The flat section of the Drac Canal

From Gap, head towards Veynes - Valence (D994), then turn right onto the D503 (towards La Garde, Corréo, Rabou). After 1 km, leave the road that branches off to the right (La Garde) and take the road that climbs to the left (towards Corréo Rabou). Park in the car park on the right-hand side of the road, just before the small bridge at the Chapelle de Sauveterre or a little further down, at the Canal du Drac.

(S/E) From the Chapelle de Sauveterre, go back down the D503 road for 100 metres, then take the first path on the left, through the farmland. This path leads to a plateau and arrives at a first crossroads (Corréo signpost).

(1) Continue along the path opposite (yellow line) towards the north-east and ignore the path that climbs to the left (yellow line). Climb up the slope to the plateau just above and parallel to the Drac Canal. Enter the pine forest, then the oak forest and pass by the Source de Touvet. This path alternates between sections in the forest and on the balcony, offering a beautiful view of Gap and the Gapençais region.

(2) Take the path on the right to descend towards the Canal de Gap (yellow line). The descent on this stony path is not very long (about 400 m) but quite steep. Cross the canal to join the "Tour de Malcombe" route.

(3) Turn right to follow the canal, heading south-west. This section is called the "Promenade du Canal". Follow it almost to the end (100 m before the D503 road).

(4) Leave the canal to cross the small bridge on the right and go up the path through the broom, along the fence to the path above. It is also possible to continue straight on to the road, then go up to the chapel, but this is less pleasant.

(1) Take the path on the left to reach the tarmac road, then the Chapel of Sauveterre (S/E).

There are no water points along the route.

The start is just above the Canal du Drac (also known as the Canal de Gap) with information boards.

Beautiful panoramic view of Céüse and the mountains south of Gap (including the Lure mountain).

Sauveterre Chapel: Notre-Dame de Sauveterre was built in the 17th century. In the past, people would make a procession there on Whit Monday from La Roche-des-Arnaud to ask for blessings on the fruits of the earth.

Canal du Drac (Canal de Gap): the use of canals in the Hautes-Alpes dates back to the 13th century. One of the most remarkable structures in Champsaur is the "Canal de Gap". The project to build this canal was voted on in August 1802 by the Gap municipal council, but the costly work (10 million gold francs) did not begin until 1864, thanks to MP Maurice Garnier, and was not completed until 1880. Drawn from the Drac at Les Ricoux, the water travels 12 km through an earthen canal and then rushes into a 3,870 m tunnel under the Col de Manse. At its exit in the Gapençais, the canal splits into two main branches, those of "Charance" (west) and "Romette" (east), which encircle the Gap basin. Over the last forty years or so, sprinkler irrigation, which is more economical in terms of water use, has gradually replaced this furrow irrigation system.