Abri de la Drayre (Le chatel)

Abri de la Drayre (Le chatel) is a free, unstaffed backcountry shelter in the French Prealps, used as a “cabane non gardée” for self-reliant overnights. It’s a very small cabin with room for 1–2 people at most, and use is first-come, first-served with no reservations.

Inside you’ll find a stove, a bench, a table, and a very small sleeping platform; it’s essentially a basic stop for sleeping with minimal comfort. There’s no nearby water supply, and you should plan to carry your own water or melt snow. Bring a sleeping bag for freezing temperatures, a sleeping pad, and a light source (headlamp). Firewood is not something to count on—plan on bringing your own tinder/wood for the stove.