Napoléon's Spirit
It’s now two years since we began the task of re-organising, modernising and up-grading the site. Our target: to be able to welcome you to a totally new space, where nature blends seamlessly with the contemporary.
Our aim? To create a holiday residence, where tranquillity is all important. A site that places a strong emphasis on being environmentally-friendly.
Conviviality, Sport - Well-being and Eco-responsibility, these are the basic principles that have guided our project.
Between the town and the mountains, our site enjoys a particularly special situation. You can benefit from all the convenience and animation of the town of Gap (3 km) whilst staying in the heart of nature. And with that come advantages such as being able to take to the trails right from the campsite entrance, to walk or cycle to the Bayard pass and its golf course, or head east to visit the Domaine de Charance via the Gap canal.
Just a few minutes by car and you’re into the Champsaur and Valgaudemar mountains, forming part of the Les Ecrins National Park: hiking, mountain biking (electric or pedal-power it’s your choice), paragliding, via ferrata, canyoning, trail running... there are sports for everyone and every level.
For climbers, a trip to the famous Ceüse rock face is unmissable.
Only 20 minutes by car, and you’re into a different world - a day on, by and in the water - on the banks of the Serre Ponçon lake and an opportunity to sail, swim, SUP, kitesurf, windsurf...
Our concept: to welcome you to a haven of peace and quiet, where each can enjoy a wealth of local activities at their own rhythm. Whatever you want to do, whenever and however you want to do it! Here, after relaxing by the pool or hiking to Prapic, you can continue to pamper yourself and your body with a session of Vinyasa Yoga or Qi Gong.
Make the most of your holiday to learn new ways to cook with plants or join in an aromatherapy workshop.
Le Refuge LPO
Espace Nature is totally committed to sustainable development, Camping & Résidences Le Napoléon is an officially listed bird refuge approved by the “Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux” (French national association for the protection of birds).
We have put in place a wide range of different elements designed to protect and encourage the rich wildlife of our sunny southern Alps:
- Some fifteen nesting boxes have been installed at a safe height in the trees, different shapes and sizes perfectly adapted for small birds such as tits and others, larger birds of prey (owls, etc) or bats.
- Feeders to help squirrels and birds survive the harsh winter weather.
- Solar panels and heat pump (clean energy) to heat the bathroom facilities and the swimming pool.
- The stacks of wood placed on the ground in quiet areas and other natural spaces offer an ideal habitat for small mammals (hedgehogs, bats, etc) and insects.
- A composting area will be created this year to ensure that all plant waste (leaves, branches, grass, etc) is recycled and turned into humus.
Here is just some of the wildlife present, year-round or as seasonal visitors, that you may have the chance to come across during your stay at the “Napoleon”:
- Hedgehog
- Tawny owl
- Red squirrel
- Crested tit, blue tit, coal tit, marsh tit, long-tailed tit...
- Bats
- Nuthatch, short-toed tree-creeper, green and great spotted woodpeckers...
NEW!
New areas have been planted along the edges of the paths and drives. Whenever possible we have used local species to encourage a return of biodiversity in the areas where we live, work and welcome our visitors. Shrubs such as hazel, common dogwood, wild roses, raspberries, currants, lavender, cotoneaster and honeysuckle, wild flowers that grow in the countryside (borage, campanula, geranium...) together with medicinal plants such as thyme and rosemary and of course culinary herbs (chives, sage...). These all provide food for bees and a wide range of butterflies, moths and beetles.
