From the Viaduc de la Selle to the summit of Pic Ponçon

From Gap town centre, take the N85 (Avenue de Provence) towards Marseille. Exit towards Veynes - Valence, then at the Eyssagnières roundabout, continue straight on towards Neffes - Pelleautier. Take the second right: Route de Chaudefeuille. At the end, turn left onto Chemin du Viaduc for 400 m. Park in the designated parking spaces.

Look for the "Viaduc de la Selle" hiking trail sign at the corner of a small street, which is an extension of Chemin du Viaduc (nos. 16 to 18).

(S/E) Take the tarmac road until the first left turn. Leave the tarmac road and walk up the dirt track for 50 m until you reach the crossroads.

(1) Turn left, heading south-west. The path, marked with yellow lines and initially flat, descends towards the Torrent de la Selle. Pass under the viaduct, cross the stream on the small wooden footbridge and climb up the left bank (yellow markings).

(2) Continue along the small path that runs alongside the stream, heading north-west, leaving the main path that climbs to the left (marked route). Follow the stream for about 500 m. The path is marked with fluorescent green dots.

(3) Cross the stream and take the path that climbs up the hillside, heading north. The path becomes steeper and turns more towards the north-east (fluorescent green dots).

(4) Walk along the fields and woods, heading northeast. Cross the access path to the fields to climb up to the ridge and reach a standing stone (stele). Descend the ridge on the left, heading north then northeast, along the fields, to reach the Chemin de la Renardière.

(5) Turn right and follow the path for about 600 metres, heading south, then cut across the field to reach the Aurouze family's oratory at the top of the Pic Ponçon ridge. Enjoy the panoramic view of the surrounding mountains. Continue along the ridge, heading south, and pass the first crossroads. Continue downhill until you reach a crossroads with a path leading off to the left, shortly after the high-voltage power line.

(6) Take the path on the left which descends slightly, heading north-east, until you reach a wide path which descends. At the bend, take the "shortcut" path which winds through the forest, heading south.
Come out onto the wide dirt track again and follow it downhill, between the forest and the fields. Near the railway line, follow the path that runs alongside it, heading east, until you reach a small bridge that allows you to pass underneath.

(7) Turn right to pass under the bridge, then left to follow Rue de Pic Ponçon eastwards for 50 metres. Take the path on the right that descends below the house (red mountain bike signposting), heading south, to reach the junction from the outward journey.

(1) Then descend the dirt track and the tarmac road to return to the car park (S/E).

Recommended car park: Chemin du Viaduc.

No water points along the route.

Alternative route: it is also possible to avoid passing through the Viaduc de la Selle by turning right at the crossroads (1), passing under the bridge (7), then climbing directly to the top (6) via the small paths in the forest.

The route passes close to the Way of St James (GR® 653D).

The Rousine is a tributary of the Durance. Known as the Torrent de la Selle in its upper reaches, it rises at the western end of the Charance mountain, at the junction of the municipalities of Gap, La Roche-des-Arnauds and Rabou.

The Viaduc de la Selle is an engineering structure on the railway line between Veynes and Gap, dating from 1880. Note the magnificent work of the stonemasons with its two-level arches.

Near the point (2): orientation table on the Veynes road (D994).

The Aurouze family's oratory, "Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary", stands on the crest of Pic Ponçon. This small summit offers an exceptional panoramic view of the Gapençais mountains and beyond: Céüze, Bure, Charance, Chaillol, Le Sirac, Les Autanes, Chabrières, and further away, Le Morgon and the mountains of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.
Jean-Joseph-Toussaint Aurouze, owner of the Parroutons farm, one day exchanged one of his fields for the Pic Ponçon land belonging to Auguste Blache, distinguished owner of the Château de La Garde. The two men got on very well, despite having different ideas. In 1896, Jean-Joseph-Toussaint had an oratory built there for his three sisters who were cloistered at the Couvent du Saint-Coeur-de-Marie, near the Church of Saint-André in Gap. From the windows of the convent, the nuns had the pleasure of seeing the estate of their childhood thanks to this oratory, located at the highest point of Les Parroutons.
In 1981, Christian-Louis Trinquier (a sheep farmer and great-grandson of J-J-T. Aurouze) restored the monument, which had been damaged by the ravages of time (frost, thaw, lightning, etc.), in honour of his ancestors (see the inscription on the north side of the building) and even the graffiti from 1909 (south side).
Near the oratory, a geodetic marker indicates the altitude of the site: 987 m and the year it was measured: 1949.