Col Girabeau loop

7 points of interest

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  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.

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  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.

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  Vernacular heritage

  Traditional houses

  Traditional houses in the Alps are often built into the slope. This can be explained by the desire to preserve the most easily cultivated land. The location of dwellings must also consider the proximity of water, while ensuring sufficient distance from mountain hazards (flooding, avalanches, landslides, etc.). These houses are generally arranged on three levels. The ground floor houses the stable for the herd and the farmyard. The heat given off by the animals benefits the whole house as it rises. This floor is sometimes also used to store farm tools. The first floor, accessed by a wooden staircase or balcony, is used for living space. Finally, the second floor is occupied by the barn, which is used to store grain and fodder for a whole year.

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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

  The Common Blue

  In this small butterfly, the male's upper wings are dark grey, somewhat bluer at the base of the wings, while the female is brown. It is most often seen at higher altitudes, in July and August, in grasslands and meadows. The Arctic blue is a species of northern regions (Scandinavia, Greenland, Siberia, North America) which, in more temperate parts, lives only in the mountains.

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  Pastoralism

  Grazing

  Pastoralism is an extensive management technique. Known as the "Vachaïre", it emerged alongside cattle rearing and milk production. It entailed setting up a community-based herd management system, with the animals grazing every day. And it was the shepherd, "Lou Pastre" in Provençal, who was entrusted with managing the flocks.

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  Vernacular heritage

  Méale 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.

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