3. From the Cabane de Châtillon to Châtillon-en-Diois

4 points of interest

• At the crossroads of several important trails, the Cabin de Pre Peyret is one of the most frequented of the massif. Located at the entrance of the high plateaus at 1600 m, this unguarded stone hut can accommodate 10 people for the night. It has a stove.The place exudes an old tradition of welcome because it is an old cabaret where those who were penniless went to drink at the Fountain of the Endettés, which bears his name well.

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• The Vulture Ball

  At the dawn of the 2000s, the Regional Natural Park of Vercors participated in an operation to reintroduce vultures fawn on the scale of the Pre-Alps. These birds had disappeared from our mountains in the 19th century. By relying on the population of the Grands Causses, the idea was to exchange (birds, and therefore genes) with the Pyrenean populations. A vast population occupies a space that goes from the Spanish Pyrenees to the Vercors, which the birds traverse freely (the observation of the banded birds proves it to us). The Col de Rousset and the circus of Archiane are two sites of rest and nesting for these great gliders (almost 3m of wingspan). They use the ascending currents along the cliffs to transit from one to the other. A large shadow on the ground, raise your head, a vulture passes over you ...

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• The Nature reserve of the Hauts-Plateaux of Vercors

  Unique by its size of 17,000 hectares, the Réserve des Hauts-Plateaux extends over 10% of the territory of the Regional Natural Park of Vercors. Today it is the largest terrestrial reserve in metropolitan France. Between 1050 m and 2341 m of altitude (with the Grand Veymont in climax), it undergoes very contrasted climatic influences, at the hinge between the northern and southern pre-Alps. The strong seasonal human presence has shaped it since prehistoric times. Pastoralism has been practiced there for over a thousand years.Now marked by an alternation of mountain pastures and forests, the Reserve has the largest forest of hooked pines in the limestone Alps and a rich flora of 738 species. Animal life is discreet but abundant.

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• Châtillon-en-Diois

  Nestled at the foot of the most southern cliffs of the Vercors, this medieval village has preserved from its past narrow streets called "rapes" and 17 fountains with stone basins on which climb the plants of the botanical village.Capital of canton along the river Le Bez, Châtillon-en-Diois offers all shops and services, a swimming pool and many festivities during the summer season. Its vineyard, one of the highest in France, produces red, white and rosé wines with an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée.

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