GTV by Moutain bike - Villard-de-Lans / La Chapelle-en-Vercors (stage 7)
Villard-de-Lans
7. GTV by Moutain bike - Villard-de-Lans / La Chapelle-en-Vercors (stage 7)
5h
44,5km
+0m
0m
Note: the times shown do not include rest stops and breaks. This time may vary according to each person's level of ability.
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This fairly long stage has a great atmosphere, and you can also see the wonderful transition in the landscapes and vegetation between the southern and northern parts of the Vercors. Here you pass from beautiful forests of fir and spruce with a handful of meadow crossings to a beech and box forest above Saint Martin en Vercors. It’s a wonderful, vast network of paths with enchanting views!
6 points of interest
Lycée climatique et sportif Jean Prévost - PNRV The climatic high school
The climatic and sports high school Jean Prévost, is not just a high school. It welcomes future top athletes in the "ski" disciplines; These young people coming from all the massifs, benefit from an arranged school.
Murgers (PNRV) - PNRV Les Murgers
The name would come from a Burgundian word. It is true that from Bourgogne to the Ardèche, the stones grow well in limestone fields! These piles of pebbles at the edge of the field are the result of the stoning patient, over time, realized by generations of obstinate peasants to gain arable land. Sometimes, they are mounted in low walls to delimit enclosures and plots.It is also a beautiful refuge for rampant wildlife in search of shelter.
Zecamp Zecamp
A few months ago, Marie Dorin-Habert, accompanied by her husband, Lois, and the cross-country skier, Robin Duvillard, set themselves an innovative and interesting project, called "Zecamp". Zecamp is an accommodation and restaurant structure at the departure point for the cross-country skiing, golf and Vercors high plateau reserve trails, open to the general public all year round. Created by high level sports people living in the Vercors, the formula is more suited to a sporty public, with healthy food, the provision of maps and GPS indications, a weight room, equipment storage and repair rooms and offers for Vercors activities. The "Zecamp Outdoor Activity Center" should open in Autumn 2018 in Corrençon-en-Vercors. see the video
Ruine d'Herbouilly - Focus outdoor Herbouilly Farm
The ruins of the Herbouilly farm are the vestige of history. In June 1944, the farm served as a command post for Jean Prevost (Captain Goderville). On 23 July 1944, the Germans attacked Valchevrière. Jean Prévost is his men must retreat and the farm is destroyed by the Germans.
M. Rocheblave Plaine of Herbouilly
Vast opening of more than 2km of length, the plain of Herbouilly is one of the rare meadows of mowing at this altitude (1300m). Numerous springs on its eastern ledge have allowed the installation of farms, of which one still sees the ruins. A blend of pre-woods, wetlands and dry lawns, it contains a large variety of flowers. Attention, some are protected at the national level. Their picking is strictly forbidden. The whole site is preserved by a prefectoral order of protection of biotope. So, rather than picking flowers, photograph them!
L'église de La Chapelle-en-Vercors - E. Charron The reconstruction of the village
The start of the hike takes you past the church. Its bell-tower (listed) of the twelfth century is one of the rare buildings that escaped the bombing and the fire of the village in July 1944. If the houses all have a similar architecture, it is because they were completely rebuilt from 1948 onwards. It is in temporary buildings (some of which are still visible at the exit of the village towards Vassieux) that the inhabitants lived for six years for some, in particular the very cold winters 1946 and 47.
Description
- After Villard-de-Lans, the route continues towards Corrençon-en-Vercors.
- It crosses the mystical forest of the Loubière with its impressive scialet de Malaterre (see sidebar) before heading towards the Belvédère de Château-Julien with its incredible views.
- A delightful descent on a fun trail takes you to the plain of Herbouilly—it’s a great ride and the views are wonderful too. This is where you change departments and come back to the Drôme.
- A picturesque, sometimes slippery, descent leads you to the pretty village of Saint-Martin-en-Vercors via the hamlet of Berthonnets.
