The old village of Méollion, a loop via Serre Borel

Head towards Orcières on the D944. At Pont de Corbière, turn left onto the D944A (Route des Borels), towards Les Borels - Vallée de Champoléon. Stop at the hamlet of Les Borels and park in the car park on the left, alongside the Drac Blanc.

(S/E) From the car park, cross the D944A carefully to enter the village via the street opposite, leading to the town hall. Pass in front of the church, then the cemetery, heading towards Méollion (signposted). The street continues along a wide path, which you follow for 400 m. This pleasant track alternates between woodland and meadows. You will come to a large information sign at the crossroads of two paths.

(1) Follow the path on the left towards Méollion, heading east, until you reach the crossroads 150 m further on.

(2) Take the Sentier des Champets trail on the left, which winds its way up through the forest on Serre Borel and leads to the Champet ruins. After the ruins, continue climbing (difficult trail sign) and carefully cross the Torrent du Champet.

(3) Cross a rocky passage with a sloping slab (not technically difficult as it has been fitted with iron bars fixed into the rock) and cross the Torrent du Forest.

(4) Enjoy the beautiful descent from Serre Borel to the crossroads.

(5) Continue climbing to the left towards the hamlet of Méollion. The trail continues along the hillside and gradually emerges from the forest before reaching a high point, then descends into the Combe de Méollion to the waterfall. Ford the stream and arrive at the old hamlet of Méollion. Arrive at the ruins of the hamlet, where two houses remain in good condition: the shepherd's house and the ONF lodge.

Note that it is then possible to continue the hike beyond the village along the marked trail towards the bottom of the valley.

(6) Turn back to the previous junction.

(5) This time, take the path on the left which descends gently down the valley towards the stream. Initially running along the hillside, it descends via a series of tight bends. Observe the remarkable geological formations, then cross the Forest and Champet streams. The path, initially in the forest, descends into the gorge on the right bank and joins the edge of the stream until it reaches the intersection with the Sentier des Champets.

(2) Continue straight ahead for about 150 metres, following the same route as on the way up.

(1) Turn right and, following the same route as on the way up, descend to the village and then to the car park (S/E).

There is a fountain and picnic tables in the hamlet of Méollion and at Les Borels.

Mèfi! Information dated 23 September 2025: following a landslide, a municipal decree prohibits access via the "traditional" path taken on the return journey (between points (5) and (2). It is therefore preferable to take the path via Le Champet. The two paths meet at Hauts des Poas. Please note that there are signs posted in two places (at the start of the hike and at the Hauts des Poas junction).

Be careful! Some slabs on the Champets trail can be slippery in wet weather.A "tricky" section justifies the "Difficult trail" sign on the boards. It is a sloping rock slab a few metres high, with steps carved into it to make it easier to cross.

Shorter alternative (one-way): to avoid the climb via Serre Borel and Les Champets on the way there, do not turn left at the point (2) but continue straight ahead along the edge of the stream. The path enters the gorge on the right bank, then climbs steadily through the forest to Le Forest. Take the same route on the way back (400 m elevation gain, total time 3 hours).

The village of Méollion, perched at 1,666 metres, had twelve families at the beginning of the 19th century, around twenty houses, a school and a chapel (Notre-Dame des Neiges) with a resident priest. Until 1907, the school was housed in a room in the "Pecata" house (the nickname of a family). However, the very difficult living conditions forced many inhabitants to emigrate to the United States. Between the Great War, deadly avalanches and floods that swept away grazing land, the last inhabitants abandoned their village in 1921. The hamlet was home to a resistance group in 1943, until it was destroyed by incendiary grenades by the Germans on 13 November 1943. Warned in advance,the resistance fighters escaped through the mountains, leaving a note on the door of the chalet saying " you're too late ".

La Maison du Berger (Les Borels): an interpretation and research centre on Alpine pastoral cultures. This cultural centre and visitor attraction offers exhibitions, educational activities, a library and a shop.