Majestic, solitary, it sits proudly at an altitude of 2,909 m, like a sentinel between Ubaye and Haute-Bléone. But did you know that the Grande Séolane is geologically… Reversed?

Yes, literally. This summit is formed by a huge limestone slab placed upside down on its base. A geological curiosity caused by a bedload sheet: boulders torn from their original position, moved tens of kilometres, and then deposited there by the powerful Alpine tectonic movements.
This mountain is what is called a klippe : a suspended geological vestige, like an island forgotten in time.

At its base, you will find the Autapie flysch, made up of very old sediments. So the next time you see it pointing above the forests of Pra Loup, remember that the Séolane is much more than a peak: it is a geological puzzle millions of years old.

A little further west, another summit catches the eye: the Chapeau de Gendarme (2,682 m), with its silhouette reminiscent of a Napoleonic bicorn hat resting on the ridge. It almost feels like a wink from nature!

This particular relief is the result of differential erosion. The hard rocks (limestone) resisted wind, water and frost better than the softer shales. The result: two rounded tips stand out, as if cut by hand.

This summit exposes tectonic scales (Briançon and Subbriançonnais), usually hidden under the flysch. A real lesson in open-air geology.

The Gendarme’s Hat is also a strong visual landmark for hikers in the valley : in summer and winter, it can be seen from afar, faithful, motionless… and yet sculpted by the perpetual movement of time.