From the Drouvet summit to Prapic
Renoncules des glaciers
Renoncules des glaciers - PNE - Corail Marc
Orcières

From the Drouvet summit to Prapic

History and architecture
Lake and glacier
Pastoralism
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This crossing progresses in a grandiose panorama of the high Champsaur, between lakes glittering in the sun and dark "gates of heaven".

The alternating landscapes make this walk particularly enchanting and as often, the descent is made amongst summits and lakes, dales and pastures. The colour of the water contrasts with the more austere, wild schistose slopes of the valley that is nicknamed 'Heaven's gate'. Near to Prapic, the landscape opens onto vast pastures.


Description

The start point is the Drouvet summit. To get there, take the “Telemix” next to the Orcières 1850 Tourist Information centre. At the top, head towards "Lac des Estaris" to the right. Continue on the footpath past the Roc des Hommes and cross a zone of scree. Go along the right of the Lac des Staris. When you get to the Estaris mountain refuge, take the path on the right towards the Lacs Jumeaux. After skirting the lake nearest to the footpath to reach the outflow (point where water runs from the lake), head eastwards (left). You will come close to the Lac des Pisses. Continue until you reach the Pisses mountain hut. In the bottom of the valley, the footpath joins up with the Tombeau du Poète one to the left, towards Prapic. To return to Orcières, take the shuttle, which must be reserved in advance and without fail at Orcières' Tourist Information.

  • Departure : Drouvet summit, Orcières
  • Arrival : Prapic, Orcières
  • Towns crossed : Orcières and Champoléon

20 points of interest

  • Patou surveillant le troupeau
    Patou surveillant le troupeau - PNE - Nicollet Jean-Pierre
    Pastoralism

    Flocks of sheep

    Out of respect for the work of the shepherd, certain precautions are to be taken should you encounter a flock of sheep. Walk widely around the flock when possible; avoid walking through it. Sometimes flocks are guarded by "patous", large dogs that are trained to protect the flock against intrusion. It is considered part of the flock. In its presence, stay calm; stop to give it time to see who you are. Do not stroke it, do not make any sudden movements.
  • L'ubac d'Orcières
    L'ubac d'Orcières - PNE - D'Houwt Stéphane
    Panorama

    Here you have a view of the mineral framework of Orcières and its terraces.
  • Brebis
    Brebis - PNE - Telmon Jean-Philippe
    Pastoralism

    A valley of pastoralism

    Roughly 2000 cattle graze in the Orcières valley, which is managed by mountain breeders. The pastures are divided into sectors according to snowmelt. As the summer progressively settles in, the flock goes to a higher altitude to graze on the fresh grass. Along with salt blocks, these meadows are the sole source of nourishment during the summer season.
  • Grand lac des Estaris
    Grand lac des Estaris - PNE - Gonsolin Gabriel
    Lake

    Altitude lakes

    Just as the glaciers, lakes are emblematic of the mountain landscape. They are an invaluable source of water and represent a priceless aesthetic and touristic heritage that well deserves our attention. Their altitude ecosystems are home to fauna and flora that are specific to such an environment. Their stability is fragile however. Indeed, the lakes "collect" waste from the mountain refuges, animal droppings and even atmospheric pollution from further afield.
  • Le plateau de Charnière depuis le sentier du lac des Pisses
    Le plateau de Charnière depuis le sentier du lac des Pisses - PNE - Albert Christophe
    Panorama

    View of the Prapic ledge

    View of the hamlet of Prapic, its terraces and its natural pastures.
  • Tichodrome échelette
    Tichodrome échelette - PNE - Combrisson Damien
    Fauna

    Wallcreeper

    Discreetly latched to the rock face thanks to its long claws, the wallcreeper is searching, trying to spot insects or spiders that its long, thin, hooked beak can dislodge. Sole representative of the tichodromadidae family, the 'wallclimber' is dependent on the vertical rock faces in the mountains where it finds a home and food. The wallcreeper is a species that is far from timid and is emblematic of the mountains. It sometimes nears the villages in winter.
  • Le lac des Pisses
    Le lac des Pisses - PNE - Corail Marc
    Lake

