In the days when there were no roads, Abriès was nevertheless a trading centre with nearby Italy, although the goods were carried on the backs of mules.

On feast days, people from the Queyras area brought their livestock, cheese and wool to Abriès, while the Piedmontese brought rice, pasta, fruit and vegetables.

Abriès is situated in the Queyras regional park, very close to Italy.

Today it is a large village full of life, much-loved by mountaineers because it is conveniently located at the foot of very high peaks such as Bric Froid (3302 m) and Bric Bouchet (3216 m).

But Abriès also boasts a fine heritage; in particular a superb church with a belltower dating back to 1620.

Although the archway with its columns was carried away long ago by the Guil in spate in 1733, there remain two astonishing stylized stone lions, which are no doubt the work of the same artist who made the lions at Guillestre, les Orres and Saint-Véran.