Just looking at a map of the Queyras area. I seem to remember reading something about Chateau Queyras. Is it worth a detour off the GR58?
Last year walking around the Ecrins, there were lots of campsites and great wild camps. I'm sure there will be lots of great wild camps in the Queyras, but why are there no campsites?
A pretty village, but not exceptionally so. The castle itself is in an interesting location on a big rock that sort of blocks the valley - I didn't go in (I'm not sure you can), but you would get better views from the GR58 anyway than you'd get from the castle rock. I was on the GR5 (going back in September, to do Ceillac-Nice).
There is one shop, but it does have quite a good range of supplies, and it's open until about 8 in the evening. And there's a camp site about 1km from the village.
Overall I'd say it's quite a nice place, but doesn't require a detour unless you want supplies or a shower!
Echo MoS re Chateau Queyras, though it's fun watching the rubber rafts and Via Ferrata in the gorge and it's an opportunity for a good meal.
There are quite a few campsites in the Queyras - just google.fr 'camping queyras', but as you hint, the Queyras is a wilder, more mysterious and private place than the Ecrins, so why would you want to end up on a campsite when camping sauvage is so satisfying there ... if you have time, be sure to pop over to Italy near the Viso, there is some great terrain there too - and bonkers Italians of course
Thanks for the messages. I passed on Chateau Queyras and spent the extra day exploring Briancon which was really interesting. I did take the Italian loop near Mt Viso and loved the view from the pass after the refuge - Col Selliere with views of Mont Blanc. Thanks for the campsite link - campsites not marked on the 1:60,000 map. Camped high near the passes most nights except a resupply in Abries where I stayed at the campsite and had a shower! Found a camp in MD as well for the start and finish. Definitely wilder than the Ecrins. As interesting...
