The loop of Le Réal
EasyThe Loop of Le Réal takes you through a wild valley where you climb the twists and turns of the Parpaillon, a legendary pass where every cyclist feels like "slaves of the road" described by Albert Londres. Exploring this valley also involves some narrow paths, which sometimes seem to disappear under the vegetation, and crossing a scree slope. This route allows you to rediscover the spirit of adventure and exploration inherent to mountain biking while remaining accessible to all mountain bikers.
3 points of interest
HistoryCrévoux
Nestled amongst peaks approaching 3,000m, such as the Grand Parpaillon and Pic Saint André, the village of Crévoux occupies a deep valley that has seen the establishment of several hamlets, including La Chalp, which extends over a narrow alluvial terrace. Once at the heart of a major craft industry, with the rise of basket-making and cabinet-making, the village now revolves around its small ski resort, created in 1937, making it one of the oldest in the Hautes-Alpes.- History
Cabane des Espagnols
This hut is a memorial to the Spanish refugees who were mobilised in Crévoux to maintain and repair the Parpaillon road, a militarily important road in those troubled times. The Spanish camp at Crévoux was set up in 1939, on the eve of the Second World War and in the twilight of the Spanish Civil War, which saw Franco's victory and the flight of many Spanish republicans to France. 
Vernacular heritageMéale Canal at Crévoux
The Méale canal at Crévoux is a former irrigation channel whose water intake is on the Crévoux torrent. Some 500 years old and around 7km long, it was restored by a team of volunteers in 2018, and can now be explored on foot or by mountain bike in the shade of the larches.
Description
- From the car park serving the slopes, drive past La Tanière crêperie then down the narrow road towards the village. Turn right at the first intersection with a wide path. Continue straight ahead on this path at the next three intersections. After a more wooded section, the landscape opens up again and the path leads to the Col de Parpaillon road. Turn right onto this road and follow it up several hairpin bends through the larches to the Cabane des Espagnols.
- Turn right at the Cabane des Espagnols onto a wide track towards Crévoux. Continue along the track after a sharp bend just past a shepherd's hut. The path begins to descend after about 200m, on a dirt track that is just as wide, and then becomes a little stonier. 100m after a farm, leave the track and turn left onto a path that rises again. The slope is very steep for a few metres, but you have to turn right onto a small downhill grassy path almost immediately. Follow this small track that winds through the larches and into a clearing.
- At the end of this clearing, again take a path that disappears under the grass and leaves between two trees. Ignore the path to the right or left! Pass under a ski lift and continue straight ahead. Continue straight on at the next intersection. A passage through scree requires some portage. Continue along the widening track until you reach a wide path on the right that descends. Turn right when the path drops onto a track, then bear left to leave the track at the next junction. Follow the path to the car park serving the slopes.
- Departure : Crévoux
- Arrival : Crévoux
- Towns crossed : Crévoux
Altimetric profile
Information desks
Tourist office Crévoux
Le pont du plan, la Chalp, 05200 Crévoux
Tourist offices in the ski resort
July and August : From Monday to Saturday : 9:00 - 13.00
From December 22 to March 31 : Everyday except Tuesday and
Thursday, 8.30 - 12.30
Winter holidays : Everyday, 8.30 - 12.30
Access and parking
Follow the N94 from Gap or Briançon then take the D39 from Embrun to Crévoux.
Parking :
Source
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