Hiking (mountain trail, in places narrow and exposed)
Alpine route (equipped or very exposed section, snow field, blocks)
R130
Freissinières » Mont-Dauphin (Guillestre)
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7h25 |
22.1 km
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782 m
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911 m
This stage leaves Freissinières and follows the GR® 50, passing several mountain hamlets. It then crosses the Fonds du Sap wood to descend close to the village of Réotier and its petrifying fountain and reach the wide Durance valley. Just after the confluence of the Guil and Durance rivers, it arrives at the fortified town of Mont-Dauphin, the stage destination.
Leave Freissinières on departmental road D 238 heading towards the bottom of the valley. Cross the bridge over the Biaysse stream and take the forest track on the left that heads along the right bank of the stream, moves away from it and rejoins it again at the entry to Pallon (1,127m). Stay on the right bank, follow the D 38 for 300m, and then turn left onto a rural path that leads to a fork in the road. Continue straight ahead to climb to the Chambon, cross the hamlet by following the D 38 and, at the cross, take the road to the right that leads to Champcella (1,230m). At the exit from the village near the Croix la Chapelle chapel, walk uphill on the right-hand road and follow it until reaching the first crossroads after the hamlet of Ponteil. Take a ridge trail on the left heading to the south east and reach to the forest road in the Preyts area. Follow it for 250m and then take the path heading uphill into the wood on the right, pass Villard, cross the St Thomas stream and walk downhill to reach the hamlet of Mikéou. Leave the GR® 50 to descend along the little road and, below the power line, continue by taking the path to the left to arrive at the Réotier cemetery (1,164m). Then veer to the north before descending in hairpin bends to reach a road at Cros and then the D 38. Cross the D 38 and take a path opposite, which leads to the railway. Turn left along a little road leading to the car park at the edge of the D 37. Take the D 7 to the right for 800m and at the crossroads turn onto the right-hand path that leads to the right bank of the Guil. Pass under national road N 94 to reach a little road. Follow it to the left and then climb to the right on the D 137t to reach the gates to the Mont-Dauphin citadel (1,041m) and then its centre. (The tourist office organises guided visits of the citadel). (Marc Buisson, CDRP 05)
Natural and cultural heritage
On leaving Freissinières valley, it is possible to observe the old glacial rock bar that sealed the valley at Pallon, before contemplating the current fall of the Gourfouran chasm. Closer to the village of Le Chambon, it is also possible to see the traces (low stone walls) of the old Roman road (Via Domitia) that linked Sisteron to the Montgenèvre pass using this route. Champcella (“hidden field”) was given its name because its crops formed a cereal granary sheltered from the pillagers for the inhabitants of the Durance valley. Today, protected from overly intensive farming, certain adventitious harvest species that are becoming ever rarer can be found here: cornflowers, pheasant’s-eye, or common quail. The climb back uphill takes you along the Bouchet ridge, with the majestic Tête de Vautisse (3,156m) rising up above it. Next, the trail borders the sides of the right bank of the River Durance. A little before Réotier, it reaches a level with the very majestic and unusual petrifying fountain, an astonishing monument of limestone concretions forming gnamma holes and listed as a natural monument. The fortified town of Mont-Dauphin, which can be distinguished from the other side of the valley during the descent to the Durance, was designed by Vauban in 1692 to be the “ideal town”, combining military neighbourhoods with civil life. It was initially created to protect the Haut Dauphiné region from the territorial aspirations of the Duke of Savoie, who had just destroyed Guillestre, Embrun and Gap. Work stopped a century later, however, and it was never to be completed for lack of money. Now, it is possible to visit its ramparts dominating the elbow of the Durance, and also the powder magazine or the arsenal. Today, the smallest community of the Hautes-Alpes (within the enclosure of the fortifications) also offers craft treasures: pottery, sundials, silk painting and leather engraving. The Guil canyon with its petrifying fountain completes the hot springs of Plan-de-Phazy, as the “Titan’s Hand” of the village of Eygliers completes the capricious influences of water on the rock. Which perhaps explains why the Rue des Masques, situated on the other side of the canyon, is imbued with legends… Furthermore, the vineyards of the Guillestrois area are the highest in France (at around 1,200m in altitude), but they are private, non-commercial holdings, and thus retain an authentic, original style. (Nicolas Aubertin, Gilles Chappaz, Grande Traversée des Alpes)
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.
Houdayer Alain - 2022-09-07
Gite "Le glacier bleu"ou l'accueil et la nourriture sont parfaits dans un cadre exceptionnel qu'est la cité Vauban.
Bei Mikéou war die Wegbeschilderung falsch. Das Via-Alpina-Logo war auf dem Wegweiser, der nach Pinfol zeigte. Wir folgten zum Glück dem GPS-Track. Der Weg hinunter ist kaum markiert, und die abzweigenden Pfade sind fast nicht zu erkennen. GPS hilft...
Mont-Dauphin ist eindrücklich, aber ziemlich menschenleer. Wer Proviant einkaufen oder Geld abheben muss, wandert anschliessend am besten weiter ins lebhafte Guillestre. Um dorthin zu gelangen, muss man allerdings eine landschaftlich sehr schöne Schlucht durchwandern.
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At Mikéou the signage was wrong. The Via Alpina logo was on the signpost pointing to Pinfol. Luckily we followed the GPS track. The way down is hardly marked, and the branching paths are almost invisible. GPS helps ... Mont-Dauphin is impressive, but pretty deserted. If you need to buy provisions or withdraw money, then it's best to move on to the lively Guillestre. To get there, you have to walk through a beautiful canyon.
