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Situated at the south-western
edge of the Alps, the Diois is an area of geographical transition,
where you can breathe pure Alpine air under a Provencal sun. It
is a land of contrasts, between the precipitous cliffs of
the imposing Glandasse mountain, the lush meadows of the lower slopes
and the colourful fields of lavender, sunflowers, aromatic plants
and vines.
Because the Diois is so varied,
the selection of hiking areas we suggest below has been divided
into sections, each representing a different aspect of the Diois
and thus a different kind of walk.
You can also click on the links below for more detailed walking
itineraries.
Under each section heading is a list of detailed guides
for many more marked routes in each area.
These guides can be bought at the local tourist office, which is
always clearly signposted and easy to find, in the towns / villages
mentioned.
Although they are mostly in French, many of them also contain English
translations.
Even where there are no translations, the guides are often quite
clear and when used in conjunction with IGN maps (Institute Geographic
National) can provide a useful overall outline of a walk. The IGN
maps are readily available in many shops, the tourist office and
even the supermarket in Die. They are extremely useful for walkers
and hikers, and it is highly recommended to take one with you when
you are venturing out. The recommended walks and hikes are well
marked, but it is always practical to take a detailed map, especially
on the vast Glandasse plateau, where it is possible to get lost.
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A
note
for walkers hikers
and animal watchers
If your route takes you
into the Réserve
des Hauts Plateaux, the nature sanctuary
within the Vercors Regional Natural Park,
do not be tempted to take your dog with you (even on a lead), to
disturb any wildlife
you come across,
or to collect wildflowers.
Other rules forbid fires, littering and mountain bikes on all except
one trail.
The park rangers are vigilant and they carry binoculars,
so even if you don’t see them, they may well see you.
They are friendly and helpful, but they are also very serious about
preventing the wildlife from being disturbed,
and breaking the rules
can result in hefty fines.
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| Die and Châtillon-en-Diois |
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| Bordering the south of the region of
the Vercors, Die and the quaint village of Chatillon-en-Dios are dominated
by the impressive cliffs of Glandasse
mountain, an iconic image of the area. On the massive plateau
atop Glandasse, nearly 1,500 meters above the valley, is the Réserve
des Hauts Plateaux, the largest nature reserve in France, which makes
up part of the Vercors Regional Natural Park. There are several major
routes up the mountain, such as that which starts from the Cirque
d’Archiane, the Vallon (small valley) de
Combeau, or from the ancient Cistercian Valcroissant
Abbey.
And there are many wonderful walks and places to
discover in the valley itself,
routes that will provide lovely views of nature, charming villages,
and the vineyards that produce the grapes for local wines Clairette
de Die and Vin de Chatillon. For a panoramic view of Die, a hike
up to the Croix de Justin,
which makes up the opposite side of the valley from Glandasse, is
well worth the effort.
The following guides detailing a large number of
walks and hikes in the area are available in the local tourist office:
- "Promenades et randonnées en
Vercors Diois - Carte au 1/33000
+ 20 itinéraires commentés” (Walks and Hikes
in Vercors / Diois – 1/33000 map & accompanying notes)
– Price: 7 €
- “16 circuits pédestres balisés
autour de Châtillon-en-Diois
: (23 Marked Walking Routes Near Chatillon-en-Diois) – Price:
5 €
- IGN Top 25 map number 3237OT “Glandasse-Col
de la Croix haute,” 1/25000
map with footpaths marked.
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| Lus la Croix Haute |
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 To
the west, towards Lus la Croix Haute, the Diois borders the Dévoluy
massif, where the highest summit of the Drome region is to be found,
the Rocher Rond, or Round
Rock, at 2,456 meters.
This little pocket of the Drome, right on its very edge, contains
one of its jewels, the Vallon (small
valley) de la Jarjatte,
which is the starting point of several Alpine hikes.
There is also a small ski station at Jarjatte, a via ferrata and
things to do for all the family.
The following guides detailing a large number of
walks and hikes in the area are available in the local tourist office:
- “Topo de randonnée pédestre
: boucles balisées entre 4,5 et 13,5 km, de 2h à
5h” (Hiking Trails Guide : circuits between 4.5 and 13.5
kilometers and from 2 hours 5 hours) – Price: 5 €
- IGN Top 25 map number 3237OT “Glandasse-Col
de la Croix haute,”
1/25000 map with footpaths marked.
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| Luc-en-Diois, Valdrôme and La Motte Chalancon
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The upper Drome valley has a strong Provencal flavour, of wild thyme
and lavender, sheep and goat cheese.
The rolling mountains are beautiful in every direction and the countryside
reflects centuries of farming.
There are now fewer than five human inhabitants per square kilometer
here, but there is still a lot to see.
