With its peaceful and contemplative atmosphere, this unspoilt, centuries-old village offers a tranquil and soothing holiday retreat. Situated close to the forest and the Chagne stream that runs through it, ‘ Vars Saint Marcellin ’ is the perfect place to switch off from everyday life, whilst remaining within easy reach of the resort’s main amenities thanks to the shuttle buses that keep you connected.
The more curious amongst you will discover the sculptures created by a local artist who has literally filled the hamlet with his imaginary characters, which are now part of everyday life. It’s a chance to meet the locals and soak up the friendly atmosphere of the place.
Vars Saint Marcellin paré de son beau manteau blanc
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Vars Saint Marcellin
HeritageSaint Marcellin is the first Vars you see when you arrive on the north side of the pass road. Crossing into the heart of the village, you see the facades of wooden chalets and old houses on either side. It’s worth taking the time to stop and discover the richness of the village’s heritage, and go beyond the crossing street to get to know the oldest of our villages.
Vars St Marcellin
A little history
Vars Saint Marcellin
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A LITTLE HISTORY
Vars Saint Marcellin, the gateway to Vars at an altitude of 1,600 metres, is the oldest village and the living memory of the parish, with its church at the very heart of it. As it stands today, it dates from the 18th century, although certain architectural features of great interest date back to earlier periods (the portal surmounted by a semicircular arch and the two lions adorning the entrance, carved from the pink marble of the Guillestre quarry by Lombard sculptors, or the 13th-century capitals in the chancel) and paintings whose beauty will be revealed in the light once they have been restored. Previously, the Church of Notre Dame had suffered the ravages of time and history, notably during the sacking by the armies of the Duke of Savoy in 1692 when they invaded the Hautes-Alpes via the Col de Vars.
Vars Saint Marcellin recèle des trésors patrimoniaux dont le temple et l'église
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Vars Saint Marcellin paré de son beau manteau blanc
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Temple protestant sous la neige à Vars Saint Marcellin
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To enjoy the beautiful views over the village of Saint Marcellin, simply head up the Chagne towards the “Forest”:
There is a road that takes you up and around the villages of Vars Sainte Marie and Vars Saint Marcellin, which are linked by the torrent.
The little extraVars Castle
All that remains of this 11th-century castle are a few ruins.
It was destroyed in 1577 on the orders of the Archbishop of Embrun during the Wars of Religion, to prevent it falling into the hands of the Reformed.
Today, with all this history behind it, the place known as the château is a pleasant walk from which you can access this 360° promontory overlooking the Vars and Durance valleys.
Practical info
The municipality of Vars provides a free shuttle service to help you get around within and between the villages. As the ski area is not directly accessible from Vars Saint Marcellin, this regular shuttle service allows you to reach the slopes easily without having to use your car.
Timetables available soon
If your accommodation does not have a private car park, we recommend that you park your car in the car parks available at the entrance to and exit from the village.
Vars Saint Marcellin offers direct access to the Forest area and a number of footpaths and snowshoe trails. Please do have a look at our map before setting off on your walk.
More and more
Village Spirit
We love it for this too: Vars combines all the amenities of a major resort with the charm of mountain villages. Come and discover what makes our region so special.
Chutes de neige abondantes dans les villages de Vars
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