In the Vercors Regional Nature Park, the municipality of Vassieux-en-Vercors has an eventful history. This little mountain town in Drôme and the area around it witnessed confrontations between the Resistance and the Germany army during the Second World War. Indeed, Vercors was a bastion of the French Resistance and was one of the most important maquis in the free zone. But in the month of July 1944, German bombing destroyed Vassieux-en-Vercors, leading to the dispersion and inevitable death of the maquis members.
To learn more about this heroic and tragic story, head to the Departmental Museum of the Resistance in Vercors on Rue Fourna. With an exhibition area, testimonials and a rich collection of exhibits, step into the heart of the French Resistance. Inaugurated on 21 July 1994, the Resistance Memorial at the Col de la Chau pass is also a place of remembrance that pays tribute to all those who fought for freedom. Built on the edge of a cliff, it offers a direct view of the Vercors massif and the battlefield. It is also the starting point of a trail through the locations where fighting took place.
Another site devoted to the memory of the fighters is the necropolis of the Resistance in Vassieux-en-Vercors, located at the entrance to the village. It has 187 tombs, those of the maquis fighters and the civilians killed in summer 1944.
In 1970, a flint-cutting workshop was discovered in Vassieux-en-Vercors forest. Although it was abandoned by prehistoric man nearly 4,500 years ago, the workshop has remained intact. It is on this historic site that the Prehistory Museum was created. Archaeological excavations have unearthed bones, tools and minerals that you can discover on a fun and interactive visit.
For an original and colourful way to discover Provence, don't miss the wonderful exhibition of santons. At 15 rue de la Pouillette, Le Petit Monde des Santons tells the story of life in the past and the trades of yesteryear with a display of over 900 figurines!
Between the 15th and 19th centuries, several windmills were active in the municipality of Vassieux-en-Vercors. Two remain today, although they are in ruins, located near the hamlet of La Mure.
Vassieux-en-Vercors is a commune of the Drome, in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region, 30 km north of Die, on the borders of the department of Isere.
The vast territory of 48 km² is located in the middle of the mountains, between 1028 and 1654 m above sea level, in the Vercors massif.
The village developed on a limestone spur dominating a plain shaped plateau, dotted with caves and lined with rocky slopes.
The activity was for a long time essentially agricultural (breeding, exploitation of the wooded areas). It is now supplemented by a significant tourist offer related to the environment (hiking, Nordic skiing) and the duty to remember: in July 1944, the village and the Vercors maquisards who had built a landing site were victims of a violent German offensive that feared that allied troops could disembark in numbers. The Nazi forces invaded Vassieux and its surroundings by air (gliders) and by road. The record of the fighting that lasted several days and reprisals was terrible: 73 inhabitants and 91 resistant were massacred. As for the village itself, it was destroyed. Monuments and museums are dedicated to this dramatic page in the history of the town and the Vercors, important center of resistance during the last war.
This fully justifies a step in the locality which counts approximately 320 inhabitants.
In terms of heritage, a discovery of the town can begin with the visit of the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, rebuilt in 1955 on the plans of the architect Pierre Myassard: as the village in its almost totality, The former building was destroyed in July 1944. The choir is now facing west so that the entrance overlooks the town square. The style is neo-Romanesque and it is observed that to symbolize the sacrifice of the town, the stones and openings of the church evoke a cross of Lorraine above the Virgin.
On the hamlet of La Mure, we can also linger at the remains of two windmills dedicated to the flour mill but also woodworking, built in the seventeenth century. They must be the subject of a restoration campaign. The site counted up to eight. Nearby, a small chapel dedicated to Saint Mamert and Saint Edmond has been preserved. It has the particularity of having been built by the inhabitants of the hamlet themselves in the nineteenth century.
It is logical then, in this so painful locality, to devote some time to sites related to the "duty of memory".
This is the case of the Museum of Resistance, created in 1973 by former resistance Joseph La Picirella who wanted to transmit the memory of the maquis. The chronological presentation of the documents, photos and objects of civil and military life gave way to an updated museography, the museum having been renovated in 2010 after its purchase by the Department. The route proposed to the visitor now combines a renewed historical presentation, testimonials from the founder, an exhibition of the rich collection and interactive media. Temporary exhibitions are also hosted. Open daily from May to September, Tuesday to Sunday in April and October and Wednesday to Sunday from November to March. Closed December 24th, 25th and 31st, January 1st and the end of the Christmas holidays at the beginning of the February holidays. Entry: 2,50 and 4 euros. Information on +33 4 75 48 28 46.
The Memorial of the Resistance, on the site of the neck of La Chau, differs from the museum in the sense that it does not present "collections" but uses the image and the sound to recreate the atmosphere of the terrible years, to pay homage to the resistance fighters and to challenge the visitor to the very notion of "resistance" at all times. The Memorial was inaugurated in 1994 for the 50th anniversary of the Vercors fighting. His visit allows to better approach that of other places of memory of the town as of the whole region. Open Wednesday to Sunday. Entry: 5 and 6 euros. Information on +33 4 75 48 26 00.
Nearby, we can take refuge at the necropolis where are lined the graves of 187 maquisards and civilians dead in July 1944. The site includes a room of remembrance, and remains of gliders were also preserved.
In another area, the Museum of Prehistory was created in 1980 on the site of a flint cutting workshop dating from 4500 BCE, uncovered in 1970. Renovated in 2005 in a contemporary architectural style, the The establishment presents the fruits of three decades of excavations and its modern and interactive museum depicts the major stages of Prehistory in the Vercors. Open Wednesday to Sunday from April to June and September to November and every day in July and August. Entry: 6 euros. Contact at +33 4 75 48 52 45.
Finally, a last museum is devoted to the santons of Provence. More than 900 figurines are presented evoking different worlds, besides the traditional crib (the life of the village from yesterday to today, the farm, the craft industry...). Open every day during school holidays, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday in January, March, October, November and December and every day except Friday in May, June and September. Entry: 2.30 and 4.30 euros. Information on +33 4 75 48 28 37.
After this extensive cultural program, visitors and holidaymakers can enjoy a wide range of leisure activities and "nature" sports in a green environment.
In winter, the resort is specialized in cross-country skiing. 6 km of tracks are available, connected to the Vercors white route which has 40. Day pass: 9 euros.
Vassieux-en-Vercors also has the Raphaël-Poirée biathlon stadium (23.5 km of marked trails). Information on +33 4 75 48 24 64.
The French Ski School offers private or group lessons for Nordic skiing. Contact at +33 4 75 48 25 50.
On the resort, many hiking trails for snowshoeing, mountain biking on snow are also available, not to mention that the locality has also specialized in dog sled rides. All information at +33 4 75 48 22 54.
In summer, the hiking trails to walk, mountain biking or horseback are countless, dotted with pleasant views and sites to the protected ecosystem (especially when we take the path of the Frache). Maps and information on +33 4 75 48 22 54.
In good weather always, the tracks of the biathlon stadium are open to rollerbladers. Other circuits allow to learn the "cani-bike".
Finally, we will not forget to join the Vercors Regional Nature Park, whose commune is a member, which organizes all year round hiking and thematic activities on the theme of heritage and the environment. Contact at +33 4 76 94 38 26.
