Loop 27 - The Col du Parpaillon

Pass

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A legendary pass, Le Parpaillon (2637 m) is one of the last remaining examples of what a major Alpine pass might have looked like before the era of cars and tarmac.

Discover an unspoilt, pure and wild mountain where the marmots will announce your arrival. Like many roads at the time, this mountain road was built by the military. It's not unusual to come across road bikes that have lost their way after being misled by the classification as a departmental road!

2 points of interest

History
Crévoux
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.

Description

1) From the village square, take the road leading from the war memorial. At "Champ La font 2", climb the gravel track towards the hamlet of La Chalp. Continue straight ahead on the main road. At Travers du Moulin go straight up the track.

2) At the bend go straight on (stony climb). At the bend in the road (D39T), turn right. At the picnic area, continue straight ahead.

3) At the Parpaillon tunnel, go through the tunnel (you will need lights) and turn around to go back down to Crévoux. Follow the route taken on the outward journey back to the village of Crévoux.

Departure : Crévoux
Arrival : Crévoux
Towns crossed : Crévoux

Altimetric profile

Recommandations

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".
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Information desks

Tourist office Embrun

Place Général Dosse - BP 49, 05202 Embrun

https://www.serreponcon-tourisme.com/embrun@serreponcon-tourisme.com 0492437272

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

Find out more

Transport

SNCF: Chorges station, Embrun https://www.sncf-connect.com/

Bus: Valserres, La Bâtie Neuve, Chorges, Puy Saint Eusèbe, Puy Sanières, Embrun Baratier, Les Orres, Remollon, Theus, Espinasse
Marseille-Briançon : (LER29)
Marseille, Nice : Lignes Express Régionales (LER) +33 (0)809 400 415
Grenoble : Transisère +33 (0)4 26 16 38 38
Gap-Barcelonnette (LER535)
Carpooling area : Rond point des Orres ‒ 05200 Baratier

Plane :
Marseille Provence Airport (188km) - +33 (0)820 811 414
Grenoble Alpes Isère Airport (158km) - +33 (0)4 76 65 48 48
Lyon Saint Exupéry Airport - (203km) +33 (0)826 800 826
Turin Caselle Airport - (178km) + 39 011 567 63 60

Access and parking

From Grenoble, Lyon, Paris : RN 85 or RN 75. At Gap, take the RN 94 towards Briançon.
From Marseille, Montpellier A51 to La Saulce, continue towards Tallard (D942) and Briançon (RN 94).

Parking :

Village Square, Crevoux