Vercors Overview

An Overview of the Vercors

The Vercors National Park is a limestone plateaux some 50 miles (N/S)

by about 35 miles (E/W) and is located just south of Grenoble in the French

Alps. The main towns and villages are situated about 1000m ASL, whilst

the dramatic, unbroken east ridge peaks at 2341m ASL at the

Grand Veymont. Politically and commercially, the National Park is two

distinct areas separated by the Bourne Gorge. Whilst no where in the Vercors

can be considered overtly touristic, the north is more commercial and does

cater more for the tourist trade, mainly due to the importance of

Villard-de-Lans, Correncon , Meaudre and Autrans as major skiing resorts.

The countryside is also more dramatic than the south, with the magnificent

Grand Moucherolle (second highest peak in the Vercors) dominating the

skyline from just about anywhere. Whilst all towns and villages in the park have

their own local shopping, the only supermarket within the park is located in the

north (the Intermarche at Lans-en-Vercors which also has the cheapest fuel,

next door to Le Bricolage, the only DIY shed in the park, and really worth

wandering around).

In contrast, the southern Vercors is more rural, with villages catering more

for the local communities than tourists (so prices will be cheaper). The gentle

river valley of the Vernaison, contains the main villages of La Chapelle and

St Agnan, with La Chapelle being the main village in the south.

Most activities will also be primarily situated in either the north or south of the

park, so to cut down on driving (it can take an hour to drive from La Chapelle

to Villard for example - it's not the distance, but the nature of the roads!) it is

best to decide up front, whether you will base your stay in the north or the

south.

Getting There:

The most direct route is the motorway, which now starts at Calais docks.

A26 to St Quentin, Reims, Troyes. A5 to Langres. A31 to Dijon. A6 to

Lyon payage. Then immediately after the Lyon payage follow signs to Grenoble

and eventually the A48 (to Grenoble). For the north of the Vercors, leave the

motorway at the Grenoble payage and follow signs for Sassenage and

Villard-de-Lans (N532 and D531. For the south Vercors, take the A49

(direction Valence) before the Grenoble payage to Junction 9 (St. Romans and

Pont-en-Royans). Follow directions to Pont-en-Royans and then take the

D518 to La Chapelle-en-Vercors via the new tunnel at the head of the Grands

Goulets (about 40 minutes from Junction 9)

Maps:

The following three French IGN 1:25000 maps should suffice for a first visit:

3236 OT Villard-de-Lans

3136 ET Combe Laval

3235 OT Autrans

They are available mail order from Stanfords in London

Accommodation:

Nearly all villages have camp sites and gites and the local Tourist Information

office can provide details (main offices are in Villard-de-Lans and La Chapelle).

Generally prices will be cheaper in the south than in the north. From experience,

the best camp site in the south is Les Myrtille, just outside of La Chapelle,

which is a sheltered site with good facilities, a small snack bar and a free pool

(when the weather permits). La Chapelle is a good centre with a useful selection

of shops (including a good book shop for guide books) good bars, good food

shops and a sun trap swimming pool).

In the north, a popular camp site for visiting Brit cavers is l’Oursiere at Villard,

which is within easy walking of the shops and bars of Villard-de-Lans.

There are many gites in the Vercors and you should refer to the respective

Office of Tourism web sites for details.

SITE SEEING:

SHOW CAVES: (All French show caves give a "reduction pour le speleo").

The Choranche (in the Bourne Gorge) is one of the finest show caves you will

ever see. The Luirre, is interesting if you understand the hydrology of the

Vercors – it resurerges at the Bournillion. Draye Blanche is exceptionally and

surprisingly beautiful. Not quite a show cave, but an interesting afternoons

walk which you could combine with a visit to the Choranche show cave is the

Bournillion – the largest cave entrance in Europe. Continue down valley

(towards Pont) from the Choranche turning, and take the first turning on the left

(very sharp turn). Follow this narrow road (care) down into the valley, drive

through the water works, turn right and park in the lay bye on the left near the

Big Green Pipe. Then just follow the footpath that goes under the pipe.

On route to the cave entrance, you will have a superb view of the Moulin

Marquis waterfall, and canyon.

GORGES: You will not be able to avoid the Bourne Gorge and the Grand

Goulets (now sadly not so dramatic since the completion of the by-pass tunnel),

but an interesting car journey (if you are going to Expe) is to come

back via St. Gervais (north of Pont en Royans) and drive up past the Canyon

Ecouge – it’s a grade 5! And if you have a rainy day, why not drive down to

Die (famous for it’s market on Wednesday mornings) via the incredible

Col du Rousset. (If you park at the Rousset ski station, you can take the chair

lift up on to the Mountain du Beure where there are some fine views and a

table de Orientation.

THE RESISTANCE: Due to the fortress like nature of the Vercors, the local

Resistance, during WWII (March 1941 - August 1944), were able to defend

the Vercors for a long time. It was only after a massive parachute assault by the

Germans, that the Vercors finally fell. Because of the resistance put up by the

French, the Germans then proceeded to mercilessly bomb the place. They also

mercilessly butchered and tortured as many of the Resistance and their families

that they could find. Many of the Vercors roads pass through gorges and

cuttings. These places were "held" by the Resistance, and, by looking carefully,

plaques can be found, in memory of the men who were killed at their post. And

not only on roadsides. At several mountain passes, at a high level on many of

the ridges, again, plaques can be found.

A visit to the Musee de Resistance in the village of Vassieux can be a strange

experience. Even on a beautiful, hot, summer day, having been around the

museum, looking at the very graphic photos and displays, once outside, in the

sun, the whole place takes on a cold, sinister atmosphere. There is now a new

museum on the pass above Vassieux, which is an equally moving experience.

A visit to Valchevriere, (on the Herbouilly road between St Martin and

Villard-de-Lans) a village bombed by the Germans, is another strange

experience. The village was not rebuilt, it is still in ruins. Only the church has

been restored. If you look very carefully, you'll still see signs that people lived

And worked there.

WARNING:

The Vercors National Park is an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Unfortunately, that means nothing to opportunist car thieves. Whilst not as

prevalent as other areas of Europe, stealing from cars is on the increase.

Prime areas for increased awareness (although not confined to) are those

remote places where cars are left unattended whilst their owners are

walking or caving, such as the Herbouilly Plateau, parking areas in the

Bourne Gorge, the parking area at la Coche (for the Grand Veymont) and

the Montagne de Beure car park behind Rousset. Most thieves seem only

interested in money rather than equipment. The best way of avoiding a

break in is to

LEAVE NOTHING IN YOUR CAR

Scialet de la Jarjatte