Cheval-Blanc mountain, Limestone summit in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France.
Cheval-Blanc is a mountain of pale grey upper Cretaceous limestone rising to 2,323 m between the Bléone and Issole valleys, on the land of Prads-Haute-Bléone, Draix and Thorame-Basse. Its ridge runs from the Mulatière (2,283 m) and Paluet (2,305 m) summits in the north-east past the Baisse de Chanolles col (2,222 m) to the Croquets (2,270 m) in the south. Bare rock and shadowed clefts mark the higher slopes, with dark forest on the lower flanks above green fields.
On 27 January 1948 a US Air Force C-47 Dakota flying from Istres to Udine struck the massif at about 2,300 m in a snowstorm, killing all twelve on board. Three days later a B-17 sent to photograph the wreckage also crashed, 1,000 m north on the slope. A cross on the western flank commemorates both accidents.
An astronomical observatory has been under construction at the summit since 2005, managed by amateur astronomers for remote-controlled observations.
The summit lies on the communal land of Prads-Haute-Bléone, Draix and Thorame-Basse, about 15 km east of Digne-les-Bains. Routes climb from the valleys of the Bléone and the Issole; the northern flank drains into the Chanolette, the western into the Bouinenc. The upper slopes are bare limestone and alpine pasture, so carry water and weather protection.
An astronomical observatory has been under construction at the summit since 2005, operated by amateur astronomers for remote-controlled observations. This project demonstrates how the mountain has become a site for sky observation and attracts stargazers from the region.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,464 contributors worldwide.
