Village of Isere, on the Route Napoléon, Corps takes place in the heart of Dauphiné, eighty kilometers from Grenoble. This old medieval village is located on the border of the department of Hautes-Alpes, in the Southern Alps, about forty kilometers from Gap and near Saint-Firmin, Aspres-lès-Corps and Ambel.
Occupied as early as 1200 BC, the territory of Corps was populated by Altaic groups straight from Central Asia. It then develops in the Gallo-Roman era and the Middle Ages, gradually taking the face that we know today. Heavily affected by the wars of religion, the town is ruined following the various battles in 1577. But it is rather in the nineteenth century that it is illustrated with first the passage of Napoleon in 1815 on his return from France. Island of Elba, then in 1846 with the appearance of the Virgin Mary to two children of the village.
Today, Corps continues to attract visitors with its special charm as well as its architectural and natural heritage.
Originally inserted in a 13th century Benedictine priory, of which only the entrance door remains today, the Saint-Pierre church is a Romanesque religious building ravaged by a fire in the first half of the 19th century.. Restored in its original style, it includes a Gothic bell tower and inside, two statues of Our Lady of Salette including a Virgin in tears. On the edge of the town, do not miss to admire the Saint-Roch chapel. It sits on a promontory facing the lake and surrounding mountains, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding area.
Built in the 1930s, the Sautet dam is a real feat of engineering and architecture. Top of more than 120 meters, it is at the origin of the creation of the lake of the same name. A nautical base has been built, offering the practice of kayaking, swimming, or even small electric boats. An aquatic area for children is also available on site, and it is possible to browse the site via an electro-solar boat of twenty places.
Today called Napoleon House, the former gendarmerie of Corps welcomed the emperor in 1815 after his return from the island of Elba. After one night, he leaves to try to reach the capital.
While strolling in the village, do not miss to discover the Old Hospital labeled Heritage in Isère, the old houses of the old center or the old stables forming a vaulted passage.
Thrill-seekers can take the via ferrata courses on site, the tunnels and the Grand Frisson route, or discover the easier initiation course.
