8. From Les Gondouins to Orcières (Chauffarel)

5 points of interest

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  History

  The old landscape

  While roaming the Champoléon valley, you will have noticed the size of the Drac riverbed. At the time that the valley had 600 habitants (in 1789 compared to 110 nowadays), it is said that people threw the scythe hammer from one bank to the other over this impetuous stream...An abundant workforce built and maintained the walls and dikes that retained the earth and was carried on the backs of men or donkeys. After the devastating floods of 1914, the Drac washed away land and pasture. Several hamlets, such as Gondouins, were abandoned.

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  Vernacular heritage

  The chapel in Les Gondouins

  Built in 1700 by the Pourroy family, the chapel of Saint-Jean-Baptiste stands at an altitude of 1,311 metres, in the hamlet of Les Gondouins. It has a worked doorway surmounted by a small cross, an unusual feature for a mountain chapel, and an elegant bell turret (a "panelle") with a bell which extends above the roof ridgeline. The interior is simple and unembellished, apart from a painting depicting Jesus being baptised by Saint John the Baptist.

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  Pastoralism

  Tardons

  "Tardons" are lambs that are raised on mother's milk in the pastures of the Ecrins massifs. These lambs are celebrated every autumn at the Champoléon agricultural fair. This event spotlights pastoralism and assembles breeders, shepherds and the general public. On the agenda: the sale of sheep, produce market, lamb-based meals and entertainment.

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  History

  Les Borels

  This is most important village in the Chamoléon district (no hamlet bears this name). Until towards the first world war in 1914, the valley lived in a closed circuit for all everyday items. At the Borels there was a weaver (wool and hemp), a miller-baker, an ironmonger, a mason, a breeches-maker and in the other hamlets, a cobbler, two millers, a joiner and two shoemakers. The latter worked from home.

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  Fauna

  Alpine ibex

  If you take a few minutes' walk at the end of the valley, you will be able to see some Alpine ibex. In September 1994, in Champoléon, some thirty animals from Vanoise area were released by Ecrins National Park rangers. This superb animal is heavier (100 kg) and less timid than the chamois, and is closely related to the domestic goat. It was almost extinct in the Alps. Today it is totally protected in France and is now safe extinction.