On the shores of the lake, the Napoleon refuge in Vars is one of the six eponymous shelters in the Hautes-Alpes. This building was built in 1856 under Napoleon III, thanks to a donation from Napoleon Bonaparte who bequeathed by will a sum of money to the provinces which had suffered the most from the wars. A guard and his family lived there all year round as "withdrawn from the world", with the pass closed from December 1 to May 15. The refuge will see the beginnings of mountain tourism and the development of the current resort of Claux.

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PinionRadlerJan

March 12, 2021

Cycling

Nice opportunity to take a break behind or below the Col de Vars.
More information: refuge-napoleon-vars.fr/uk

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Routes here

Top cycling routes to Lac Napoléon

5.0

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1. Footbridge over the Guil – Lac Napoléon loop from Siguret

66.5km

04:59

1,600m

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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4.7

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400

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2. View of Fort de Tournoux – Col de Vars (2,109 m) loop from Faucon-de-Barcelonnette

75.2km

05:23

1,550m

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Hard

4.8

(11)

381

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3. Col de Vars – View of Fort de Tournoux loop from Les-Claux

69.8km

04:54

1,330m

1,320m

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Hard

Details

Informations

Elevation 1,990 m

Weather

Monday 26 January

1°C

-6°C

99 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 4.0 km/h

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Location: Vars, Briançon, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Provence, Provence-Alpes-Côte D'Azur, France

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Der schöne Teil des Col de Vars

Chapelle Sainte-Marie-Madeleine

Lac Napoléon

1. Footbridge over the Guil – Lac Napoléon loop from Siguret

2. View of Fort de Tournoux – Col de Vars (2,109 m) loop from Faucon-de-Barcelonnette

3. Col de Vars – View of Fort de Tournoux loop from Les-Claux

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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