[Sens Action] - Les géants de pierre (the stone giants) and the lion de Salados (lion of Salados)

For several years now, the number of butterflies in our countries has fallen sharply. All too often, flower meadows have become fields of grasses sprayed with too many fertilisers and herbicides. The plants that used to host caterpillars (known as host plants) no longer grow and the flowers have almost disappeared. Fortunately, there are still a few little corners of paradise, like this one, that are home to a wide variety of butterflies! Take a break and absorb the variety of colours and shapes. Within this large family, some species are more famous than others... The Marsh Fritillary, which is protected at European level, is one of the species which justified the creation of the Natura 2000 site!

Growing to a spectacular size, the fox-tail Milkvetch is a species found in open mountainous environments, particularly dry, sunny grasslands. Although it is extremely sociable (often forming large population nuclei, as it does here) and locally abundant in several parts of the Hautes-Alpes, this species is rare in Europe and in France, which is why it is protected at European level. On the Piolit slope there are around ten known sites, which are well preserved thanks to extensive grazing. Walk carefully between the clumps of this beautiful, hairy plant that has made its home on this magnificent lookout!

The pink marble quarries at Salados have been worked since ancient times, when they were developed by the Romans who settled in the region. This high-altitude open-cast quarry is used to extract collapsed blocks from the Chabrières peaks. It is from the same vein as Guillestre. It was mainly used locally, and the largest construction site it supplied was Gap Cathedral in the late 19th century. Blocks weighing some 4 tonnes were brought down from the mountain by teams of quarrymen on carts as far as Gap.

Get your nose as close to the rock as you can and discover the wonderful world of lichens!