Vars Sainte-Catherine

This south-facing hamlet is the highest of the three mountain villages. Formerly known as “la Fortune” because Sainte Catherine enjoys exceptional sunshine, the village’s location is a real draw. Even today, Vars Sainte Catherine is said to be the former granary of Vars, as it is still the village with the most arable and cultivated fields. Hay, rye, hemp, oats and vegetables (cabbage, potatoes…).

The Balcony of Vars

Choosing Sainte Catherine for your vacation means treating yourself to one of the most beautiful balconies in Vars, with the Crêtes de l’Eyssina, the backdrop to Vars, on one side, and the Ecrins massif at over 4000m on the other. You’ll be the last to enjoy the warmth of the sunset, thanks to a south-western exposure that’s just right for sunset lovers.

The narrow, sloping streets of this mountainside village, known as “charrières”, allow you to stroll along and discover treasures that even the most curious will be able to unveil: the sundials bear witness to the very strong relationship that the inhabitants had with the sun, a veritable natural clock for them, whose illustration on the walls of farmhouses was often accompanied by moralist phrases full of wisdom.

Here, you’ll find magnificent traditional larch wood balconies running along all the facades, and gruates (haystack pulleys).
The communal oven used to bake bread backs onto one of the village’s wash-houses, a handy place to get water when making bread. It is relit twice a year in July and August to perpetuate the tradition of bread-making at village festivals.