The Trièves
The Trièves
The Trièves region forms a natural amphitheatre stretching from the Dévoluy to the Vercors, scattered with villages with typical tiled roofs, vales and plains mainly given over to agriculture.
Celebrated by writer Jean Giono, the flora, fauna and micro-climate in this region give visitors a foretaste of the Mediterranean.
The Col de l'Arzelier, the first stage of this tour, is dominated by the mountains known as the two sisters "Agathe and Sophie".
Take the road leading to the French "Dolomites" via St. Andéol and the Col des Deux.
Next you will come to Gresse en Vercors. The resort and the village lie at the foot of the cliffs; sheep are traditionally herded through here as they head for the summer pastures on the plateaux of the Vercors.
Now head via the Col de l'Allimas towards St. Michel les Portes, a picturesque village on the south-facing slopes of the Vercors.
Nestling at the foot of the mythical Mont Aiguille you will find the village of Chichilianne.
This is the starting point for numerous excursions around the Mont Aiguille, first conquered in 1492 marking the birth of mountaineering. Also worth a visit in Chichilianne is the Château de Passières, housing a magnificent collection of works by Edith Berger.
Now head for Clelles, with houses dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries and a Romanesque church, and then Lalley, known for its associations with Giono's friend Edith Berger.
Continue towards Tréminis, sheltered by the steep slopes of the Grand Ferrand where the Ebron has its source. This was "the end of the road" for Jean Giono, who based some of his works here.
Next stage: Mens.
This village is a bastion of protestantism in Dauphiné and has preserved its picturesque centre (market hall, houses with typical attic windows, fountains, etc.).
Visit the Café des Arts, decorated by Gustave Riquet in the Art Déco style.
Return to Grenoble via Monestier de Clermont with its old houses typical of a 19th-century spa. Before returning to the capital of the Alps, relax by the shores of Monteynard Lake (starting from Treffort, you may take a cruise on a boat named La Mira).
Worth seeing:
The Grand Veymont (2340 m), from Gresse en Vercors
The tour of the Mont Aiguille
The Pas de l'Aiguille, scene of fierce resistance fighting during World War II
Worth tasting:
Bouffette, sponge cake with a creamy filling
Ravioles du Trièves or "donkey's ears", pasta stuffed with potatoes, bacon and herbs.
Carré du Trièves, a cow's milk cheese
