Pontis

Pontis is a mountain village perched high above the Serre-Ponçon lake. Nestled between the Pic de Morgon, the Demoiselles Coiffées rock formations, and a magnificent beech forest, this verdant haven offers breathtaking views of the lake and the surrounding mountains. It's ideal for relaxation and rejuvenation, as well as for outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling (including a climb with an 8% gradient), and all kinds of whitewater sports on the Ubaye River and the lake.

Pontis, a mountain village above the Serre-Ponçon lake

Pontis is a village at 1100 meters altitude, a haven of peace in the heart of nature! Nestled in a green setting, it is a village perched on the heights of Lake Serre-Ponçon. 

To reach the village, follow the rather narrow D7 road. It takes you through the eight hamlets scattered throughout the commune. You can enjoy the various viewpoints overlooking Lake Serre-Ponçon and the Ubaye mountains in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Hautes-Alpes departments.

Pontis, an enclave between the Alpes de Haute Provence and the Hautes Alpes

The village of Pontis has the unusual feature of straddling two departments. It has two postal codes: one in department 04 for the hamlet of L'Adroit de Pontis and one in department 05 for the other hamlets! 

This geographical peculiarity gives Pontis the opportunity to have its feet in the Serre-Ponçon lake on both sides of the rivers that feed it: the Durance side and the Ubaye side. 

You are in a village outside of time. An ideal place for numerous outdoor activities. Feet in the water and head towards the peaks.

In the Land of the Demoiselles Coiffées

Are you familiar with the Demoiselles Coiffées, also known as fairy chimneys? They are geological formations created by erosion. A rocky outcrop overlooks columns of conglomerate. Between legends and fairy tales, a little imagination will transport you to the land of childhood! 

To see them, follow the road to the Pontis pass, or the road that passes below the village of Pontis, between Savines and Le-Sauze-du-Lac. A footpath with information panels allows you to reach them in 1 hour round trip.
Starting from the Pontis town hall, a path also leads you there in 45 minutes on foot.

A school museum

And to stay in your childhood a little longer, visit the Museum of the Old School. Housed in the former school building that closed in 1966, it is dedicated to schooling and public education in the mountains. There you will find the smell of chalk, the blackboard, and the purple ink on school notebooks.

To help you recover from all these emotions, a snack bar offers local products on the side.

Numerous activities between the mountains and the lake

Water sports at Lake Serre-Ponçon

On the Ubaye side, a short distance from Pontis, you can reach the port and the equipped beach of Ubaye-Serre-Ponçon for swimming or water sports. 

Supervised beach in summer, canoe, kayak, stand up paddle rentals and other electric boats to cool off on the water…

Ubaye and whitewater sports

The Ubaye River is an ideal spot for whitewater sports. You can enjoy a wide range of activities there, such as rafting. Professionals also offer whitewater swimming, kayaking, air boating, canyoning, river trekking, and floating. The nearest departure points are in Lauzet-Ubaye.

Hiking around Pontis

The village is located below the Pic du Grand Morgon but to access this mythical summit, the starting point is usually from Savines or Crots.

On the other hand, you can enjoy numerous hikes around Pontis. For example, the “Forêt de Pontis” hike is a refreshing loop that allows you to stroll through a beech forest, an enchanting woodland located at the foot of the Pic de Morgon and overlooking the Serre-Ponçon lake. 

The Morgonnet hike is also a peaceful 2-hour loop with a magnificent panorama of the Serre Ponçon lake.

The Tour of Lake Serre-Ponçon by Mountain Bike in 5 days

If you're keen on mountain biking, why not embark on this 5-day trip along the shores of Lake Serre-Ponçon? Nearly 150 km of mountain bike trails have been laid out for a unique itinerary, featuring singletrack trails that are fast-paced on the climbs and fun on the descents.

The Pontis Pass by bike

The Col de Pontis, at 1301 meters, is appreciated or feared by cyclists for its average gradient of 10%! The climb to the pass is short (5 km starting from the Ubaye side) but challenging with percentages that vary from 8% to 11%.
The view, however, is fantastic and makes you forget the switchbacks…
The Balcons du lac circuit, 38 km long, includes the Pontis pass.