2020 220620141147 Rémi Morel Ot VarsIn summer, there’s no need to worry about heatstroke! With the multitude of lakes that adorn our territory, whether natural, at altitude or man-made… You’re bound to find a cool oasis within easy reach!
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Mortice Lac Des Neufs Couleurs Lac De L'étoile172Whether the remnants of ancient glaciers or man-made, high-altitude lakes fascinate and are often the goal of hikers in search of life-size thrills. True mirrors of the surrounding vegetation and peaks, they reflect the sky and scenery to double the dose of beauty.
Let’s set off on a fascinating and hypnotizing journey into the great blue of the peaks.
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2020 180820100305 Rémi Morel Ot Vars 2The airy Lac de l’Etoile is surrounded by the green of scattered tufts of grass that color a very mineral setting filling a crevasse in the ridge line. Nothing stands between it and the sky, whose clouds are easily reflected in its limpid waters, reminiscent of a sapphire set in the rocky mass. It’s not unusual for a tongue of snow to lick the shores of the lake at the beginning of the season, when it’s at its most generous with water.
The immensity that surrounds it makes it smaller than it seems, and perched at 2755m, it is the center of a round of peaks, each more majestic than the last. It’s a place that feels like the end of the world, flooded with pure air and the vertigo of untouched immensity. The trail winds along ridges that resemble roller-coasters, their peaks softened by erosion.
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Mortice Lac Des Neufs Couleurs Lac De L'étoile167The Lac des neuf couleurs is a jewel to be discovered: nestled among pink rocks, it seems to be set in a jewel box, with multiple color variations ranging from glacier blue to turquoise, depending on the orientation of the sun. This is what gives it its name. An ideal spot for picnics and contemplation.
To add to the magic of the place, if you hear pebbles tumbling down the surrounding scree, try to keep calm – they’re just stones moved by the many ibex that inhabit the area. They often make majestic appearances, in pairs or in herds, to magnify the place with their presence.
Thibaut Blais Lac Des Neufs Couleurs
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Mortice Lac Des Neufs Couleurs Lac De L'étoile28The most accessible of the Vars lakes is located on the Grandes Alpes road, the D902, on the way to the Col de Vars. Did you know that this was the original site of the Vars ski resort? Architect Le Corbusier himself had imagined a ski resort here. History decided otherwise, and it was Napoleon’s legacy that left its mark with the construction of the refuge of the same name in 1858.
Naturally located on a marshy site fed by the Chagne torrent, it is particularly popular with trout fishermen. It offers a pleasant leisure spot on the hiking trails leading to the Col de Vars. It’s also a great place to rest for tourers on the Route des Grandes Alpes, who will appreciate the warm welcome and fine dining offered by the Napoléon refuge.
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2018 250618100855 Rémi Morel Ot VarsThis lake may have been shaped by man, but it is nonetheless in its rightful place in the surrounding mountain landscape. Built on a plateau, it feeds the snow guns in winter and becomes a haven of peace in summer, easily accessible via the Vars Sainte-Marie chairlift or, for the more adventurous, via trails from the hamlet of the same name.
Surrounded by a larch forest, Lac de Peyrol acts as an oasis, ideal for picnics on the grass or on one of the wooden tables provided. For photo enthusiasts, the lake is a perfect reflection of the surrounding trees, giving the landscape a special depth that makes it a truly Instagrammable spot.
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