Refuge de l'Alpe-de-Villar-d'Arêne

The Refuge de l'Alpe-de-Villar-d'Arêne is a mountain hut operated by the Fédération Française des Clubs Alpins et de Montagne (FFCAM), located on the commune of Villar-d'Arêne in the Écrins massif of the French Alps. It sits at an altitude of 2,071 metres on a plateau above the village of Villar-d'Arêne and its hamlet of Pied du Col, in the Vallée de la Romanche in the Hautes-Alpes department. The refuge is a gardé (warden-serviced) facility, meaning it offers accommodation, meals and local information during defined spring and summer seasons, while remaining accessible for self-sufficient visitors outside those periods. The hut is a classic alpine waypoint for day walks and multi-day tours. It is reached either from the Col du Lautaret in about two hours with 150 metres of ascent along the sentier d'interprétation des crevasses, or from the last parking area at the hamlet of Pied du Col in about an hour and a half with 420 metres of ascent. From the refuge, walkers can head to the Col d'Arsine, the Lac and glacier d'Arsine, the sources of the Romanche, the Refuge Adèle Planchard and the Refuge du Pavé. Alpinists and ski tourers use it as a base for objectives such as the Pic de Chamoissière, the Montagne des Agneaux via the calotte or the couloir Piaget, the Pic de Neige Cordier, the traverse to the Refuge du Glacier-Blanc and the Refuge des Écrins via Neige-Cordier, the Grande Ruine, and the traverse to the Refuge du Châtelleret and the Refuge du Promontoire via the Col du Clos des Cavales or the Col du Pavé. The Tour de La Meije, a ski-touring raid, also passes through this area. As an FFCAM refuge, the property is part of the federation's network of mountain huts and is managed by a resident guardian. The official site lists Mélanie Martinot as the gardienne, with spring and summer warden periods and online or telephone booking. The refuge offers small-scale catering throughout the day and a lunch menu, and it notes that credit cards are not accepted on site. Its location in the Écrins makes it a node in the region's hiking, mountaineering and ski-touring infrastructure rather than a conventional commercial hotel brand.

The Refuge de l'Alpe-de-Villar-d'Arêne is a mountain hut of the Fédération Française des Clubs Alpins et de Montagne (FFCAM), situated on the commune of Villar-d'Arêne in the Écrins massif at an altitude of 2,071 metres. It stands on a plateau above the village of Villar-d'Arêne and its hamlet of Pied du Col, in the Vallée de la Romanche in the Hautes-Alpes. Like many FFCAM huts, it forms part of a wider network of refuges that support walking, climbing and ski touring in the French Alps, and it is managed by a resident guardian during its gardé seasons. The refuge's documented role is primarily as an access point and staging post for the Écrins. It can be reached from the Col du Lautaret in about two hours with 150 metres of ascent, following the sentier d'interprétation des crevasses, or from the last parking area at the hamlet of Pied du Col in about an hour and a half with 420 metres of ascent. These approaches place it within easy reach of both day walkers and multi-day parties. From the hut, walkers can reach the Col d'Arsine, the Lac and glacier d'Arsine, the sources of the Romanche, the Refuge Adèle Planchard and the Refuge du Pavé. Mountaineers and ski tourers use it for objectives including the Pic de Chamoissière, the Montagne des Agneaux via the calotte or the couloir Piaget, the Pic de Neige Cordier, the traverse to the Refuge du Glacier-Blanc and the Refuge des Écrins via Neige-Cordier, the Grande Ruine, and the traverse to the Refuge du Châtelleret and the Refuge du Promontoire via the Col du Clos des Cavales or the Col du Pavé. The Tour de La Meije, a ski-touring raid, also passes through the area. In its current operation, the refuge is listed on the FFCAM official site with warden periods and booking information. The site names Mélanie Martinot as gardienne and gives spring and summer warden periods, online and telephone booking, small-scale catering throughout the day, a lunch menu, and a note that credit cards are not accepted. The official site also provides contact details and access information, and describes the refuge as situated in open alpine pasture near the village of La Grave, welcoming visitors for day hikes and longer stays.

• Refuge listed on Wikidata as Q18005521

• Official FFCAM site lists spring warden period from 28 February to 9 May 2026 and 19 to 23 May 2026

• Official FFCAM site lists summer warden period from 11 June to 20 September 2026

A federation-run alpine refuge in the Écrins, positioned as a seasonal base for hiking, mountaineering and ski touring rather than a commercial hotel.

• Warden-serviced overnight stays

• Half-board and meals

• Small-scale catering and lunch menu

• Online and telephone reservations

1. 1Accueil, Refuge de l'Alpe de Villar d'Arènerefugealpedevillardarene.ffcam.fr
2. 2Refuge de l'Alpe-de-Villar-d'Arênewikidata.org
3. 3Refuge de l'Alpe-de-Villar-d'Arênefr.wikipedia.org