Cirque de Morgon, Natural cirque in Crots, France
Cirque de Morgon is a natural amphitheater in the Hautes-Alpes surrounded by steep cliff walls that descend in stages across the landscape. The bowl-shaped formation features rock faces of varying heights that appear to shift with changing light and seasons.
Medieval monks from Notre-Dame de Boscodon abbey relied on these slopes for summer grazing of their livestock across the centuries. The location remained integral to the monastic economy of the broader region.
The name derives from a legendary sorcerer, reflecting local folklore and the mystical quality visitors sense while walking through the landscape. People who come here speak of the place as a repository of old stories woven into the rock formations.
A clearly marked hiking trail winds through the Boscodon National Forest with route options for different fitness levels. Arriving early is advisable and being prepared for changing mountain weather conditions is essential, especially in the higher sections.
A small mountain chapel was fully reconstructed by vocational students from Embrun in just 15 days during 1992. This unexpected project demonstrates how young people brought a crumbling structure back to life in an remarkably short timeframe.
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