Vars Sainte-Catherine

This south-facing hamlet is the highest of the three mountain villages. Known in the past as “la Fortune” because Sainte Catherine benefits from exceptional sunshine, the village’s location makes it very appealing. Vars Sainte Catherine is said to be the old granary of Vars, as it is still the village with the most arable and cultivated fields. Hay, rye, hemp, oats and vegetables (cabbage, potatoes, etc.).

The Balcony of Vars

When you choose Sainte Catherine for your holiday, you’re choosing one of the most beautiful balconies in Vars, with the Crêtes de l’Eyssina, the real backdrop to the Vars destination, and the Ecrins massif at over 4,000m altitude. You’ll be the last to enjoy the setting sun thanks to the south-west exposure, just the thing for sunset lovers.

The narrow, steep streets known as “charrières” in this mountainside village are a great place to wander and discover the treasures that the most inquisitive visitors will be able to unveil: the sundials bear witness to the very strong relationship that the local inhabitants had with the sun, a veritable natural clock for them, whose illustration on the walls of farmhouses was often accompanied by moralist sayings full of wisdom.

You can see the magnificent traditional balconies made of larch wood running along all the facades, and the gruates (pulleys used to hold the haystacks).
The communal oven used to bake bread backs onto one of the village wash-houses, a handy place to get water when baking bread. It is lit twice a year in July and August to perpetuate the tradition of bread-making at village festivals.