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 is a real attraction. It is said that Vars Sainte Catherine is 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.).

Le Balcon de Vars

Choosing ‘ Sainte Catherine ’ for your holiday means treating yourself to one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Vars, with, on one side, the Crêtes de l’Eyssina – the very backdrop to the resort of Vars – and on the other, the Ecrins massif, which rises to over 4,000 metres. You’ll be among the lucky few to enjoy the warmth of the setting sun thanks to the south-west-facing aspect, which is perfect for lovers of sunsets.

The narrow, steep alleyways known as ‘charrières’ in this mountainside village allow you, as you stroll along, to discover the treasures that the most curious will uncover: the sundials bear witness to the strong connection the inhabitants had with the sun, which served as a natural clock for them; these sundials, painted on the walls of the farmhouses, were often accompanied by moralising phrases brimming with 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.