Marbre Rose circuit (trail route no. 3)
Vue sur le lac de La Roche-de-Rame
Vue sur le lac de La Roche-de-Rame - Thibaut Blais
La Roche-de-Rame

Marbre Rose circuit (trail route no. 3)

Flora
History and architecture
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Running alternately through pine forest, aspens and lavender, this promises to be a delightful route

The route rises gently through the village, along a path and a forest track. When you reach the foot of the Oumbras (1,769 m), you will start a long traverse section overlooking the Durance valley. The descent then leads through Scots pines. Take a pretty single track which passes close by the pink marble quarry of Combe-Mounière. The marble from here was used in the construction of Gap Cathedral. You return to the village along a path running above the lake.


Description

Facing away from the entrance to the lake campsite, turn right to go through the village of La Roche-de-Rame along the Rue “Les Queyras”. After going past the cemetery, continue to the right. 

  1. Turn left. At the end of this track, at the D38 continue by turning right. A short distance further up, cross the bridge on the right after the Bouchouse hydroelectric power station. The route gradually rises until it runs at a height above the lake.
  2. At the Bel Pinet sector, take the track on the right to start the descent. 
  3. Where the tracks intersect, take the right-hand track to tackle the descent.
  4. At the next intersection, continue on the path on the right
  5. When you are back on the forest track, take a path running downhill below the hairpin and this brings you back to your starting point. 
  • Departure : Camping du lac (lake campsite), La Roche-de-Rame
  • Arrival : Camping du lac (lake campsite), La Roche-de-Rame
  • Towns crossed : La Roche-de-Rame

6 points of interest

  • Torrent de Bouchouse
    Torrent de Bouchouse - Office de tourisme du Pays des Écrins
    Water

    Bouchouse mountain stream

    The Bouchouse mountain stream is fed by the Le Pansier and La Pisse mountain streams 1,900 metres above sea level. It crosses the municipality of La Roche-de-Rame, supplying it with water. This mountain stream then flows into the Durance below the municipality.

  • Lavande à feuilles étroites
    Lavande à feuilles étroites - Bernard Nicollet - Parc national des Écrins
    Flora

    The narrow-leaved lavender

    The narrow-leaved lavender has greenish-grey leaves and violet flowers. It grows in sunny areas, a reminder that the Pays de Écrins is in the Southern Alps after all! Not to be confused with the lavandin, this plant naturally grows on rocky slopes in the mountains of the Midi. The word «lavender» is thought to come from the Latin "to wash". This etymology suggests that lavender was used at a very early date to perfume washing.

  • Bel Pinet
    Bel Pinet - Office de tourisme du Pays des Écrins
    History

    Bel Pinet

    Bel Pinet stands at 1,400 metres above sea level in the Bouchouse valley, in the municipality of La Roche-de-Rame. Bel Pinet, or Bel-Pinet, designates the slopes under the rocky cliffs of the Oumbras. It was once irrigated by the Bel Pinet Canal, which suggests that it used to be cultivated and would therefore have been less wooded. The term "Pinet" simply means a place planted with pines (Pinus in Latin). So Bel Pinet means a beautiful place planted with pines, or a beautiful pine wood.
  • Pin sylvestre
    Pin sylvestre - Parc national des Écrins
    Flora

    Pine forest

    The path runs through a forest of Scots pine, recognisable by its orangey trunk, especially at the top. This tree is very drought-resistant (it is very limey soil here) and can also withstand low temperatures. It is therefore found in large numbers in the intra-alpine valleys. 

  • Daniel Roche - Parc national des Écrins
    Flora

    The aspen wood

    Here, a wood of aspen trees, with smooth greenish trunks and round, crenulated leaves, adopt magnificent autumn colours. The petiole («tail») of aspen leaves is flat and twisted and can therefore be caught by the slightest breath of air. This has the effect of making the foliage tremble, hence its French name bois de tremble!

  • Marbre rose
    Marbre rose - Office de tourisme du Pays des Écrins
    History

    The Pink Marble of Combe Mounière

    In the nineteenth century, there were four quarries in La Roche-de-Rame. They exploited deposits of metamorphosed limestone which was pink in colour. One of these, the Combe Mounière quarry, produced stone which was used in particular in the construction of the new Cathedral of Saint-Arnoux in Gap, between 1866 and 1904. When exposed to the elements, the surface of the limestone takes on a grey patina.


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.

Short-toed snake eagle

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

Recommandations

Before setting off, it is very important to check the opening periods for this route on the website: https://stationdetrail.com/fr/stations/le-pays-des-ecrins/parcours

Share your photographs on social networks with #stationdetrailecrins

Check weather conditions before setting off.

Rescue services contact details: Secours Montagne (Mountain Rescue): +33 (0)4 92 22 22 22 or 112 

Show consideration for the work of farmers, livestock keepers and owners

Close all gates behind you

Take your litter home

Do not take shortcuts across pastureland

The trail routes are also suitable for walking


Information desks

Vallouise Park house

, 05290 Vallouise

http://www.ecrins-parcnational.fr/vallouise@ecrins-parcnational.fr04 92 23 58 08

Information, documentation, models, exhibitions, screenings, product sales and works of the Park. Guided tours for school, reservation required. The new Park House opened in Vallouise since June 1, and offers visitors an interactive permanent exhibition inviting to explore the area and its heritage. A temporary exhibition space will allow a renewed offer. Finally, the device is completed by an audiovisual room to organize screenings and conferences Free admission. All animations of the Park are free unless otherwise stated.

Find out more

23 Avenue de la République, 05120 L'Argentière-La Bessée

https://www.paysdesecrins.com/contact@paysdesecrins.com+33(0)4 92 23 03 11

Transport

Public transport >> www.pacamobilite.fr

Consider car-sharing >> www.blablacar.fr

For more information, ask at the Tourist Information Office nearest to the trail starting point. 


Access and parking

6.5 km from L'Argentière-La Bessée, take the N94.

Parking :

Camping du lac (lake campsite) car park, La Roche-de-Rame

More information


Source


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