Champoléon: Hamlets, Hiking Trails and Shepherding Culture

The hamlets of Champoléon lie along the Drac Blanc. Traditional houses with walls made of local stone and grey slate roofs shape the valley’s landscape; pastoral life continues to play a major role in the valley. You’ll encounter this combination of settlement patterns and shepherding culture on the trails through the hamlets, too. The area’s cultural themes also include the work of shepherds and livestock farmers, as well as the autumn Tardon fair.

Trails through hamlets and countryside

The “Tour de l’Iscle” is a very easy, 2.2-kilometre walking loop starting in Champoléon. It passes through the hamlets along the Drac Blanc and takes in traditional houses, numerous chapels and living pastoral traditions. The “De hameau en hameau” loop also passes through the valley’s hamlets. Along the way, you can see chapels, fountains and traditional houses. Both routes offer insights into the hamlets’ architectural styles and cultural life, each following its own route.

The “Boucle découverte” describes a different sequence of landscapes: it runs through the valley from Les Borels to Les Fermonds, passing through forests and fields. Comparing the trails, the Tour de l’Iscle is a designated loop with a stated distance and difficulty, while the description of the Boucle découverte focuses on the two hamlets and the landscape between them. This makes it possible to distinguish the specific features of each route without combining them into a single trail.

Panoramic views and practical information

The route to the Lacs de Crupillouse offers panoramic views of Pointe des Estaris, at an altitude of 3,086 metres, and Sirac, at 3,440 metres. Another tour focuses on access to the Refuge du Tourond: the “L’alpage et le refuge du Tourond” route starts in Les Borels in Champoléon and lies within the core zone of Parc national des Écrins. There is a car park and a public bus stop at the starting point. Check the bus service, parking rules and trail conditions before setting out.

From the Refuge du Tourond, an additional 30-minute trail leads to the Cascade de la Pisse. Allow extra time for this detour; trail conditions may change. This lets you include the cascade as a separate section in your plans without confusing the stated duration of the additional trail with the walking time for the entire tour.

Building history and shepherding professions

The Refuge du Pré de la Chaumette is another trace of the area’s settlement history. It was rebuilt in 1979 on the ruins of an old hamlet. The facing stones were worked on-site in Champoléon. During the reconstruction on the ruins of the old hamlet, facing stones worked on-site in Champoléon were used.

The Maison du Berger features permanent and temporary exhibitions about the work of today’s shepherds and livestock farmers. Plan for an average visit of about one hour and 30 minutes. The temporary exhibitions may change. If you want to plan your visit around them, allow for the average visit duration and check the current exhibition program.

The autumn Tardon fair includes a producers’ market, a meal based on Tardon and other events. The program may vary from year to year. In winter, the “Animaux des cimes” snowshoe walk adds to the range of activities: it is described as a family activity for observing wildlife with a telescope and is suitable for ages eight and up. Check winter dates and the availability of this activity before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Lagrand, Saint-André-Dʼembrun, Chabestan, Réotier, Les Infournas, Val-Des-Prés, Buissard, Rochebrune

For the broader travel overview: Hautes-Alpes.