The Sirenians Trail

6 points of interest

• 

  Patrimony and history

  The pass of Lèques

  The "neighborhood" called Lèques situated to the north of pass of Lèques evokes the name of these thrush traps, consisting of two flat stones, that allowed to trap the birds at that time (a completely prohibited practice today). A few juniper berries, thrushes’ favorite candy in winter, were placed between the sticks. The bird had to move the sticks to peck at grains, and the vertical stone fell and knocked it.

• 

  Panorama

  Roc de Castellane

  Overlooking the town from its 184m straight and steep cliffs, the top of the Roc is decorated with a chapel topped by a statue of the Virgin and Child. Majestic, strong and anchored since the dawn of time, it looks like the relic of a surrealist dungeon, left there by improbable and fantastic creatures.

• 

  Geology

  The valley of fossil mermaids

  Fossils less than 1% of living things are found fossilized, which goes to show that fossilization is somewhat “miraculous”. It is the transformation of the remains of an organism and its conservation in rocks. Obviously, the mineralized portions (skeletons, shells, etc.) are best preserved. But wood and fingerprints, traces of activities, could also be preserved, thus providing valuable information.

• 

  Geology

  Ammonites

  Fossils relate us about the history of life. They have allowed the birth of the theory of evolution by showing us the existence of now extinct animals. In our region, ammonites are a good example. They disappeared 65 million years ago after having populated all the seas of the globe during the Mesozoic era.

• 

  Geology

  The fossil valley

  Water sometimes flows into the ravine. In its work of erosion, it gradually reveals the relief shaped for the first time more than forty million years ago. On the right bank, you can see a gray limestone massif dated back to 140 million years (Jurassic). On the left bank of the marls and yellowish sandstone limestone, dating back to 40 million years.

• 

  Geology

  the Sirenia

  If sirenians the ravine of Tabori, who lived in the sea, are now at nearly 1,000 meters above sea level, it is not because of a sudden drop in the water level. The sediment accumulated at the bottom of the sea for millions of years are found upright and altitude when the Alps were raised.