    Lake Pisses

    The lakes were created in different ways. Lake Pisses was formed by the large glaciers of the quarternary age that carved out the softer rock as they advanced from Lyons to Sisteron. When the glaciers melted, 8000 years ago, these dips became lakes known as "basin lakes".
  • Geology and geography

    Ancient Gravel Pit

    Just forty years ago, the bottom of the valley was a sterile gravel pit, completely bare, where the torrent reigned supreme. Little by little, it became colonized and today the stones have given way to a forest. From time to time an avalanche makes sure that it kept is clear.

  • Le Blaisil en automne
    Le Blaisil en automne - Michel Francou - PNE
    Water

    Blaisil torrent

    Blaisil torrent is the addition of two torrents one from Pisses lake and the other at Estaris. These two lakes situated at an altitude of 2500 m are accessible to walkers who set off early. But the effort is worth it: they present a remarkable setting and history!

  • Chenille de Petite tortue
    Chenille de Petite tortue - Joël Blanchemain - PNE
    Fauna

    Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly

    Precocious, the Small Tortoiseshell is the first butterfly to visit the flowers that have only just come out through the snow. Its caterpillars feed uniquely on nettles where you can see them gathered together with two yellow stripes on their backs. The butterfly has bright orange wings on top, incrusted with ebony and edged with blue lunules ringed with black.

  • Mouches à merde
    Mouches à merde - Blandine Delenatte - PNE
    Fauna

    Dung Fly

    The Dung Fly is a difficult name to bear for such a pretty insect with a golden body! You can often see it on a fresh cow pat or a pile of manure, busy hunting or reproducing on the warm matter. With 240 million years of evolution, it is an expert in "aerobatics". It has 360° vision and it can locate an odour from a distance of several kilometers.

  • Chocard à bec jaune
    Chocard à bec jaune - PNE - Fiat Denis
    Fauna

    Yellow billed Chough

    A whirl of black birds moves noisily along the edge of the mountain wall before landing on a heath covered with juniper bushes. Dozens of them in a joyful rumpus, the Yellow billed Choughs feed on the berries left in winter. Real acrobats, they are capable of breathtaking aerial demonstrations. This ease of flight enables them to travel daily from places of high altitude spending the night there in holes in the rocks, to the bottoms of the valleys where they often find food near to the villages. This small member of the Corvidae species is protected and is on the regional red list because its natural habitat is very localized.

  • Arbres têtards
    Arbres têtards - Marc Corail - PNE
    History

    "Tadpole" trees

    The fodder distributed to the livestock during the winter is a precious commodity. To increase their supplies, the mountain dwellers use everything they have. In Autumn, before the leaves fall, the breeders cut branches from trees (ash and maples) and make bundles of wood. These will be treats for sheep and goats! This explains why the trees here have big heads... They are known as « tadpole » trees.

  • Prapic pendant l'hiver
    Prapic pendant l'hiver - PNE - Collection Tron Lucien
    Architecture

    Prapic

    Prapic, at the foot of the Charnière plateau, is the most famous of the 23 hamlets of Orcières commune. You just have to look upwards to appreciate the richness and the quality of the architecture of the dwellings. The large Champsaurines houses have kept all their character here when the corrugated metal has not replaced the Prapic slate.

  • Maison prapicoise
    Maison prapicoise - Michel Francou - PNE
    Architecture

    Barn gable

    In a poor country, ingenuity is increased. How do you close the gable of the barns while letting the air in to finish drying the hay without having to spend too much money? There are several examples here of the techniques used.

  • History

    Votive Festival

    In the memory of the inhabitants, the votive festival for Saint-Anne has been celebrated for generations in Prapic Chapel. Previously it was celebrated in the old chapel situated at the top of the valley, but in 1870, it burnt down. Every Sunday following the 26th July, the faithful pay tribute to Saint Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary. However votive festivals are traditionally organized in order to answer a wish or to give thanks for a miracle.

