in Serre Chevalier, an increasing proportion of the energy that powers it is produced locally, cleanly, just a few hundred meters away.
👉 To follow the ski area's commitments and consult the annual reports, visit the Tous Engagés platform at tousengages-serrechevalier.com
Serre Chevalier moves forward at its own pace, with its own players, contradictions and convictions.
What you do here counts: every gesture of respect for nature, every choice of soft mobility, every partner with a label is a concrete way of helping to ensure that the mountains remain, for a long time to come, SimplyNature ❤️