At the heart of a remarkable natural environment (Natura 2000), the Barles slate quarries bear witness to a special geological situation, unique in the Haute-Provence Geopark territory.
From the end of the 19th to the middle of the 20th century, local residents came here to extract “lauzes” to cover their houses. These “lauzes” replaced thatch, before being replaced by sheet metal. They were extracted from Triassic argillites (around 250 million years old), their thin sheets due to the high pressures experienced during the formation of the Alps. The hut has been reconstructed with the original materials as close as possible to its original state. Some of the roofs that have preserved these lauzes can still be found in Barles (Chapelle Saint-Pierre in particular), Verdaches and Auzet.
The biodiversity of the area is rich. Among the most emblematic species, forest bats hide in the beech and Scots pine trees.
From the slate quarry, a spectacular view looks north towards the pastoral mountains of Barles and Auzet.