- The route does not cross the village but does come close by, carrying on uphill towards Pas de l’Allier, passing through the hamlet of Briac and skirting the ridges of the Bournillon, where it’s blessed with dizzying views over the gorges of the Bourne and the cliffs of Presles.
- Pas de l’Allier, overlooking the gorges of Grands Goulets, marks the start of a splendid descent along a small track dotted with box trees and limestone rocks. It’s really fun to ride—but be careful: some unexpected surprises could land you in a box tree!
- From Bobache, climb back up along a mix of paths and tracks, sometimes in the forest, sometimes in inhabited areas, to the village of La Chapelle-en-Vercors. And it’s here that this extraordinary adventure, the Mountain bike Grand Tour du Vercors, comes to an end!
- Departure : Villard-de-Lans
- Arrival : La Chapelle-en-Vercors
- Towns crossed : Châtelus, Corrençon-en-Vercors, La Chapelle-en-Vercors, Saint-Julien-en-Vercors, Saint-Martin-en-Vercors, and Villard-de-Lans
Forecast
Sensitive areas
Along your trek, you will go through sensitive areas related to the presence of a specific species or environment. In these areas, an appropriate behaviour allows to contribute to their preservation. For detailed information, specific forms are accessible for each area.
Moucherolle summer pasture
Alpine pasture protected from June to October
- Impacted practices:
- ,
- Sensitivity periods:
- JunJulAugSepOct
- Contact:
Golden eagle
- Impacted practices:
- , ,
- Sensitivity periods:
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAug
- Contact:
- Impacted practices:
- ,
- Sensitivity periods:
- JanFebMayJunDec
- Contact:
- https://www.parc-du-vercors.fr/
Recommandations
You are crossing a Conservation Nature Area (ENS) with specific regulations to be respected (information panel at the entrance to the site).
You are in summer pastures, and may meet herd protection and guard dogs (patous). Always ensure that you go a long way round the animals, calmly so that the dog can identify you, do not pat or threaten them.
If you have a dog, make sure you keep it on a lead!
Use the installed passages to cross fences, close gates and barriers.
Stay on the marked trails and respect private property.
Remembering to close the gates properly also means thinking about the shepherds and their flocks.
You are in summer pastures, and may meet herd protection and guard dogs (patous). Always ensure that you go a long way round the animals, calmly so that the dog can identify you, do not pat or threaten them.
If you have a dog, make sure you keep it on a lead!
Use the installed passages to cross fences, close gates and barriers.
Stay on the marked trails and respect private property.
Remembering to close the gates properly also means thinking about the shepherds and their flocks.
Information desks
101 place Mure-Ravaud, 38250 Villard-de-Lans
Place Pietri, 26 420 La Chapelle-en-Vercors
Transport
By train : Grenoble train station
The OùRA multimodal route planner provides information about all the connections between regional trains, urban transport and departmental bus lines : https://www.oura.com/
By bus : With Regional coaches T65 or T64 for Lans-en-Vercors to Villard de Lans.
The OùRA multimodal route planner provides information about all the connections between regional trains, urban transport and departmental bus lines : https://www.oura.com/
By bus : With Regional coaches T65 or T64 for Lans-en-Vercors to Villard de Lans.
Access and parking
After the Voreppe motorway toll, take the Villard-de-Lans exit (RN 532); before the village of Sassenage, turn right towards the Vercors. At Lans-en-Vercors, follow the D 531 towards Villard-de-Lans.
From the south, after the Baume d'Hostun motorway toll booth, follow signs for Saint-Nazaire en Royans, then take the RD 531 towards Villard-de-Lans.
From the south, after the Baume d'Hostun motorway toll booth, follow signs for Saint-Nazaire en Royans, then take the RD 531 towards Villard-de-Lans.
Parking :
Car park in the village centre of Villard-de-Lans
More information
Report a problem or an error
If you have found an error on this page or if you have noticed any problems during your hike, please report them to us here: