Located more than 1,300 meters above sea level, making it the highest town in France, Briançon, in the Hautes-Alpes, has a population of just over 10,000. And hosted, a few years ago, the 159th Alpine Infantry Regiment (159th RIA) before the National Mountain Training Center (CNAM). Since the restructuring of the armed forces in 2008 under the leadership of Nicolas Sarkozy, military barracks have remained empty. Even threatened with demolition. “ Their rehabilitation has been a twenty year project. Residents express themselves about their future, not by voting in the Municipality », recalls Arnaud Murgia, the current mayor of my city and involved in this during his election campaign.
Now, and with unprecedented speed, three barracks in the heart of the ZAC military district are finding a second wind. One became the administrative city of Alpine city, uniting “ all city services, Météo France, media library and France Travail », List of councilors of Briançonnais. Colaud Barracks, covering 4,580 m², rehabilitated into a four-star hotel with 83 rooms and suites with a spa, brasserie bar and conference rooms for companies, will open in early December. Berwick Barracks, covering an area of more than 4,100 m², has undergone a stage of cleaning, asbestos removal and structural works following the start of work in November 2024 and will be rehabilitated into a three-star hotel with 86 rooms from winter 2026. On the ground floor, commercial premises cover 130 m². The hotels will be operated by the Noemys group under the Garrigae brand and Travel Factory, a subsidiary of Compagnie des Alpes. In line with this” preserving historical and military heritage and past “, this project is also in line with modernity with the creation of new housing in two existing residences” maintain a maintained barracks volume », say Jérôme Rousson, program director and Léopold Marion, Icade operational director entrusted with the project management. The Les Cimes residence will consist of 71 collective housing units and activity spaces, and the Orma residence will consist of 49 collective housing units and three business premises.
