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Embrun

Visit Embrun (Provence, France)

Embrun is a town about 30 kilometres east of Gap in the Hautes-Alpes department of France (in the Provence region), sitting on a cliff above the Durance river and below Mont Guillame.

This attractive location has led to parts of the town and surrounding countryside being over-developed but the town has retained its historical centre and there are some interesting sights to discover.

Explore Embrun

Start a visit in the centre of the old town, around the Place Barthelon - home to the town hall and some shady cafes - and the surrounding streets.

Strolling through the streets, many pedestrianised, you will discover a typical Provencal town, plenty of shops and cafes, buildings of historical interest painted in pastel shades, and a variety of architectural highlights and decorative old fountains in unspoiled little squares.

The most important historical monuments in Embrun are the Cathedral Notre Dame du Réal and surrounding streets. The Lombardy style cathedral is especially impressive, above all for its unique decorative facade with a large central 'rose' window, but be sure to enter to see the fine organs and the treasury. Inside the walls are attractively patterned too.

The adjacent 13th century square donjon - the Tour Brune - was once part of the defensive walls of Embrun.

Other highlights of note in Embrun include the Archbishop's garden and walk to a viewpoint across the river, and the understated beauty of the 13th century Maison des Chanonges decorated with a carving of a lion eating a goat.The Maison des Chanonges also has fine arched windows and doorway though extensive renovations had to take place to reveal these - look at the photograph of the building before renovations which is hung on the wall. Suprising how such an attractive building had been made so ordinary.

Attractions nearby

Embrun is at the eastern end of the popular leisure lake of Lac de Serre Poncon, and conveniently placed for excursions into the mountains.

Photos of Embrun

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Address: Embrun, Gap, Hautes-Alpes, Provence, 5200 || GPS: latitude 44.565833, longitude 6.496111

Map of Embrun & places nearby



 

Highlights close by

More suggestions: L'Argentiere-la-Bessee 26km; Seyne-les-Alpes 26km; Gap 33km; Valgaudemar Valley 37km; Briancon 39km; Ecrins National Park 41km;

See lots more places to visit nearby and a more detailed map at places near Embrun.
See Provence and Hautes-Alpes (the region and department for Embrun) for more travel ideas...

Suggested tourist attractions to visit near Embrun, France

• Lac de Serre-Poncon - site of natural beauty (13km)
• Mont-Dauphin place forte (Vauban fortifications) - heritage site (15km)
• Place Forte de Mont-Dauphin - national monument (15km)
• L'Argentiere-la-Bessee - recommended detour (26km)
• Col d'Allos - site of natural beauty (31km)
• Queyras - regional natural parc (33km)
• Domaine de Charance - remarkable garden (35km)
• Col de la Bonette - site of natural beauty (36km)
• Poligny - town of art and history (38km)
• Briancon - secteur sauvegarde (39km)

Market days in Embrun: Regular market(s) are held in Embrun each Saturday. A seasonal market is held in Embrun on Wednesday. (Markets are held in the morning unless stated.)

The French version of this page is at Embrun (Francais)