Dormillouse, Mountain pasture and alpine cabin in Freissinières, France
Dormillouse is a mountain pasture with an alpine cabin situated around 1,780 meters elevation in the Freissinières region, encompassing several settlement areas named Les Enflous, la Michelane, Pra Barnéou, and Romans. The site spreads across the slope with scattered houses featuring traditional slate roofs and wooden structures built into the mountainside.
Felix Neff established a significant presence around 1840, opening a school in 1825 that served the community until its closure in 1944. This school became an important educational center in the remote mountain region, shaping community life for over a century.
The buildings showcase slate roofs and wooden balconies attached to barns, displaying construction methods adapted to mountain life in the Hautes-Alpes. These traditional structures shape how the place looks today and reveal how residents worked with their surroundings.
The location is accessible only on foot and requires approximately 40 minutes of walking from the Cascades parking area with about 300 meters of elevation gain. The route is walkable year-round but calls for sturdy footwear and moderate fitness.
The permanent population has shrunk from 62 residents in 1901 to just 1 or 2 people today, yet a working mountain refuge operates in the former school building. This refuge now serves as a welcome stop for hikers exploring this isolated high-altitude settlement.
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