Vercors Attractions 
The Vercors, in the Dauphiné, is a range of forest-covered hills between the Rhône valley and the Route d'Hiver des Alpes rising to 2,346m/7,697ft in the Grand Veymont and broken up by deeply indented valleys and gorges. Since 1970 it has been part of a Regional Nature Park which also takes in the surrounding districts of Royans, Diois and Trièves. Between 1942 and 1944 the Vercors was a stronghold of the French Resistance, and during the fighting the villages of St-Nizier, Vassieux and La Chapelle were destroyed.
In 1968 some events in the Winter Olympics were staged in the Vercors (Autrans, St-Nizier, Villard- de-Lans).
There are numerous paths and trails allowing visitors to explore the Vercors either on foot or on horseback. In winter there are excellent facilities for winter sports.
In 1968 some events in the Winter Olympics were staged in the Vercors (Autrans, St-Nizier, Villard- de-Lans).
There are numerous paths and trails allowing visitors to explore the Vercors either on foot or on horseback. In winter there are excellent facilities for winter sports.
Combe Laval
Through the Combe Laval runs a mountain road constructed in 1897, originally for the transport of timber from the Forêt de Lente to St-Jean-en-Royans. The finest stretch of the road begins at the wooded Col de la Machine on the way down to St-Jean, affording magnificent aerial views of the country below.
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St Nizier du Moucherotte, France
St Nizier du Moucherotte (pop. 575), a popular resort all the year round, lies under Le Moucherotte (1,901 m/6,237ft; lift). From the village there are fine views of the mountains and Grenoble, and even more magnificent views are obtained from the summit. The church dates from the 12th C., and the cemetery contains the graves of those who fell in the Resistance.
La Chapelle-en-Vercors - Draye Blanche Cave, France
Draye Blanche Cave was opened to the public in 1970 and is used both as a tourist site and a research dig. It contains thousands of stalactites, stalagmites, pillars and colorful flowstones. During renovations in 1990, workers discovered a paleontologic site, in which over 10,000 bones from more than 50 species have been found so far. Research on the site continues today.
Hours
May 20 to October 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Leoncel, France
Léoncel has a Romanesque church, all that remains of a Cistercian abbey founded in 1137, which contains a wooden figure of Christ carved by a local sculptor in 1860.
Saint-Agnan-en-Vercors - Luire Grotto, France
The grotto was discovered in 1896. During WWII, French Resistance Fighters used the 17-kilometer long cave for refuge and as a hospital. Later, in 1953, the cave was opened to the public. One of the rooms in the cave is named after the man who discovered it, Oscar Decombas, and is 50,000 cubic meters. The cavity was formed by floods, and the cave still swells up with water after heavy rain.
A part of the cave is closed to the public and is used by speleologists studying hydrological phenomena.
A part of the cave is closed to the public and is used by speleologists studying hydrological phenomena.
Hours
April 1 to April 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Open | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
May 1 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Open | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
St Jean en Royans
St Jean en Royans is one of the best places - the other good center being Villard de Lans - from which to explore the Vercors.
Vassieux-en-Vercors, France
Vassieux-en-Vercors was completely destroyed in 1944 but was rebuilt after the war. Those who fell during the Second World War are commemorated by a memorial, the National Cemetery of the Vercors and a museum.
Villard-de-Lans, France
Villard de Lans (alt. 1,043m/3,422ft.; pop. 3,500), 30km/20mi from Grenoble in a wide expanse of Alpine meadows, is both a summer holiday resort and a winter sports center. There is a cabin cableway to Côte 2,000 (i.e. an altitude of 2,000m/6,560ft), where there are magnificent views and good skiing.
8km/5mi southwest of Villard de Lans, approached by a modern Way of the Cross, is the Calvary of Valchevrière, a memorial to the fallen and to the destruction of this village in July 1944.
8km/5mi southwest of Villard de Lans, approached by a modern Way of the Cross, is the Calvary of Valchevrière, a memorial to the fallen and to the destruction of this village in July 1944.
