40 winding paths on a mountain bike

Aiguilles

40 winding paths on a mountain bike

A lookout, a viewpoint

Heritage and history

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Pretty and fun, this sequence of switchbacks in the undergrowth is ideal to perfect one's technique.

Difficulties with the hairpin bends? At the end of this descent, narrow turns will no longer hold any secret for you.

5 points of interest

Patrimony and history

The Saint Louis Chapel

In the 16th century, religious wars were raging throughout France. Protestant troops settled in the Queyras valley. In 1561, a Protestant community is formed in Abriès. From 1574 to 1583, altercations occur and in 1587, the Queyras valley becomes Protestant. The Edict of Nantes (1598), established by King Henry IV of France, grants freedom of worship and soothes conflicts. When Louis XIV came to power, he sought to unify the kingdom religiously. After many persecutions, he revokes the Edict of Nantes in 1685. Like the Protestants of France, many Queyrassins (demonym for the people living in the Queyras) decide to migrate to Switzerland, Germany, Latin America and South Africa. The Saint Louis Chapel was built after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes on funds donated by King Louis XIV of France.

Patrimony and history

Prats-Bas

The entrance to the village of Prats-Bas. In the background, we can see the Mount Pointe de Rasis. In between, we can make out the valley of the Aigue Blanche mountain torrent

Patrimony and history

Prats-Haut

In the Queyras, each valley has its architectural features. Here, the building type is that of the great vaulted stable. The ground floor is in masonry, primer and partly buried upstream. The entrance is through a yard which gives access to the stable, the "estabblot" (a pen for goats and ewes), the kitchen and the bedroom (Cazet). A raised floor allowed the family to live right above the animals and so to enjoy their heat. The construction above is in wood. It is very airy in order to dry the hay. The floors to the north, very resistant, were used for threshing and the balconies facing southwest were used for drying. The roof is usually from shingle.

Patrimony and history

Saint Barnabé Oratory

Oratories are small religious monuments for prayer. But not only, they could be used to indicate a direction, a spring, a ravine or the entrance of a village. Each oratory protects its patron saint and every patron saint is prayed to for a reason. Saint Barnabé was called upon to stop the rain triggered by Saint Médard, the patron saint of farmers. A saying states: "If it rains on St Medardus’ Day, it rains for forty days more".

Flora

Fistulina hepatica (beefsteak fungus)

Better known as the "Ox Tongue", this fungus mainly grows on oak and sweet chestnut trees. It takes advantage of tree wounds or holes to settle. When this fungus emerges on its host, it causes a colour change, but does not alter the structure of the wood. In fact the wood is reddish-brown and keeps its strength. In rarer cases, this wood is sought in cabinetmaking.

Description

Cross one of the two bridges and turn right on a track. Cross a stream, turn left and go up the Chanteloube forest road. Continue on this forest road that flattens after a short steep climb.
1 - At the sign "pierre plate" (skidding area), turn left onto a wide grassy trail towards Prats-Bas. Take a left once on the road, and go up to reach Prats-Haut.
2 - Enter the village and turn almost at 180°; on the left at the fountain. Pass in between houses and go up on false flat on the grassy hillside.
3 - Go to the other side of the mountain, enter the forest and follow the marked trail that alternates between short descents and short ascents.
4 - Reach a forest track by a skidding area, continue for 50m in ascending false flat and take the well-marked trail on the left. Take the ascending track that flattens and ends up in a bumpy technical part.
5 - Crossing a track, continue straight on for 10m and turn left at the Bois Forant point. Go down a clean and rolling single track that goes from switchback to switchback. Emerge on a broader path, turn right and reach the Chanteloube forest road (ascending path).
6 - Turn right and follow the track until Aiguilles.

Departure : Aiguilles

Arrival : Aiguilles

Towns crossed : Aiguilles, Château-Ville-Vieille

Altimetric profile

Information desks

House of the Queyras Regional Nature Park

3580 Route de l’Izoard, 05350 Arvieux

http://www.pnr-queyras.fr/

pnrq@pnr-queyras.fr

+33 (0)4 92 46 88 20

The House of the Queyras Regional Nature Park is closed to the public.

Find out more

OTI du Guillestrois et du Queyras

Maison du Tourisme du Queyras, 05350 Château-Ville-Vieille

http://www.guillestroisqueyras.com

info@guillestroisqueyras.com

+33 (0)4 92 46 76 18

Find out more

Transport

05 Voyageur: 04 92 502 505 Tourist Office of Queyras : 04 92 46 76 18

Access and parking

Follow the D947 to Aiguilles. At the entrance of the village, turn right towards the recreation area.

Parking :

Car park of the recreation area

More information

Si je rencontre un "Patou" chien de protection

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