Fort de l'Olive

Visit one of the many forts covering the Briançonnais region, unfortunately now in ruins. This fort overlooks the Clarée Valley and in particular the Cols de l'Échelle and Cols des Acles passes on the Italian border.

Details

n°2469914

Creation:
23 Aug 2019

Last update:
02 Mar 2020

Last review:
15 Jul 2024

Activity: Walking
Distance: 7.65 km
Average duration: 4h 25
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 771 m
Descent: - 766 m
Highest point: 2,227 m
Lowest point: 1,482 m

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Cerces, Vallée de la Clarée, Dauphiné
District: Névache (05100)
Start/End: N 45.002871° / E 6.660469°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3535OT, 3535OTR, 3536OT, 3536OTR
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Description of the walk

Park in the car park after the bridge over the Clarée in the village of Plampinet.

(S/E) Cross the road and take the wide track on the right that runs parallel to the road. At the crossroads after the cemetery, take the^GR®57marked in red and white on the left. After a large bend to the right and two tight hairpin bends, you will reach the Savoyes crossroads.

(1) Keep left on the^GR® and tackle a long series of tight hairpin bends that end at the start of a scree slope.

(2) Cross it carefully to quickly reach La Redoute, where you will find a wider track.

(3) Continue on the^GR® trail until you reach the junction with a path marked by a cairn.

(4) Take the path on the right and climb steeply to reach Fort de l'Olive.

(5) Follow the same route back to the Savoyes crossroads.

(1) Leave the^GR® and take the path on the left, which winds its way up to the Bois Noir trail. Turn right onto this trail, which leads to a new trail that joins the^GR® 5 and 57 trails.

(6) Turn right onto this track, head towards the François Régiset Chapel, cross the D994g road to reach the Plampinet car park (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,482 m - Plampinet car park - Clarée (rivière)
1 : km 1.69 - alt. 1,728 m - Carrefour de Savoyes
2 : km 2.85 - alt. 2,062 m - Scree slope
3 : km 3 - alt. 2,127 m - Redoute
4 : km 3.3 - alt. 2,114 m - Cairned crossroads
5 : km 3.8 - alt. 2,221 m - Fort de l'Olive
6 : km 6.63 - alt. 1,565 m - GR5-57 crossroads
S/E : km 7.65 - alt. 1,482 m - Plampinet car park

Notes

(2) A certain amount of caution is required for the short crossing of the scree, but it is nothing insurmountable. However, those who are sensitive to vertigo may find this a stressful moment.

Worth a visit

Fort de l'Olive

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5

Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5

Ease of following the route
5 / 5

Route interest
4.8 / 5

Eiger2b

15 Jul 2024 at 09:43 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Due to relatively poor weather, there were few visitors. Definitely continue on to Fort Lalon (locally known as "Maison Ronde").

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trombinoscope

16 Oct 2023 at 16:28 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike
The continuous climb is a bit challenging You can visit the fully renovated redoubt (the doors are open)
The arrival at the fort is very impressive
The view is beautiful, but entry into the fort is prohibited.
The descent is pleasant except for the very technical section after the fork
I recommend this hike, which takes place in a place steeped in our history

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migar

18 Aug 2023 at 18:51 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

From Plampinet cemetery, we followed the path (marked with red and white GR signs). It's uphill, but it's in the shade, except for the last part. Same comments as before (visit to the fort for geocaching; the drawbridge is starting to show its age and you have to watch out for falling stones. It's still an extraordinary building, with the remains of the animal-powered cable car at the end.
Like many hikers, we climbed up to Fort Lenlon (at 2,500 metres, bringing the hike to 15 km and the elevation gain to 1,400 metres). But it's worth the effort. A very beautiful building and a splendid view.
Thank you for this hike. Just don't forget your walking sticks and a large water bottle.

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Plvx

14 Aug 2023 at 10:37 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike taken by bus from Briançon (only possible until 18 August). The trail starts in a forest, which is very pleasant in hot weather, and is well marked.
Very interesting to visit and with panoramic views, don't hesitate to extend your walk to Fort Lenlon.

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furaxofmarseille

04 Jul 2023 at 17:08 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The hike is relatively steep, but mostly in the forest. I encountered a chamois there.
The Fort de l'Olive is really interesting to visit, but it can be dangerous and is actually prohibited.
Once you reach the fort, the hardest part is over. So I pushed on to Fort Lenlon (the "Fort Boyard of the Hautes-Alpes"). You follow electricity poles that were supposed to connect the two forts via a less steep trail than the one to the first fort. The view is splendid.
For an overview of this hike and the forts: https://youtu.be/B955OzzuphU

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Britanicus100

14 Jan 2022 at 14:11 3600 • Edited: 14 Jan 2022 at 14:13 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2013
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Route taken at the time with an extension to Fort Lenlon.
Here is a video showing the route of our journey.
In addition to their historical interest, all these forts offer stunning panoramic views.

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VCANET

26 Oct 2020 at 16:21 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

From Fort de l'Olive, we extended the hike to Fort de Lenlon (2,508 metres).

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JPC07

20 Aug 2020 at 11:08 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Access from the start to point 2 through the woods. No difficulty crossing the scree. Very nice restoration of the REDOUTE. Impressive and magnificent site of the FORT DE L'OLIVE. We pushed on to the FORT DE LENLON, which is very unusual in shape, giving us a glimpse of the COL DE GRANON in the distance and requiring a climb of a thousand metres, which we did not regret.

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Malyse56

06 Jul 2020 at 08:54 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely forest path at the start, followed by a fairly challenging climb!

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ben83130

08 Sep 2019 at 09:49 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Difficult hike. The first climb is very tough. You can see the Olive Fort by starting the hike at Val des Prés and climbing up to Col Granon. Take the military road. And finish at Planpinet. The hike is much longer but less difficult.

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