Savines le lac,  tourstic township, classified resort, at the center of the Hautes-Alpes departement, on the shores of the Serre-Ponçon lake ( 3 000 ha ) withheld by the biggest dam built in Europe. Savines was rebuilt in 1960. It is the Chef lieu of the district. It's  inhabitants are called Savinois – Savinoise.

A bit of history

During it's 7 centuries of history, Savines had to move three times. In 1282, Rodolphe of  la Font de Savines swore allegience to the Dauphin du Mandement de Savines lands. In those times the first village was set deep in the torrent of Reallon at a location called "La Paroisse" (the parish) , where lies the ruins of the ancient castle of the de la Font de Savines counts and thos of the first parish church. It was abandonned during the revolution because of the tubulence of the Réallon torrent.

The second Savines, dating from 1825, was destroyed on may the 3rd 1961 for the needs of the construction of the  Serre-Ponçon dam. It was located on the left bank of the Durance rive at a location called "la Charrière" (the hinge).

Plenty of activities 

On the banks of the Serre-Ponçon lake , Savines le lac, classified tourstic resort of the Hautes Alpes, offers a mountain surrounding  with it's feet in the water.

Water sports enthousiasts, discover white water sports, sailing, bathing, and our traditional activities : fishing.

Nature enthousiasts, discover our forests and our mountains lying at the doorstep of the Ecrin National Park.du Parc National des Ecrins, and our exceptional diverse and protected fauna and flora.

Summer through winter, hike through our forests, on foot, on horse back, on mountain bike, on ski or snowshoe.

You can also take heights at our climbing site of la Rochette.

Inheritance

Church of the old parish :

Dedicated to  Saint Florent, bishop of Orange, it is the funeral chaple of the de la Font  familly of Savines,

Chaple Church dedicated to Saint Marie Madeleine  (destroyed) :

Famous because of the image engraved in our memories during it's destruction, where one could see Father FERRARO, the parish priest of the time, walk therough the remains after the explosion to pick the iron cross mounted on the old church steeple.

The cross is still visible in the new  church.

The actual church was inaugurated on july the 15th 1962. The architect wished to build a modern church, of innovative conception. The holy Patron of the destroyed  Savines church, by the voluntary  explosion of wednesday the 3rd may 1961, Saint Florent, is also the holy patron of the new church of Savines le lac.

Inside one can admire, in the treasure hall, beautiful masterpieces of which two paintings : Adoration of the shepherds- Adoration of the mages.

Permanent exposition of photos of the old Savines before it's destruction and during the construction of the dam, at the Tourist Office of SAVINES LE LAC.