The Gite d'Etape Le Glacier Bleu is in the middle of the old town. It is the place of the old bakery shop, you can still see the oven. Friendly, small, good food, recommended.
With the track loaded in your GPS there are no problems finding the correct way.
JLC - 2016-10-02
1/10/2016 Très bon balisage jusqu'à Mikéou, ensuite il faut viser l'église de Réotier et bien passer entre elle et le cimetière; on retrouve après 200 m. la VA qui descend en lacets jusqu'à la D38 puis la voie ferrée.
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1/10/2016 Very good markings until Mikéou, then it is necessary to aim the church of Réotier and to pass well between her and the cemetery; we find after 200 m. the VA descending in laces until the D38 then the railway.
Elisabeth - 2015-10-14
Les VAlpinistes ont déjà signalé le pb d'itinéraire sur cette étape, mais rien n'a changé... Aucun balisage : carton jaune à partir du Ponteil (brouillard complet entre exploitation forestière et pâturages). Et carton rouge à partir de Mikéou où c'est encore pire. Il faudrait signaler dans la description que l'église de Réotier s'appelle St-Michel et, surtout, qu'elle est toute seule avec son cimetière, sur un replat. Réotier n'est pas un village, c'est un ensemble de 16 hameaux dispersés. J'ai fait plus de 6 km en trop.
Pas de ravitaillement à Mont-Dauphin !
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The VAlpinistes have already reported the pb route on this stage, but nothing changed ... No tagging: yellow card from Ponteil (complete fog between logging and grazing). And red card from Mikéou where it's even worse. It should be pointed out in the description that the church is called Réotier St-Michel and, above all, she is alone with her cemetery, on a ledge. Réotier is not a village, it is a set of 16 hamlets scattered. I made more than 6 km too. No refueling in Mont-Dauphin!
tof - 2015-05-15
Trieste-Monaco le 3/10/2014
Du Col des Lauzes à Guillestre. Longue journée. Superbe balcon sur la majorité. Beaucoup moins intéressant sur la fin: route vers Réotier jusqu'à Guillestre. Pris la D 902 de MontDauphin jusqu'à Guillestre: erreur! Dangereux à pied et même en vélo, ça roule très vite sur cette portion...
Etape au camping du centre-village "le catinat fleuri". Joli coin, bon prix mais sanitaires un peu vieux parfois non fonctionnels. Très bon accueil.
Toutes commodités au village, même un cordonnier.
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Trieste-Monaco on 10.03.2014 the Col des Lauzes in Guillestre. Long day. Gorgeous balcony on the majority. Much less interested in the end: Road to Réotier to Guillestre. Took the D902 to Guillestre Montdauphin: Error! Dangerous walk or bike, it rolls quickly on this part ... Step camping village center "flowery catinat". Nice area, good price but a bit old sanitary sometimes non-functional. Very welcome. All amenities in the village, even a shoemaker.
Going down from Mont Dauphin to the noisy road nearby Guillestre is easy but from there the trail is very poorly marked to reached hamlet Mikeou
Had to backed up and really searched hard for the way up to Mikeou, followed roads and trails without any markers...hard time even with a
navigation device...From Mikeou, it gets smoother to Fressinières, almost straight and flat to slightly down if i recall correctly
6h from Mont Dauphin to Fressinieres on a sunny day (mid June 2013)
Transition day really nothing interesting...really disappointed that i left the Queyras regional park for this
There is a bar/resturant and a camping place with a grocery store (nice location) before Fressinieres.
Fressinieres have a traiteur that is friendly enough and will be willing to sale something even if close if you see someone
and a bar/restaurant also available in the hamlet
Jean-Louis GIRAUD - 2013-05-20
Aprés quelques difficultés pour suivre l'itinéraire dans la dernière partie, j'ai terminé l'etape dans la Citadelle VAUBAN de MONTDAUPHIN, inscrite au patrmoine mondial de l'UNESCO. Trés bon accueil au GITE LE GLACIER BLEU, Rue CATINAT
Le gite est situé dans la rue centrale de cette place forte qui demeure un lieu exceptionnel et hors du temps avec ses rues tracées au cordeau et ses maisons à l'architecture trés particulière
Chambre agréable avec douche. Bon et copieux repas
Tel : 04 92 45 18 47
Email : olivier@leglacierbleu.fr
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After some difficulties to follow the route in the last part, I finished the stage in the Citadel of Vauban MONTDAUPHIN, a World Heritage's UNESCO. Very welcome the GITE BLEU GLACIER Street CATINAT The cottage is situated in the central street of this stronghold that remains an exceptional place and out of time with his perfectly straight streets and houses in very nice room with particular architecture shower. Good and hearty meal Tel: 04 92 45 18 47 Email: olivier@leglacierbleu.fr
Tippel - 2012-08-05
We stayed in Guillestre, a nice lively village with shops, restaurants, buses (to Gap, Briancon,...). Had a friendly reception at Hotel/Camping "Le catinat fleuri" and a good dinner at "Le Guillestrin".
Before entering Pallon (T->M), there's a quite cheap camp site. In 2010, they offered me a place for my tent for only 5 EUR, including hot shower and free WIFI!
They also have a small supermarket where they sells a few goods for a fair price.
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7h25 |
22.1 km
|
782 m
|
911 m
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.