From the Hauts de Serres to the Sigottier ravines

Start from the fountain, Place de la Liberté.

(S/E) Turn left onto Rue des Remparts, then take Rue du Bourg Reynaud until you reach a small winding staircase that passes under a bell tower. Take these stairs, go under the bell tower and join Rue Henri Peuzin. These passages under the houses, known as “soustets”, are typical of old Serres.

(1) Take the narrow uphill path opposite the exit of the soustet to reach Place de l'Auche. Climb the steps just above the fountain to reach Chemin du Château. Follow this street to the left for a few metres.

(2) Take the Chemin de la Chapelle (yellow markings). Pass in front of the Tour de Molend, a remnant of the old ramparts, and continue along the path (the Corniche des Marseillais). Leave this "Corniche des Marseillais" by taking the path on the left leading to the Chapelle de Bonsecours (signs and yellow markings). The path climbs steeply and, at the chapel, you can already enjoy a lovely view over the rooftops of Serres and the Buëch valley (orientation board at the chapel). The path passes beneath the Pignolette rock and is protected from potential rockfalls by nets. Don’t miss the Jewish tomb (a large stone with inscriptions in Hebrew) at the side of the path. Continue along the path, following the yellow markings all the way to the Col de Saumane. The path follows the ridge line to this pass (beautiful 360° views).

(3) The Col de Saumane is at a crossroads. Take the^GR®94(red and white markings) on the right. The path descends gently through the woods. Follow the markings, ignoring the paths that join the^GR® on the right, and arrive at a Y-junction.

(4) At this junction, continue to the right on the^GR® until you reach a major crossroads, just above the hamlet of Les Michons.

(5) Leave the^GR® and take the path on the right which descends towards Les Michons. Ignore a path branching off to the right and walk past the house. The path widens and becomes a small gravel track. Gradually, the village of Sigottier and its spectacular geological site come into view. At the village, the road joins the D27. Follow it to the left for a good hundred metres, until you reach the church.

(6) Take the street on the left between the cemetery and the church (yellow markings). Continue along this quiet road, at the foot of the cliffs popular with climbing enthusiasts, for a distance of about three kilometres. The road serves only the hamlet of La Montagne and a farm further on, so you’ll have the place to yourselves, though you should still take care. In the hamlet, the road climbs in hairpin bends. Pass the first houses. At the end of a sharp right-hand bend leading towards the highest houses in La Montagne, you’ll come to the junction with the^GR®94(red and white markings).

(7) Leave the road and follow this^GR® to the left. After the last house, the path becomes a wide track, used by local farmers and for forestry work. After about 200 metres, you’ll reach a junction.

(8) Continue on the^GR®, taking the path on the left. The path alternates between mountain pastures, ravines and woodland. Continue on the^GR®, ignoring various logging tracks on the right. The path crosses a small area of black marl, known locally as ‘roubines’ (take care if you are hiking after heavy rain, as the path may have been washed away in places). Further on, you will come once again to the major Michons junction.

(5) Continue along the path opposite (^GR® 94), the same one you took on the descent. Follow the path back up to the Col de Saumane

(3) At the Col de Saumane, continue to the right on the^GR® 94. The path sometimes crosses and sometimes follows the forestry track. Always follow the red and white markings of the^GR® trail, ignoring this forestry track. The path descends gently, first through the woods and then through more sparse vegetation. You’ll arrive at the Saumane Chapel, where a small bench awaits you for a well-deserved break.

(9) Continue along the path, which takes you gently back to Serres.

(10) At the crossroads in front of the school entrance, turn left onto Esplanade Sainte-Catherine, which will take you past the school and its unique sundial. The esplanade also serves as a school playground (having done the walk in August, I’m unable to tell you whether the path remains open during break times!).
Continue straight on along Rue du Portail. Take the opportunity to admire the door of the Town Hall, a superb piece of carved walnut wood dating from 1610.

(1) About forty metres past the town hall, you’ll come to the passageway under the bell tower that you took on the way there. Go back through it and head towards Place de la Liberté by turning left onto Rue de Bourg Reynaud, then right onto Rue des Remparts, arriving at Place de la Liberté (S/E).

Take care if you’re doing the hike after heavy rain (as I did): the forest track at the Col de Saumane can get very muddy, and the section through the black marl of Les Michons can hold a few surprises (a small section of the path had disappeared).

The village of Serres: a charming old village with its narrow streets, covered passageways, ancient doorways and tall façades. It’s a pleasure to wander around here for a while.

The Chapel of Bonsecours: a map and information board. Adjacent to the chapel is a small private cemetery (!).

The Jewish tomb: a 14th-century gravestone with an inscription in Hebrew.

Stunning views over the rooftops of Serres and the Buëch valley from the ridges.

Sigottier: a very picturesque village, nestled in the hollow of high cliffs much loved by rock climbers.

La Montagne: Angora goat farm, mohair and cashmere shop on the farm...

The “black earths”, typical of the Southern Pre-Alps