Hike from the Avérole refuge through the hamlet

Name: Hike from the Avérole refuge through the hamlet
Address: Parking des Vincendières, Bessans, 73480
Telephone: 04 79 05 99 06
Price range: Free access.

Bessans

Hike from the Avérole refuge through the hamlet - K.Mandray

On the trail of the ancient peddlers, enter the lush green valley of Avérole.
On your way to the refuge amid timeless picture-perfect scenery, you'll
discover the setting where many scenes from the film "Belle and Sebastian"
were shot.

Description

The trail winds through this wild and secluded valley, following the Avérole
torrent. The sound of water flowing through this fold in the mountains
accompanies you throughout your hike, just as it once accompanied the
peddlers selling their goods door to door as they travelled to Italy. Once upon
a time, this valley was not so sparsely populated. Look around you, there are
traces of the former bustling agricultural life everywhere! Who built this dry
stone wall that safeguard the path between hamlets? Who prayed at these
oratories and chapels dotted along the route? Who lived in these houses
with stone roofs built in the traditional mountain village style? There were
many people living here in bygone days and they've left their footprints.
Follow these footprints to the refuge, a cosy nest where you'll be welcomed
by Virginie, the guardian.
Feast your eyes on the majestic Charbonnel peak, rising to 3,752 metres,
dwarfing its neighbours that still reach 3,000 metres!

Additional welcome

The duration of hiking trails is calculated using reference paces: 300 m/h ascent, 500 m/h descent and 4 km/h on the flat.

As hazards may occur at any time on the routes, the GPX tracks provided are not contractual. They are given for information only. Riders use them at their own risk, depending on their level of technological proficiency and their understanding of the terrain.