Crots Beach
Very easyThis relatively unchallenging route boasts a peaceful setting and leaves you free to enjoy the magnificent panorama of the lake. The second part of your route leaves behind the sometimes densely populated banks of the lake to reach the municipality of Crots and its more isolated paths where the bleating of sheep and the neighing of horses are the only sounds to be heard.
4 points of interest
HistoryFootbridge over the Durance
This footbridge, which was completed in 2019, links Embrun with Crots and Baratier. Although it is a recent development, it actually boasts a long history. It stands on the exact site of the temporary bridge that replaced the La Clapière road bridge from 1953 onwards, which was destroyed during the Second World War by resistance fighters from the Embrunais area after the failure of an American bombing to do so. The aim was to prevent German forces from sending reinforcements to Gap, whose liberation was imminent. Although the bridge managed to withstand the American bombs, several people were killed and an explanatory panel on the footbridge pays tribute to them today.
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FloraPoplar
There are many poplars along the route. It is a very impressive tree, on account both of its height (30 m) and its robustness (it can withstand temperatures down to -25°C). They thrive in damp ground. The poplar has a very important place in French forestry and in the timber industry. It is usually pollarded for firewood.
ArchaeologieClapier des Monges
This remarkable protected site is enhanced for the visitor by information panels. Archaeological excavations have revealed four rooms of a Gallo-Roman villa dating from the fifth to the third century BC. It is assumed that this would have been a stopover place for travellers making the journey between Bordeaux and Jerusalem. The area visible today is just one part of the original villa. According to researchers, the four rooms may well constitute a thermal baths.
- Flora
Bladder campion
This plant is a member of the carnation family. This campion can be recognised primarily by the flower calyx. This is inflated into a roundish shape. A very common plant across the department of Hautes-Alpes, it produces white flowers from April to September. The petals of the bladder campion can lose their turgidity and wilt during the day, but they regain their shape at night.
Description
- Join the path laid out on the banks of the Durance from the beach car park, passing in front of the chalet. Head up the Durance and under the road bridge. Then take the footbridge on the right to cross the Durance and turn right again immediately after the footbridge to take a well-developed path alongside the Durance. Take the left-hand track at the next junction 200m further on. Cross a small car park and take the path opposite. Make sure you don’t miss it, as it can be a little overgrown. The path is extended by a dam overlooking the lake, which you need to follow right to the end.
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Turn left when you reach the road and take a small road on the left just before you reach the main road. It turns into a track after a few metres and you need to be careful not to miss a small tunnel on the right under the N94. Follow the road to the village of Crots. Take the main road through the village, then turn right towards La Montagne on leaving the centre. There is a short ascent followed by a roundabout. Turn left at the roundabout and take the tarmac road to Les Osselins, always heading uphill.
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Turn left at the bridge over the Bellegarde stream, then almost immediately right onto a narrow track that runs alongside a channelled river. Turn left at the first intersection, then straight on at the next one. Cross a small bridge a few hundred metres from the road and take a path on the left. Follow the canal then turn right at the horse farm onto a wide, well-maintained path. Head along the farm and then turn left at a ruined house. Join the N94 at the business park and the Intermarché shop and turn right. A narrow path veers off to the right 20m further on to avoid the N94. Before joining the roundabout, cross the road and head for the road serving the Intermarché supermarket. Rejoin the Durance and the path taken on the outward journey. Return to the car park via the footbridge and the path alongside the Durance.
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- Departure : Beach car park, Embrun
- Arrival : Beach car park, Embrun
- Towns crossed : Embrun, Baratier, and Crots
Altimetric profile
Information desks
Tourist office Crots
Place des Ballerins, 05200 Crots
From July 15th to August 15th: Monday to Saturday, 9.30 - 12.00 & 14.00 - 18.00 Tuesday ans thursday
Tourist office Embrun
Place Général Dosse - BP 49, 05202 Embrun
October to march : Monday to Saturday, 9.00 - 12.30 & 13.30 - 17.00.
April, may, june & september : Monday to Saturday, 9.00 - 12.30 & 14.30 - 18.00
July and August : Monday to Saturday, 9.00 - 19.00. Sundays, 10.00 - 12.30 & 16.00 - 19.00
On French national holidays (except 14th of July and 15th of August) : 9am to 1pm. Closed on the 1st of January, 1st of May, 25th December and 11th November
Closed on Thursdays outside French holidays’ periods
Access and parking
Follow the N94 from Briançon or Gap then head towards Embrun lake.
Parking :
Source
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