Cipières: Collet des Graus de Pons hike

Cipières Village square

 

The perched Village of Cipières (750 m) overlooking the Loup River Valley is a crossroads of several hiking trails. Both the GR4 and GR51 long distance trails run through the village.

We wanted to explore the GR51 south of the village to a hill named Collet des Graus de Pons. This short out and back hike is included in the Guide Randoxygène Moyen Pays, marked as easy.

Starting from Cipières
Starting from Cipières
Cipières
Cipières
Meadow south of Cipières
Meadow south of Cipières
GR51 south of Cipières
GR51 south of Cipières

We started from the village square (Signpost #26) , and headed south along the GR51 and GR4. We passed several properties and soon reached an intersection (Signpost #160) where the two GR trails separated. We took the left-hand GR51 path. We climbed gradually, mostly in an evergreen forest, crossing three small valleys named Pesses, Estrugue and  Pourcelles, respectively. 


We reached signpost #161 on Collet des Graus de Pons (1000 m). To view an old 3 m high borie, a stone hut, we had to descend a bit (about 50 m, signposted).


On both sides of the trail there were signs of ancient agricultural and pastoral activity here and there. It was an easy walk along beautiful and good trails.  However, the terrain is karstic and sturdy hiking shoes are recommended.


GR51 in forest near Cipières
GR51 in forest near Cipières
Nearing Collet des Graus de Pons
Nearing Collet des Graus de Pons
Cheiron massif seen from GR51
Cheiron massif seen from GR51
Collet des Graus de Pons
Collet des Graus de Pons
Large stone hut
Large stone hut

Climb: 300 m
Duration: 3 h
Distance: 7,7 km
Map: 3642 ET Vallée de l’Estéron

Collet des Graus de Pons hike track



Signpost#26 Cipières
Signpost#26 Cipières

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Duck breast with tarocco risotto

Duck breast with tarocco risotto

Tarocco oranges are the famous blood oranges from Sicily. Their soft flesh is almost seedless, juicy, and sweet and the colour varies from orange with some light pink to deep ruby red. Their sea on is fairly short; from winter to spring. 

In a French guidebook about Sicily, I happened to notice a local dish: risotto with tarocco and saffron. Because some sweet fruit goes very well with duck breast I got the inspiration for the following recipe. The combination was so delicious that this recipe is to be repeated whenever tarocco oranges are in season.

2 servings

1 duck breast, magret de canard

120 ml risotto rice

1 tarocco blood orange

Olive oil

1-2 shallots

1 clove garlic

150 ml white wine

1 dose saffron, in filaments

About 500 ml chicken stock

2 handfuls of grated Parmesan


Peel and chop the tarocco blood orange into fairly small chunks. Set aside, these will be added to the risotto when it is cooked at about the same time as the Parmesan. 


Cook the risotto the classic way. Add the saffron to the risotto early when you start adding wine and stock to the risotto. Saffron filaments need time to develop their distinctive flavour in warm liquid and to give a nice colour to the dish. Cooking risotto takes about 25 minutes.


Meanwhile cook the criss-crossed duck breast over medium heat 10 and 8 minutes per side starting with the skin side. Place the duck on carving board and slice.


Divide the duck and risotto on the plates. Serve with some greens, for example fried courgette slices or steamed broccoli.


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