Prapic | Orcières Merlette 1850

Mythical village du Haut-Champsaur

Situated on the edge of the Drac Noir valley, at the foot of majestic peaks (Petit and Grand Pinier, Mourre Froid…), Prapic is a hamlet full of character and well worth a visit. Under the blessing of the church of Sainte-Anne, its heavily cobbled lanes and sturdy stone houses bear witness to the history of the hamlet and the rough life it led in those days.

Prapic is a little like the end of the world. However, close to a number of passes, including the Tourettes and Terres Blanches passes (which provided mountain access to the Val de Durance), this village had the reputation of being the place where even flies were made. This was no doubt an allusion to the fact that the inhabitants had to fend for themselves in their daily lives, far from the major urban and commercial centres.

Situated at the gateway to the Ecrins National Park, the village is the starting point for numerous walks accessible to all, including the tombeau du Poète, the Charnière plateau, the Saut du Laire…

Heritage of our mountains

Prapic’s heritage is both modest and remarkable: the church of Sainte-Anne, once located at the top of the village, was rebuilt by the villagers in 1880 following a fire in 1867. The hamlet is full of fountains with mouths decorated with animal heads and pools known as “bachats”. They were used as wash-houses and drinking troughs.

The first houses still visible today were built in the 17th century. The sheepfolds were built under the same roof as the family dwelling, forming tall houses with gable walls that were often woven to ventilate the hay. The finely carved entrance doors are a way of identifying the family. Each house was given a nickname to distinguish families with the same name.

Venturing out of the hamlet, towards the Poet’s Tomb, you will notice the mission cross at Le Clot, decorated with the symbols of the Passion of Christ. On the Saut du Laïre road, the Coulet oratory marks the intersection with the path leading to the Basset plateau. Higher up, the chapel of La Saulce is a place of pilgrimage, where the locals used to go in years of drought, before wetting their banners in the Drac, according to tradition.

In the heart of the hamlet, two inns offer the best of local specialities: tourtons, oreilles d’âne (donkey’s ears), local lamb, creuzets, fruit tarts… Also worth a visit: the museum of daily life and the trades of yesteryear.