Page 150 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - France

148 BACK ROADS FRANCE

Right La Maison du Patrimoine on Place de la
Libération, Villard-de-Lans Below Dramatic
cliffs of the Gorges de la Bourne

WHERE TO STAY
VILLARDDELANS
La Taiga moderate
This ten-bedroom forest chalet is loved
by families for its per sonal welcome,
attentive owners, Alpine pano ramas,
comfortable rooms and home
cooking. From Villard-de-Lans take the
Route de la Baumette in and turn left
into the Rue des Jeux Olympiques.
150 rue des Jeux Olympiques, La
Balmette, 38250; 04 76 95 15 40; www.
lataiga.com
1 Villard-de-Lans and warning signs make no bones
AROUND VILLARDDELANS
Isère, Rhône-Alpes; 38250 about the dangers of rockfalls.
Col de l’Arc Hôtel-Restaurant An epitome of the French Alpine Gushing down from the 2,000-m
inexpensive
This 2-star hotel, 9 km (6 miles) north village with its geranium-decorated (6,500-ft) summits of the Vercors,
of Villard-de-Lans, has ski slopes on its chalets and lively mountain hamlet the river has carved out a 20-km
doorstep. There are 25 cosy rooms ambi ence, Villard-de-Lans is the capi- (12-mile) long corridor through the
with balconies. The hotel has its own tal of the Parc du Vercors. Tourism pre-Alps from Villard-de-Lans down
library, bar and restaurant. boomed in the 1920s when the to Pont-en-Royans. At the eerily
Lans-en-Vercors, 38250; 04 76 95 40 08;
www.hotelcoldelarc.com Grenoble bour geoisie discovered the named bridge, Pont de la Goule Noir
health bene fits of its climate. Take a (Black Ghoul), the road forks along
Hôtel du Golf expensive draught-horseride around its moun- both sides of the chasm. There are
Five kilometres (3 miles) from Villard-
de-Lans, Hôtel du Golf was once a tain ous streets or stroll between lovely several spectacular viewing points
simple mountain bistro. It has now café-crowded squares; explore local over the ravine, but the bridge is the
been converted into a contem porary history at La Maison du Patrimoine easiest and most secure place to get
chalet hotel with a warm local stone, (Mon–Sat pm only and Sun Jul–Aug, Fri– out and take in the views.
wood and leather interior. The floor-to- Sat Apr–Jun and Sep–Dec) on Place de la ª At the fork near the Pont de la
ceiling windows in the restau rant look
over the Vercors landscape. The spa Libération; at Place de l’Ours see the Goule Noir, turn left, pass through
has a sauna and Jacuzzi. Take the statue of the emblematic bear last the tunnel and continue on the
Route de la Baumette south of Villard- seen in the Alps in the Vercors Park in D103. Continue along the D103 to
de-Lans; continue on the Route du 1937. On certain Fridays there is a reach Saint-Martin- en-Vercors; some
Corrençon to Corrençon-en-Vercors. farmers’ market, the marché paysan.
Le Bois Fleuri, Corrençon-en-Vercors, of the bends around the gorges are
38250; 04 76 95 84 84; www.hotel-du- ª Take the D531 towards the Gorges very sharp.
golf-vercors.fr de la Bourne.
3 Saint-Martin-en-Vercors
Flora and Fauna Drôme, Rhône-Alpes; 26420
The Rhône-Alps has the greatest In a long valley at the heart of the
biodiversity in France. The Vercors is Parc du Vercors, the little village of
home to a wide range of wildlife Saint-Martin-en-Vercors is set within
such as deer, wolves, chamois, lynx, an overwhelmingly grand Alpine
marmot, ibex, vultures, falcons and landscape. The valley is rimmed all
robins. The wide range of climate the way along by the ridges of the
and terrain has allowed various Vercors, like a huge rocky wall mural,
kinds of flowers to flourish, includ-
its lower parts coloured by crops,
ing crocus, mountain lilies, violets, and the tractors and cows in the
delphiniums and carnations.
fields reduced to dots against the
surround ings. Sit at a café under the
2 Gorges de la Bourne 400-year-old lime tree on the Place
Drôme, Rhône-Alpes; 26420 du Village of Saint-Martin, try some
The thrilling drive along the edge of morel-filled ravioles, the Drôme ver-
the Alpine gorges of the Bourne river sion of ravioli, and take in the stun-
can be hair-raising: parts of the road ning views. Gazing at the sun set,
are virtually enveloped by the cliff- visitors might see the Vierge du
face and the large containing nets Vercors – an optical illusion of a
Where to Stay: inexpensive, under €70; moderate, €70–€150; expensive, over €150