Hotels in Briançon

Briançon claims to be the highest city in France, and its Vauban-fortified old town (Vieille Ville) is the real draw: steep cobbled streets, ochre-shuttered houses and ramparts that earned it a spot on UNESCO's list of Vauban fortifications. It sits in the Hautes-Alpes near the Italian border, historically a garrison town guarding the mountain passes, and that military logic still shapes the layout today.

In winter it's a base for Serre Chevalier skiing; in summer, for hiking and cycling into the surrounding peaks, including Alpine passes popular with Tour de France stages. Be honest: the lower town around the station is fairly unremarkable modern sprawl, and outside ski and summer hiking seasons the place can feel sleepy and half-shuttered. Stay inside or right below the Vieille Ville walls, where you can walk to the fortifications and restaurants without needing a car.