Pic de Château Renard, Mountain summit in Hautes-Alpes, France
Pic de Château Renard is a mountain summit reaching 2989 meters located in the Escreins Massif of the southern Alps. From this vantage point, hikers can survey the Queyras region stretching below and spot Mont Viso in the distance on clear days.
In the 1970s, the Observatoire de Saint-Véran was built at the summit to take advantage of the clear mountain air for astronomical study. This facility transformed the location into a research center that gained recognition across the Alps.
The summit links to the village of Saint-Véran through trails that reveal stories about the region's past copper mining operations and mountain living traditions. Walkers encounter signs along the way that explain how local communities adapted to this high-altitude environment.
The hike begins in the village of Saint-Véran and takes roughly 4 hours, with an elevation gain of about 1000 meters. Summer shuttle services help make the journey more accessible for visitors.
The observatory stands as one of Europe's highest astronomical facilities, benefiting from the minimal light pollution at this elevation. This combination of altitude and clear skies makes it an uncommon place for observing the night sky.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
