Embrun: Family walk from the town centre to the lake, via the Roc plain
At the centre of history
After a visit to the Embrun Tourist Information Office, where you could even observe the frescoes of the former Cordeliers convent, you set off – following the advice of Constance, the tourist advisor – for a family walk from the town centre to the lake, via the Roc plain. Together with all the family – the youngest child firmly strapped into the back of his stroller – you walk the streets of the town centre. You pass by the foot of the imposing Brune Tower Notre-Dame du Réal cathedral.
Balcony with view
You’ll then arrive at the Archbishop’s Garden for your first contemplative break. At the edge of the rock, with its vertical plummet – the plain can be admired 80 metres below. Looking up, the Durance reveals itself, together with all the surrounding summits, from Mont Orel to the Pic de Morgon. Three toposcopes will help you identify each of them. The strollers’ already sleeping resident will surely miss out on the show. The rock’s panoramic path continues up to the ramparts, pierced so as to accommodate a footbridge that spans the moat. The route is punctuated by information panels offering insight into a range of different themes: the origins of Embrun, geology, fauna and flora.
Going with the current
You begin your descent towards the plain, discovering a host of gardens with small constructions ranging from the DIY garden shed to huts which have been transformed into small houses. This plain has been protected from the comings and goings of the Durance since the construction of a dike at the end of the 16th century. It is the beginning of June, and all the colours and smells of summer are out in full force. In fact, this area is home to a great wealth of fauna and flora.
The water, the paradise of families
After having followed the Durance to its end, you arrive at the lake of Embrun with its many fun and/or aquatic games: inflatable play parks on land and on water, merry-go-round, trampoline, pedal-car rentals, bowling green, pedal boats, paddle boarding and canoeing (with rowing and white-water clubs), tennis, mini-golf, municipal swimming pool and more … THE ultimate place for family-friendly fun !
It’s time for a well-deserved snack, seated comfortably on the grass of the water’s edge. Now it’s time to enjoy the site, with a tour of the lake to discover magnificent views of the water and the surrounding mountains, as well as games for children and a chance to dip your toes in the water.
As for the way back – no problem! A free shuttle bus between the lake and the town centre will bring you back to your starting point. At the end of the day, the hardest part of this walk will be rounding up the children – sure to be having so much fun that they won’t want to leave.
A tour of the lake is the classic after-dinner walk for Embrun locals. Even in the middle of winter, as soon as a ray of sunlight peeks out from behind the clouds, this route offers up a pleasant walk. Almost flat and sufficiently wide, this loop of nearly 2.5 kilometres is accessible to all. Several information panels have been placed around the body of water to provide you with information on the local flora and fauna.
It’s also a paradise for fishers !
So, don’t be surprised to see some very well-equipped fishermen, with their tent, boat and deckchair. These are “carp anglers” – fishers specialising in carp fishing, of which more than 20 kilos can be found in the Embrun lake! What’s more, the site is uniquely authorised for night fishing, making it even more interesting for enthusiasts and attracting fishermen from all over Europe.
Find detailed files for the plain under the Roc and the tour of the lake on our website dedicated to hiking around Serre-Ponçon.
