Around Lazer, beneath the Saint-Genis ridge

Head to Lazer Town Hall and park in the car park alongside the RD942.

(S/E) From the town hall car park, take the small road towards the village where the church is situated: signpost 269 towards the Saint-Genis mountain via the Pas de Jubéo. Go past the first junction and turn left opposite the church.

(1) When the road bends, take the path on the left which leads down the embankment: signpost ‘Jubi via Les Barbiers’. Cross a field to reach the Torrent des Barbiers, which you must fords.

(2) Head up to the left along the path leading to the hamlet of Les Barbiers and take the small road on the right, which turns into a dirt track as it curves sharply. It then becomes almost flat. Ignore the various trail junctions and pass under the large reservoir on the right. Continue along the path leading to L’Argentière.

(3) Walk past the old buildings before heading downhill until you come to a small tarmac road near a stream.

(4) Take the road on the left for about 1.3 km. Pass the hamlet of Les Bouchons and you’ll see the ruins of Arzeliers Castle on the hillock to the right. Follow the road, veering slightly to the right, past Les Vollaires and on to Les Roussets.

(5) Before reaching the village of Arzeliers (recognisable by its church), take the path that descends to the left, passing between the houses of the hamlet of Les Roussets.
Note that you can take a detour (500 m) by climbing up to the ruins of Arzeliers Castle via the path that leads up to the right next to the cemetery.
The path continues with a long, gently sloping stretch. Do not take the paths on the right; instead, pass the hamlet of Clachier. Join a wide, stony path at a stream.

(6) Carry on to the right towards the east. At the junction beneath the canal embankment, do not take the path leading down to the right but continue uphill opposite along the path lined with oak trees.

(7) At the fork in the road, leave the track that climbs above the canal and follow the path opposite. Head down towards the small tarmac road opposite a building. Follow it straight on to join the D942.

(8) Cross the road carefully at the weighbridge building and walk alongside it on the right, following the grassy section of the underground canal. At the town hall, turn left, cross the D942 at the pedestrian crossing and return to the starting point (S/E).

Arzeliers Castle

This major site in the Laragnais region during the 12th–14th centuries was the seat of the original seigneury of Laragne. Here you can see the remains of the castle, the keep, the castle chapel and houses rebuilt between the 17th and 19th centuries on the site of the medieval village.
The panoramic view over the Durance, Sisteron, the Laragne basin and the slopes of the Montagne de Saint-Genis is well worth a look.