The source of the Drome River
is close to the massive rock jumble of Le
Claps, which dates back to 1442, when part of the mountian
Pic de Luc crumbled and the huge rocks tumbled down to the river.
Today, it resembles a long-abandoned giants’ playground, where
the clear waters of the Drome pool between the rocks.
The following guides detailing a large number of
walks and hikes in the area are available in the local tourist office
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- “Sentiers pédestres autour de
Luc-en-Diois : 8 boucles , de
1h30 à 5h” (8 Footpaths Near Luc-en-Diois: circuits
from 1 hour & 30 minutes to 5 hours) – Price: 2 €
- “Circuits de randonnée autour
de Lesches-en-Diois : 7 boucles
entre 4,5 et 13 km, de 1h30 à 5h30” (Hiking Paths
Near Lesches-en-Diois: circuits between 4.5 and 13 kilometers
and from 1 hour & 30 minutes to 5 hours & 30 minutes)
– Price: 3 €
- “Randonnées Patrimoine dans
la Vallée de l’Oule
(La Motte Chalancon) : 11 boucles entre 1 et 15,2 km, de 1h à
5h” (Heritage Walks in the Oule Valley – La Motte
Chalancon : 11circuits between 1 and 15.2 kilometers and from
1 hour to 5 hours) – Price: 5 € (possibility
to buy only one circuit for 0.5 €)
- "Circuits géologiques autour
de La Motte Chalancon "quant
la Terre montre l'Os" : 2 circuits, 21 sites - (Geological
hiking paths around La Motte Chalancon : 2 circuits, 21 sites)
- Price : 3 €
- “Valdrôme,
circuits de randonnées : 16 boucles de 2h30 à 5h30”
(Valdrôme Hiking Paths: 16 circuits of 2 hours & 30
minutes to 5 hours & 30 minutes) – Price: 4 €
- “Sur les traces de la lavande dans
le Haut-Diois - parcours de 2h
à 4h autour de Valdrôme, au milieu des champs de
lavande” (On the Lavender Trail in the Haute Diois: circuits
of 2 to 4 hours Near Valdrome, among the lavender fields) –
Price: 4 €
- IGN Top 25 map number 3238OT “Luc-en-Diois-Valdrôme-Col
de Cabre,” 1/25000 map with
footpaths marked.
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Saillans and the Roanne Valley
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All the way from the Rhone Valley in the west, one can easily make
out the stunning three peaks of Les
Trois Becs, so named because the three peaks of the mountain
resemble three beaks rising up into the sky.
The impressive cliffs of the Trois Becs, which rise to 1,500 meters,
tower over the forest of Saoû
and look down on the village of Saillans, the River Drome and the
Clairette vineyards below.
And at the foot of the Trois Becs mountain runs the pretty Roanne
Valley and the River Roanne, which empties into the Drome,
winding through a cool canyon. On the road from Die in the direction
of Valence, turn onto the road towards Saint-Nazaire-le-Desert,
which follows the valley, taking in several tiny villages perched
on the hillsides along the way. From here, there are many lovely
hikes, up to the summit of Servelle,
the mountian of Couspeau,
or along the Praloubeau
peaks.
From 2008 a new five day itinerary is being offered
in the area by Randonnées Retrouvance®). Ask at the tourist
office for more details.
The following guides detailing a large number of
walks and hikes in the area are available in the local tourist office
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- “Circuits pédestres du pays
de Saillans : 17 boucles entre
9,5 et 23,4 km, de 3h à 7h” (Footpaths in the Saillans
area: 17 circuits between 9.5 and 23.4 kilometers and from 3 hours
to 7 hours) – Price: 5 €
- “Randonnées pédestres
dans la vallée de la Roanne
: 25 boucles entre 3 et 19 km, de 1h30 à 6h30” (Footpaths
in the Roanne Valley : 25 circuits between 3 and 19 kilometers
and from 1 hour & 30 minutes to 6 hours & 30 minutes)
– Price: 0.3 € for each hike.
- IGN Top 25 maps, numbers 3137OT “Die-Crest,”
and 3138OT “Dieulefit-St Nazaire
le Désert-Forêt de Saou,” 1/25000 maps
with footpaths marked.
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And for those who wants
walks ideas for all the Diois ...
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- Little book « Itinéraires
de randonnées dans la Drôme - Diois 1 »: 20
boucles dans le Diois entre 3,6 et 17,6 km, de 1h à 6h
de marche ((Footpaths in the Drôme - Diois 1 : 20 circuits
between 3.6 and 17.6 kilometers and from 1 hour to 6 hours) -
Price: 5 €
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| And for Children… |
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Children have not been forgotten in
the planning of walks in the Diois. A range of “Discovery Paths
for children” has been especially designed for young walkers.
Click on the link to see more
(website in french).
(So far, unfortunately, they are only available in French.)
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