The abandoned village of Méollion

Visit to a village in ruins. Only two houses remain, the shepherd's house and the ONF's free lodge. Unfortunately, access to the village is not recommended in winter (see the description for more information).
However, hiking in winter on the right bank of the Torrent du Méollion is very pleasant as it takes you through some beautiful landscapes.

Details

215725
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Snowshoeing
    Activity: Snowshoeing
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.70 km
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 4 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 432 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 433 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,653 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,268 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Take the D944a from Pont-du-Fossé to the village of Les Borels, park on the left in the car park on the banks of the Drac Noir.

(S/E). Cross the road and take the street opposite leading to the Town Hall. Continue along the wide path that follows the street. You will come to a large information board at the crossroads of two paths.

(1) Leave the Champet trail on your left and take the one on the right along the edge of the stream. The trail starts off flat but then climbs. Follow a series of tight hairpin bends to reach the Champet trail on a flatter section.

(2) Continue along the hillside towards the hamlet of Méollion. When you reach the top, begin the descent to the stream crossing.

(3) This ford marksthe end of the route in winter (total stop) because the passage after the ford (marked by an exclamation mark in a red triangle) is very difficult. The accumulated snow and ice, combined with the rock face, make this passage very tricky. A fall is entirely possible and the consequences would undoubtedly be dramatic.

(3) Then begin the return journey via the same route to easily reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,269 m - Les Borels car park
  2. 1 : km 0.76 - alt. 1,308 m - Sign and Champet crossroads
  3. 2 : km 2.48 - alt. 1,610 m - Champet crossroads
  4. 3 : km 2.85 - alt. 1,649 m - STOP ford
  5. S/E : km 5.7 - alt. 1,269 m - Les Borels car park

Notes

Winter equipment.
In summer, the forest hut is accessible by contacting the Water and Forestry Department.

Worth a visit

At the start of Les Borels, an information panel summarises the ancestral life of this village, which was deserted by its last inhabitants in 1933. Further information on this hamlet and the surrounding area can be found here.

The Champsaur valleys and their villages.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
sempervivum
sempervivum

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant climb through the forest alongside the stream, with plenty of places to picnic along the stream once you reach the village. Ideal for families on a round trip. We descended via the Champet plateau, with numerous hairpin bends through the forest and a few viewpoints. One section requires a little care, a sloping slab equipped with bars, but nothing difficult for a hiker.

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Calamaro
Calamaro

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike under changeable skies (rain at the bottom, light snowfall at the top).
We climbed up along the Drac and returned via Les Champets, which I recommend... The path described as difficult is easy and the descent is very gentle, with winding paths through the woods and no stones.
Three hours in total with lots of breaks!

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Ochazuke
Ochazuke

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 24, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant hike that starts off gently and includes a short climb. However, I would advise against taking the northern circular route, which doesn't offer much more and doesn't provide a better view. The round trip is therefore preferable!

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GUILLERMOU
GUILLERMOU

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful, easy hike, with the constant thought that a hundred years ago, the schoolchildren of Méollion made this journey every day to get to class.

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olivierdu83300
olivierdu83300

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A really nice hike for those who enjoy walking in the woods. The ruins of Méollion are moving. There is a spring at the end of the trail and a few meadows by the stream for a bucolic picnic. The descent via the Champet plateau allows you to complete a circular hike without any particular difficulty.

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ejacky
ejacky

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Outside of periods of frost or heavy rain, I recommend following the path on the right bank of the stream between points 1 and 2. It is not difficult and requires a little caution on two rocky sections, but the advantage is that you can make a circular route, and there are some very nice views.

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ely83
ely83

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A beautiful hike on a well-marked trail that offers superb views. We returned via the Champet plateau: the trail is said to be difficult, but apart from a very short section on flat stones that are slightly sloped, the descent, which is a little longer, is pleasant in the undergrowth on a winding trail with few stones.

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