  • Ours
    Ours - PNE - Dequest Pierre-Emmanuel
    History

    Last Bear

    In Blaisil valley, near to Prapic, the last bear in the region was slaughtered in 1895. This species had disappeared progressively between the 19th and the middle of the 20th century. In the French Alps, its disappearance is due to its classification as a harmful animal by the legislator in 1844. However, the reduction of its territory due to human activity also contributed to its disappearance. Its reintroduction in the Pyrenees is a controversial subject.

  • Une des fontaines de Prapic en hiver
    Une des fontaines de Prapic en hiver - Michel Francou
    History

    Running water

    Running water came to Prapic in 1924. The first pipes were made from metre long sections, hollowed out trunks of larch. Their fitments probably did not enable all the water collected from the six village fountains to be transported!

  • Jeunes randonneurs au village de Prapic
    Jeunes randonneurs au village de Prapic - Pascal Saulay - PNE
    Architecture

    Prapic Hamlet

    Surrounded by vegetable gardens, piles of stones and mown terraces the village nestles on the banks of the Drac and gives the best land over to agriculture. The typical house is most often perpendicular to the slope, based on an architecture created from materials collected locally and showing great intelligence in its elaboration. From course plasterwork to the delicacy of walnut wooden doors, shale roofing with gables made from plaited alder, this is the architectural vocabulary that punctuates your visit. 

  • Détail d'un vitrail de l'église de Prapic
    Détail d'un vitrail de l'église de Prapic - Michel Francou - PNE
    History

    Prapic Church

    Dedicated to Saint-Anne, Prapic Church dates back to the 1860s. It was built following the request of the inhabitants for a place of worship, who were faced with the hazards of winter and the distance from the parish church in Orcières. On the stained glass choir window, you can admire the portrait of Prapicois: Jean Sarrazin (1833-1914), nicknamed the «the poet of the olives", a different poet from that in the tomb ... Can you find it?


Forecast


Altimetric profile


Sensitive areas

Along your trek, you will go through sensitive areas related to the presence of a specific species or environment. In these areas, an appropriate behaviour allows to contribute to their preservation. For detailed information, specific forms are accessible for each area.

Alpine ibex

Impacted practices:
Aerial, , Land, Vertical
Sensitivity periods:
JunJulAugSep
Contact:
Parc National des Écrins
Julien Charron
julien.charron@ecrins-parcnational.fr

Alpine ibex

Impacted practices:
Aerial, , Land, Vertical
Sensitivity periods:
JunJulAugSep
Contact:
Parc National des Écrins
Julien Charron
julien.charron@ecrins-parcnational.fr

Recommandations

Avoid this route in bad weather. Certain slopes can be slippery.
The indicated time does not take into account time on the shuttle or the telemix.

Herd protection dogs

In mountain pastures, protection dogs are there to protect the herds from predators (wolves, etc.).

When I hike I adapt my behavior by going around the herd and pausing for the dog to identify me.

Find out more about the actions to adopt with the article "Protection dogs: a context and actions to adopt".
Tell us about your meeting by answering this survey.
Is in the midst of the park
The national park is an unrestricted natural area but subjected to regulations which must be known by all visitors.


Information desks

Information centre of Prapic (summer only)

, 05170 Prapic

http://www.ecrins-parcnational.fr/champsaur@ecrins-parcnational.fr04 92 55 61 92

Information centre of the National Park and the Tourism Office of Orcières. Information, documentation. Sale of products and works of the Park. Free admission. All animations of the Park are free unless otherwise stated.

Find out more

Transport

Télémix payble: from Orcières 1850 to the Drouvet summit
Navette payable: from Prapic to Orcières (compulsory advance reservation at the Tourist information Centre)


Access and parking

Once you have gone through the village of Orcières, head to the Orcières 1850 resort.

Parking :

Maison du Tourisme, Orcières 1850

More information


Source

Parc national des Ecrinshttps://www.ecrins-parcnational.fr

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