5. Réallon - Embrun (TSP Gravel)

8 points of interest

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  Know-how

  Retaining walls

  The retaining walls are made of dry stone. They are called restanques in Provence. In steep areas, they can be used to create farmed terraces by retaining the soil. At the time, their construction enabled generations of farmers to make a living from their land, which became fertile and arable. Today, many researchers and craftsmen are trying to bring back this age-old technique.

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  Fauna

  Common Rock Thrush

  The Common Rock Thrush likes sunny rocks. It only visits us in April until the end of August to nest either on the ground, or in a rock cavity. Orange breast, blue head, white rump, its song consists of sweet, clear melodious stanzas.

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  Fauna

  Black Redstart

  Mr. Black Redstart sports a grey skullcap and white marking on his wings, a black tail and rump. Originally a mountain bird, it has adapted to other environments, as long as there is a rocky atmosphere. Which is the case here, on the slope of the Roche Méanne. The Black Redstart is a common bird, bright and very lively: it constantly hunts insects in flight and on the ground. Often perched up high on a wall or a rock, it makes brief cries of alarm while bending its legs. Its chatty song, punctuated with sounds of « paper rustling » is characteristic. Partially migratory, it spends winter in the bottom of the valleys.

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  History

  Abandoned farms

  Numerous abandoned farms can be seen. Some are no longer visible today because they have been overrun by vegetation. They were abandoned during the significant agricultural decline seen in the region during the nineteenth and early twentieth century, commonly called the "rural exodus" This altered the landscape significantly, with vegetation taking over in the abandoned fields and around ruined buildings. It is easy to imagine the harsh living conditions endured here by the peasants.

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  History

  Retaining walls

  In the very steep areas of the mountains, growing conditions were difficult. In order to alleviate the difficulty of cultivating steeply sloping ground, dry stone retaining walls were built. In Provence, they are called restanques. These had the effect of retaining the earth and levelling out the ground, making it possible to grow crops. This is known as terrace cultivation.

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  Panorama

  Vantage point overlooking the Lac de Serre-Ponçon

  This vantage point from the Pra Marin wood offers a sweeping view over the Lac de Serre-Ponçon. To the far left, the bridge of Savines-le-Lac and the Pic Morgon can be seen; to the right the view extends almost as far as the dam downstream from Sauze-du-Lac. In clear weather you can see in the background the La Blanche mountain range and the L'Estrop massif, in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. On the right-hand shore of the lake stands the hamlet of Chèrines, together with the ski resort of Réallon at the foot of the Aiguilles de Chabrières.

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  Fauna

  Chaffinch

  The common chaffinch can easily be recognised by its double white wing stripe. It is the most common and widespread of the three species of chaffinches. Territorial during the breeding season, it gathers into large flocks to feed in winter. From the coast to the alpine zone, a year-round resident in the mountains, it is demanding, although it has a preference for open and cool forests. It is usually a seed-eater, it becomes an insectivore during the breeding season.
   

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  Flora

  The larch

  The king of mountain trees in the Southern Alps, the larch is the only conifer to drop its needles in winter. In spring, its cones are a characteristic dark purple. The larch is one of the few European tree species that is imputrescible, that is to say, it does not rot. This is why, despite the fact that it twists as it dries out, it is widely use in frameworks, drinking troughs and other water holding vessels in the mountain villages. Incapable of germinating in its own undergrowth, it needs natural openings such as avalanche corridors for the young shoots to develop. It is found at altitudes in excess of 2,200 metres, adopting dwarf forms in these "combat" zones. The larch tree growing at this point on the trail is several hundred years old.

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