Parc naturel régional du Vercors

Les incontournables du Parc naturel régional du Vercors

Parc naturel régional du Vercors Essentials

The Parc naturel régional du Vercors is defined by its dramatic limestone landscape, characterized by sheer cliffs, deep gorges, and expansive plateaus. This list features the engineering marvel of the Combe Laval balcony road and the prehistoric depths of the Choranche and Gouffre Berger caves. Cultural highlights include the 17th-century Château de Sassenage and the medieval ruins of Rochechinard. High-altitude mountain passes like Col de Menée and Col de la Machine provide essential links through this rugged terrain, while historic churches and cathedrals reflect the region's long-standing human heritage.

Parc naturel régional du Vercors Essentials — Carte

A

Col de la Machine

A mountain pass at 1,011 meters elevation serving as the gateway to the Combe Laval balcony road. It offers panoramic views over the karst landscape of the Royans region.

B

Combe laval

A historic 4-kilometer balcony road carved directly into limestone cliffs. Built in the late 19th century, it features a series of tunnels and sheer drops overlooking the Cholet valley.

David Monniaux / CC-BY-SA-3.0

C

Choranche cave

The cave of Choranche, also called cave of Coufin-Chevaline, is located in the department of Isère, near Choranche in the Vercors Regional…

Alexandre Debelle / Public domain

D

Château de Rochechinard

Ruins of a 15th-century fortress perched on a rocky spur. The site historically guarded the western foothills of the Vercors and now houses a local history museum.

Milky / CC BY-SA 4.0

E

Champollion Museum

The Champollion Museum is a French historical museum located in Vif in the family home of the Champollion brothers.

F

Die Cathedral

Die Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church located in Die, Drôme, France. The former cathedral is a national monument.

Mu / CC BY-SA 3.0

G

Château de Sassenage

A 17th-century classical chateau featuring original period furnishings, a grand staircase, and landscaped gardens. It served as the ancestral home of the Bérenger-Sassenage family.

Dave Bunnell / CC BY-SA 2.5

H

Gouffre Berger Cave

The Gouffre Berger is a cave in the French alps within the commune of Engins high on the Vercors Plateau.

Morburre / CC BY-SA 3.0

I

Col de Grimone

A mountain pass at 1,318 meters connecting the Bès and Bochaine valleys. It serves as a scenic transit point between the Diois and Trièves regions.

J

Col de Menée

A 1,457-meter pass featuring a tunnel that links the Drôme and Isère departments. It marks a geographic transition between the northern and southern Alps.

K

Col des Limouches

A road pass at 1,086 meters elevation on the western edge of the Vercors massif, linking the Rhône valley with the high limestone plateaus.

L

Château de la Sône

A 14th-century fortified castle overlooking the Isère river. The structure features architecture from various periods and is surrounded by notable terraced gardens.

M

Église Saint-Barthélemy

A Catholic church in Lans-en-Vercors known for its 16th-century bell tower. The building is a significant example of the region's religious architectural heritage.