Guillestre is a large mountain
village nestling in a green valley, near to both Natural parks (Écrins
and Queyras). It breathes pure air from the nearby mountains.
You
might be surprised to learn that Guillestre is also a town of art
and history. Go past its smart little square with a beautiful fountain
in the middle made of Guillestre pink marble, where you will also
find the tourist office, take Sainte Catherine street that begins
under an archway and you will have some nice surprises, in addition
to beautiful pastel-coloured façades, some superb buildings such
as the former "Justice and Peace room" and door lintels dating from
the 18th century.
The imposing Notre-Dame d'Aquilon church is a listed historical
monument. It was built in the 16th century in the Romanesque-Lombardic
style, using the pink marble taken from local quarrites, by the
Lombardic architect Galéas.
It has an enormous gothic archway with
pillars supported by lions, a sumptuous gateway and a Romanesque
belltower with three stories.
Right next door is the baroque chapel of Saint-Sébastien, with a
beautifully restored façade, which will dazzle you with its trompe-l'oeil
sculptures.
Further on, you'll admire the beautiful remants of the medieval
fortifications, in particular the Eygliers watchtower, which still
stands proudly.
After culture, nature once again takes over. Head for the high peaks
of the Ecrins natural park, descend the tumultuous Guil on a raft,
or fly up into the air on a paraglider or a hang glider, using the
warm updrafts !