Circular route from Glaise to Agnielles, passing through five mountain passes

From Veynes, take the D348 towards Glaise. The road passes through the gorges before opening out onto a plateau. Continue to the end of the road, which leads into the village of Glaise. Park in the small car park just before the entrance to the hamlet (there is an information sign about the walks).

(S/E) Continue along the tarmac road towards the village, heading north, for about a hundred metres.

(1) Take the dirt track on the left towards the Col de Berthaud and Agnielles, heading west (GR®94 white and red markings). Go round a large bend to the left to reach some farm buildings.

(2) Take the path on the right just before the farm buildings, heading west, then rejoin the forest track. The track climbs gently, winding its way through pastures and heaths to the Chau crossroads.

(3) Continue along the forest track straight ahead towards the Col de Berthaud, heading west. Climb gently along this tree-lined track until you reach the Col de Berthaud.

(4) Carry on straight towards the Col de l’Angélus and La Valette, heading west (GRP® yellow and red markings). The route alternates between views of the gorges and the surrounding mountains and more wooded, shaded sections. The wide track descends slightly to the Col de la Chapelle, a major crossroads with a water tank.

(5) Take the path opposite and leave the track, heading north-west. Continue the descent until you reach the Route Forestière de Berthaud.

(6) Continue downhill to the Col de Gaudissart.

(7) Take the narrow path at the hairpin bend that descends towards Agnielles, heading west. Descend through the forest via several hairpin bends, until you can see the village of Agnielles far below.
The path is quite steep and then joins the Route Forestière de Berthaud.

(8) Take the forest road on the right towards Agnielles, heading north.

(9) Continue along the road as it bends to the left, ignoring the “Eldorado Les Agniellards” path which branches off to the right.

(10) Take the path on the right (shortcut) as you come out of the bend to head straight for the village. Take the opportunity to have a look around the village of Agnielles, where there are still a few restored houses and some ruins (inaccessible as they are dangerous). All that remains of the little church is the bell tower, which watches over the cemetery.

(11) Take the main road out of the village, heading south, for about 150 metres until you reach the junction.

(12) Turn almost right round and head left onto the Route Forestière de Berthaud, heading north-east, and return to a junction you passed earlier.

(10) Turn right onto the path you took on the way there and return to a fork you passed on the way there.

(8) Continue along the road ahead to reach the Col de l’Angélus.

(13) Continue along the Berthaud Forest Road to the left, heading east, and do not take the Combe Noire Forest Road or the small paths at this major junction. Climb gently along the hillside to the start of a short cutting before the bends (including a hairpin bend).

(14) Take the shortcut path opposite, heading north, before the bends. Climb through the woods for about 250 m before rejoining the forest road. Follow it to the left, heading west, to the Col de Gaudissart, which you have already passed on the way out.

(7) Continue along the Route Forestière de Berthaud to the right, heading east, in the opposite direction to the outward journey, until you reach the Col de Berthaud, which you passed on the outward journey.

(4) Take the end of the Route Forestière des Thuilles on the left, towards the Source de la Doux and Charajaille, heading north-east. Here, admire the view of the Tête de Combe Rau, then, in the distance, the Mont d’Aurouze and the Pic de Bure.
Reach a circular DFCI water tank (B38) at the source of the Doux.

(15) Take the path leading down to the right (yellow markings and red mountain-bike markings for the “Grande Traversée des Hautes-Alpes”).

(16) Continue straight ahead, following the path along the hillside, ignoring the dirt track to La Chau which descends to the right. This will take you to the Col de Glaise.

(17) Turn right onto the dirt track to descend towards the village of Glaise. You’ll reach some farm buildings and join the Route Forestière d’Oriol (which descends from the Col de Tourette).

(18) Continue the descent straight ahead, heading south. Pass the Chapelle Saint-Jacques, then cross the village of Glaise to reach the car park where you started (S/E).

The route is mainly through woodland, but in the height of summer you should still bring a hat and plenty of water, as the tracks do not offer much shade. Part of the trail is signposted GR®94 (white and red) between Glaise and the Col de Berthaud (4), and another section is signposted GRP® (yellow and red) between the Col de Berthaud and the Col de l’Angélus (13).

Easier alternative: at the Col de Gaudissart (7), you can stay on the forest tracks to reach Agnielles via the Col de l’Angélus (13).

Drinking fountains at (15) La Source de la Doux, and in the village of Glaise from¹ April to 31 November.

Picnic tables at (18) the Chapelle Saint-Jacques and near the car park in the village of Glaise (public toilets on the road south of the car park).

Information board showing walking routes (lasting from 2 hours to 4½ hours) near the car park, including a tree discovery trail.

In Glaise, a lodge offers a place to stay in this small, welcoming and flower-filled village.

Situated at the top of the gorges, the former hamlet of Agnielles (which had a population of nearly 283 in 1806) has two lodges open to the public: the Maison Forestière Retrouvance® d’Agnielles and the Auberge “Les Sabots de Vénus”.

The hamlet of Glaise is a small rural village attached to the commune of Veynes, with around fifteen permanent residents. First mentioned in the archives as a parish branch in 1787, Glaise formed an integral part of Veynes’ ecclesiastical and agrarian organisation in the 18th century. Having once lived almost entirely self-sufficiently, it retains an authentic rural character and forms part of the heritage routes of the Buëch region.

Saint-Jacques Chapel (hamlet of Glaise): built in 1714 and renovated in 1983 by the hamlet’s residents, who continue to maintain it, it is dedicated to Saint James, Saint Philip and Saint Lucy. It is thought to have replaced an older building, the foundation of which was authorised as early as 1495 according to certain historical sources. Typical of the rural chapels of the Buëch region, it bears witness to local devotion and the region’s traditional parish organisation.

‘Le peuple des arbres’discovery trail: this 4-kilometre themed trail features a collaborative game in which participants search for clues to solve puzzles. The silhouettes hidden amongst the trees reveal many secrets...

The hamlet of Agnielles is now best known for its climbing sites. Whilst some houses have been restored and converted into lodges for groups by the ONF, others are inaccessible as they are in ruins and dangerous. All that remains of the little church is the bell tower, which watches over the cemetery. It was in 1933 that the Agnielles local council voted to merge the commune with that of Aspres-sur-Buëch. The last parish priest had left as early as 1907. In 1934, at the time of the commune’s dissolution, the school was attended by just four children. Since then, the village has seen several attempts at revival. In 1943, the Water and Forests Department established an agricultural co-operative here, some of whose members joined the Resistance. This was followed in the 1960s by a project led by young people from Île-de-France. To no avail; the village’s isolation proved too much even for the best of intentions. Ultimately, it is tourism (through lodges) that is breathing new life into the village today, even though no one lives there all year round.