Chabrières: Climbing, Fossils and Nature

Chabrières offers several reasons to visit: climbing, geology, nature and cycling. If you are looking for a hotel, start with the main focus of your stay. The climbing area has its own approach route; the cycling loop and hike to the hamlet of Creisset each have their own route details. This lets you organise the local information according to what you plan to do on your trip.

Climbing and Rock Formations

The Chabrières climbing area comprises about ten sectors and around a hundred routes. Many slabs consist of solid, compact limestone; alongside these are more sculpted walls. These details describe both the area's size and the variety of its rock formations. Reach the area via a footbridge across the stream, then follow a zigzag path; the approach takes about ten minutes. Check the access conditions before climbing.

Fossils and Geological History

Chabrières has long been known as an exceptionally fossil-rich reference outcrop of the Upper Jurassic. In geology, a reference outcrop serves as a comparison point for classifying a rock sequence. The term therefore links the fossil deposits with the scientific significance of the sequence of strata: for travellers interested in geological history, this offers a different perspective from the climbing routes. The Upper Jurassic is a geological time unit to which this outcrop is assigned.

Natural Environment and Species

The ZNIEFF “Clue de Chabrières – Partie Sud” is a type 1 natural area located within the municipal boundaries of Beynes and Entrages. Massive Kimmeridgian and Portlandian limestone has formed large vertical rock faces and striking steep slopes there. The terms Kimmeridgian and Portlandian indicate the age of the limestone; the description connects this classification with the resulting rock formations. In the L’Asse Natura 2000 site, below the Clue de Chabrières, only the riverbed and its associated riverside woodland are included. The two nature designations have different boundaries: the ZNIEFF is associated with the municipal areas of Beynes and Entrages, while the Natura 2000 description identifies the stretch below the Clue. A survey based on observations from 2021 lists the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) as a breeding or probably breeding species.

Cycling and Hiking

The “Cyclo n°6 – Le col du Corobin” cycling loop passes through the Clue de Chabrières after the section to Mézel. It is rated difficult. This rating applies to the cycling loop and provides a separate point to consider when planning, distinct from the climbing area. Route information for the hike to the hamlet of Creisset covers the area around Chabrières: take the N85 towards Barrême; two kilometres after the village of Chabrières, turn right onto the track.

Find a Hotel Based on Your Reason for Travelling

Then compare specific hotel offers using the details that matter for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Castellane, Bellegarde, Pierrevert, Sisteron, Saint-Martin-les-Eaux, Les Omergues, Revest-du-Bion, Gréoux-Les-Bains.

For the broader travel overview: Alpes-De-Haute-Provence.