The unmissable sights of the Vercors

Make the most of your stay at our charming hotel and discover the wonderful natural and architectural heritage of the Vercors. Start at the top by admiring the greatest peaks of the Vercors. There’s the Moucherotte, peaking at 1901 metres and home to such incredible creatures as chamois, mouflons, roe deer, black grouses and golden eagles. There’s also Mont Aiguille, named one of the seven wonders of the Dauphiné region with its large, flat mesa peak, and the Grand Veymont, the highest point of the Vercors Massif (2341 m) and which appears to be Mont Aiguille’s twin. Then head down to visit the numerous caves dotted around the area. The nearest to Villard de Lans is the Grotte de la Choranche. Open to the public nearly all year round, you can enjoy a guided tour around an hour in length where a guide tells you all about the geology, speleology and fauna in the cave, and leads you to the impressive “cathedral room”, where you can enjoy a show of light and sound. In Saint-Agnan-en-Vercors, the Grotte de la Luire takes you deep into the heart of the world’s largest temporary upwelling flow. There are three ways of visiting it – by lantern, where you have to make your candle before entering the cave; at night by torchlight; or taking the athletic option where you get an introduction to abseiling.

During your visits to these natural sites, take time to visit some of the lovely villages of the Vercors. In particular, take time to note the authentic atmosphere and sumptuous decor of Corrençon en Vercors or Lans en Vercors. Also take the time to swing by Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte, the highest village in the Northern Vercors, where you can enjoy an exceptional view from the large toposcope – see if you can spot the likes of Mont-Blanc, the Chartreuse Mountains and the Oisans. Then, head to Léoncel and admire its beautiful Cistercian abbey. Founded in 1137, it is still an active monastery and is freely open to the public. You can also admire another beautiful Cistercian abbey in Die – the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Valcroissant. Built in 1188 in a grandiose and isolated site, it now belongs to a private family and provides guided tours for visitors.