Massif des Trois-Évêchés (; ; ) is a mountain range in the Provence Alps and Prealps in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France. Its name comes from the central summit of the massif, the Pic des Trois-Évêchés (so named because it marked the boundary between the dioceses of Digne, Embrun and Senez) where there are ridges to the north, west and south. The highest peak is the Tête de l'Estrop, at .
Geography The massif in the broadest sense extends from north to south between the Bes to the west, the Ubaye in the north, the Verdon to the east and the Asse (approximately) to the south. It is also crossed by the Bléone and the Vallon du Laverq.
It is surrounded to the north by the Massif du Parpaillon, east by the Massif du Pelat, south-east by the Préalpes de Castellane and finally to the south and to the west by the Préalpes de Digne (which some southern peaks, or even the whole massif, are sometimes attached, although significantly higher altitudes, and different orientation).
Main summits
Tête de l'Estrop, , the highest point of the massif Grande Séolane, Petite Séolane, Trois-Évêchés, Tête de Chabrière, Roche Close, Sommet du Caduc, Mourre-Gros, Montagne de la Blanche, : Bernardez, Neillère, l'Aiguillette Les Mées, Tête de la Sestrière, Tête Noire, Sangraure, Dormillouse, Sommet du Tromas, Autapie, Sommet de Denjuan, Gros Tapy, Grand Croix, Montagne du Cheval Blanc,
The Montagne de Cordœil, of a more modest size and elevation [], is completely isolated from the rest of the massif, the Verdon to the east and the Issole to the north and west.
Geology The massif of the Trois-Évêchés consists of sedimentary rock, mostly sandstones and marls, typical of the pre-Alps. The geological nature of the north of the massif relates to the Ubaye Valley.
Aircraft crash On 24 March 2015, Andreas Lubitz, co-pilot of Germanwings Flight 9525, who was reported to have had mental health problems, deliberately crashed the plane into the massif, after he locked the Captain out of the cockpit.
Activities
Winter sports Val d'Allos Pra-Loup Saint-Jean-Montclar
Canyoning The massif contains, amongst others, two canyoning descents of high and exceptional level: Male Vasudevan and Bussing.
See also Geography of the Western Alps
Bibliography
References
External links