3. Stage 3: Champoléon - Orcières - St Léger les Mélèzes - Ancelle

10 points of interest

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  Pastoralism

  Mown meadows

  Most of the prairies are mown. They are lightly manured by the animals grazing here in spring and with additional manure. This land is rich in plant species: globeflowers, geraniums, narcissus, etc. The meadows that are only grazed are covered with large plants that are of no interest to cattle: asphodels, yellow gentians, veratrum, etc. 

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  Water

  Drac Blanc and Drac Noir

  The Drac Noir or Drac d'Orcières takes its source at the foot of the Mourre Froid and the Roc Blanc at an altitude of about 1,900 m. The mainly sedimentary rocks in the valley soon turn the mountain stream black ("Noir") when it rains. The Drac Blanc or Drac de Champoléon arises at an altitude of 1,800 m, below the Pointe des Rougnoux. Since the valley is mainly made up of more solid granite rocks, the Drac Blanc ("White") is less clouded than the Drac Noir.

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  History

  Serre-Eyraud

  Serre-Eyraud is both a mountain village and a winter sports resort which overlooks
  the Champsaur and the confluence of the Drac Noir and the Drac Blanc, 1,450 metres above sea level, opposite the Champoléon valley.
  The resort was created in 1962 by a handful of inhabitants: eight runs lead through a larch forest which is exposed to the north, which helps to conserve the snow cover. Serre- Eyraud is the smallest ski resort in the Champsaur valley. 

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  Know-how

  Pastoral plants

  Around the shepherds' cabins can be found plants with pale colours that are useful in the kitchen : nettles, which cause rashes, but are used to make delicious soups, wild spinach, also known as Good King Henry , a plant eaten as a gratin (the famous 'oreilles d'âne' (donkeys' ears) dish), with the sour leaves of the Alpine dock. For dessert, the petioles of Monks' rhubarb leaves are served as jams and compotes.

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  History

  Orcières 1850

  Thanks to Camille Ricou, the mayor of Orcières, and a handful of visionaries, in January 1962 the Orcières-Merlette ski resort was born. Soon, buildings, shops and ski lifts were built. Even though the 1960s architecture has not aged well and the pylons disfigure the landscape, the pioneers have achieved their aims: they were able to stay in the region, guarantee their children a future and create jobs.

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  Fauna

  Trout

  Fishing fans have always loved the Drac. You also need some hiking skills to follow the course of the river or reach the high-altitude lakes. Whether you prefer lure fishing, spoon casting or fly fishing, here you'll find all kinds of trout: brown trout (Salmo trutta), Mediterranean in origin, and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) from North America.

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  Fauna

  Patou

  The patou is once again being used in the Alpine pastures by breeders and shepherds, following the reintroduction of wolves. Its role is to protect the sheep, not to herd them together like a sheep dog. The dog lives with the sheep from a very young age and considers them as members of its family. It barks and stands between the flock and whatever it sees as a threat. Since it is very protective towards the flock, hikers should make sure they keep their distance.

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  Panorama

  The Combeau alpine pasture

  The Combeau alpine pasture, lying 2,000 metres above sea level.
  Don't miss the superb panoramic view from the Croix de Combeau belvedere. 

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  Fauna

  Alpine newt

  In the  Libouze water reserve, newly restored by the town of Saint Léger les Mélèzes,  you can see a pretty batrachian swimming around elegantly. This is the Alpine newt. It can be recognised by its orange belly, but unlike the females, the males have lighter-coloured sides with large dark spots and a narrow, light-blue stripe. The species  is strictly protected and is becoming rarer in the plain, on the edge of its area of distribution. 

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  Geology and geography

  The Ancelle plateau

  After the retreat of the glaciers flowing from the Durance and Roanne valleys, the frontal and lateral moraines formed a natural dam at the end of the Ancelle basin. Over time, a large glacial lake was created. Between the fifth and sixth centuries, the lake dried out. The forest then took over the fertile plateau, and it was only in the eighth century that it was deforested by man for crops.