Balade des vergers by bike

Agriculture and know-how

Discovery trail

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A lovely family bike ride that lets you explore the Grand Vallon. The northern part of the route, which winds through orchards, contrasts with the more open southern section. The final stretch takes you through the Sasse Valley. As you ride through the orchards, this route offers a glimpse into apple farming. A “Apples and Birdhouses” discovery trail provides some insights into this industry. The ride can be started from three different points.

Follow the mountain bike trail N°1 (VTT N°1)

Description

From the tourist office parking lot at the base of the Grande Fistoire via ferrata, head south toward the village of Le Caire. Walk through the village along its winding alley.
At the square (786 m), follow the D 951 for 500 m until you reach the village exit.
Take the trail on the left. Cross the river several times. Follow the paved road for a short stretch, winding through the orchards to reach La Motte du Caire.
Once at La Motte du Caire (700 m), cross the village toward Le Caire, then, after the Maison de la Santé, turn right onto the Chemin de Sainte-Anne. The small road descends to the river and crosses it via a footbridge. Turn right. Pass under the soccer field to reach the campground.
Continue along the river. Facing the glider airfield (on the opposite bank), leave the forest trail on your left (MTB markers #5-6-7) and continue straight ahead.
At Le Plan (660 m), pass the equestrian center on your left and continue along the trail to the intersection with the D 1.
Follow the road toward Clamensane until you reach the village.

Departure : 3 possible starting points: Caire Via Ferrata Office, La Motte du Caire, or Clamensane
Arrival : Caire Via Ferrata Office, La Motte du Caire, or Clamensane
Towns crossed : Caire, Motte-du-Caire, and Clamensane

Forecast

Altimetric profile

Recommandations

This route can be started from 3 different points
Bike service station (bike wash, air pump, water fountain) in Clamensane (in front of City Hall).

Information desks

04250 Le Caire

viaferratalecaire@sisteronais-buech.fr 04 92 68 40 39

Transport

Let’s limit our trips and use public transportation and carpooling: https://zou.maregionsud.fr

Access and parking

From Gap (42 km), take the D 900B south to Remollon, then the D 951 south to Le Caire.

Parking :

Via ferrata office parking lot, le Caire

1 point of interest

Office de Tourisme La Motte du Caire
Flora
The apple
The emergence of the Rosaceae family 80 million years ago marked the birth of this large family to which the apple belongs. The apple as we know it today first appeared in the early Quaternary period in the region of Turkey, approximately 2 million years ago. Originally, apples were tiny and poisonous. During the Neolithic period, the shift to a sedentary lifestyle, along with access to agriculture and animal husbandry, facilitated their development and subsequent spread to Egypt, Greece, and Italy. In the 7th century BC, the founding of Marseille by the Greeks was undoubtedly one of the starting points for the introduction of the apple tree in southern France. The Romans brought with them the thirty or so varieties they knew. From the 10th to the 14th century, monasteries developed the importation and grafting of apples. Today, several thousand apple varieties exist; here, the Golden Delicious is the most common. As for its medicinal benefits, here are a few that will certainly encourage you to eat apples more often (tooth decay, constipation and diarrhea, fatigue, insomnia, obesity and cellulite, burns…).