Saint-Agnan-en-Vercors is a village in the Drôme department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, on the border of Isère.
The municipality with nearly 400 inhabitants is located about 60 km south-west of Grenoble and 35 km north of Die.
As its name suggests, Saint-Agnan-en-Vercors is in the heart of the natural region of Vercors and its Regional Natural Park. If the village is at 800 m altitude, on average mountain, the communal territory includes the station of the Col du Rousset (1250 m) and its geography is contrasted, between ridges, wooded hills and meadows.
Saint-Agnan-en-Vercors is one of the doors of the nature reserve of the Vercors highlands, a protected area of 17 000 hectares.
The contemporary history of the town was marked by the drama of July 27, 1944, when the hospital of the maquis of the Vercors, located at the level of the porch of the cave of Luire, was surrounded after the attack of the German army Against this stronghold of the Resistance. Some of the wounded and the medical team were shot, others deported.
For a long time exclusively agricultural, the activity of the village is now also dedicated to tourism, both in winter (ski) and in summer.
A stage or a stay in Saint-Agnan-en-Vercors can begin with the visit of the cave of the Luire, considered as the "greatest rise of water of the planet". This site unique in terms of hydrology is a spectacle in itself, but its discovery requires a good physical form (supervision provided by a caving instructor). Information and reservations at +33 4 75 48 25 83.
At the station of the Rousset pass, in summer, a chairlift allows access to orientation tables for exceptional points of view.
In the summer, the "drop bag" (for acrobatic jumps), mountain bike trails, equestrian trails or marked hiking trails are available (information on +33 4 75 48 22 54).
In winter, the resort offers 29 alpine ski runs (information: +33 4 75 48 24 64). A school is open to initiation (contact on +33 4 75 48 25 50).
Nordic skiing, Nordic walking or snowshoeing are also possible, as is tobogganing.
A true paradise for hikers, both the village and the resort offer many opportunities to explore the treasures of the Vercors nature reserve. One of the most accessible walks is to go to discover the chapel of Rousset, isolated in the boxwood forest. But other routes are proposed, to discover, between alpine pastures and forests, a part of the flora (738 species listed) and fauna (marmots, chamois, golden eagle, owl owl, not to mention ibex, griffon vultures or even Of the wolves that have been reintroduced). Information at +33 4 75 48 24 64.
In a different way, the Darbounouse karstic plain is an astonishing geological site which is also worth a look at the end of a hike however demanding.
Besides the regularly organized shows in season, every last weekend of July, the Vogue of Saint-Agnan-en-Vercors is a festival that offers ball trap, pétanque contest, ball, mechoui and fireworks intended for the inhabitants and of course of the holidaymakers.
In addition, from the beginning of May to mid-September, in the heart of the village, on Monday from 16:30 until evening, "le p'tit marché" brings together local producers and artisans. Dinner possible on site. Animations (tales, music).
