Saint-Véran

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Saint-Véran is a village and commune of the Hautes-Alpes département, in southeastern France at an altitude of 2,042 metres (6677 feet) in the Queyras Regional Natural Park.

Saint-Véran, located in the French Alps is the most elevated commune of the French Republic (and of Europe): altitude of the village is between 1,990 meters (6,529 feet) and 2,040 meters (6,693 feet) above sea level. It is the highest village in Europe.

Permanent population is around 270 but this is swelled by tourists in both summer and winter. In addition to tourism the main activities are agriculture and wood crafts.

The village is named after Saint Véran, 6th century Bishop of Cavaillon who in legend drove away a dragon.

The Observatoire de Saint-Véran was constructed nearby by the Observatoire de Paris in the early 1970s.