Guillestre, commune in Hautes-Alpes, France
Guillestre is a small town in the Hautes-Alpes at just over 1000 meters in elevation where two valleys meet and the Guil river flows through narrow historic streets. The old town features cream and ochre-colored houses with distinctive pink marble details, while the 16th-century Church of Notre-Dame-d'Aquillon with its pink marble door anchors the center and overlooks small squares with cafes.
Guillestre was likely founded after inhabitants of a nearby settlement fled to this location following a major flood and developed it into a trading station between France and Italy. In the 12th century, the Church of Embrun built a fortress to protect the town, of which only parts like the Tower of Eygliers and historical gates remain today.
The name Guillestre comes from old words meaning 'on the balcony over the Guil' and refers to the town's historical position overlooking the river valley. Today, narrow streets host small shops, cafes, and a weekly Monday market where residents and visitors gather to buy local cheese, bread, and fresh produce while experiencing the rhythms of mountain village life.
The town is accessible via the Route des Grandes Alpes, a famous mountain road with panoramic views, and parking is available in the town center and along streets with free options. Visitors can explore on foot through narrow lanes discovering small shops, cafes, and galleries at a leisurely pace, as the compact center is easy to navigate and walk around.
The rare Tulipa platystigma, also called the Guillestre tulip, grows only in this region and blooms on mountain slopes in spring. Combined with the pink marble quarried locally for generations and visible throughout house facades, this unique botanical feature and local stone create a distinctive character found nowhere else in the region.
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