A real natural citadel made of limestone, the Vercors Regional Nature Park, straddling the departments of Drôme and Isère, covers 206,208 hectares and culminates in the Grand Veymont, at an altitude of 2,341 metres. Created in 1970, it consists of 8 natural regions, which are the Vercors Drômois, Diois, Gervanne, Royans-Drôme, Quatre-Montagnes, Trièves, Royans-Isère and Piémont Nord. Rich in natural treasures, the Vercors Park stands out thanks to its diverse, wild and stunning landscapes. Tall limestone cliffs, deep gorges, chasms and caves, high plateaus, green valleys, mountain pastures and forests reflect an exceptional heritage.
Moreover, some impressive tourist routes run through it, like those of the Combe Laval and the Col de Rousset in Drôme, or the Bourne Gorges and the Écouges Canyon in Isère, which offer breathtaking views!
The great biodiversity of the Vercors Regional Nature Park makes it an exceptional territory, particularly rich in fauna and flora. Many animal species live there including 135 nesting bird species, 65 mammal species and 17 reptile and amphibian species. Mammals include large ungulates like the chamois, mouflon, deer, boar and Alpine ibex. When it comes to flora, the territory has 85 protected plant species and 75 orchid species. The Park also contains the biggest reserve of land in mainland France, the Hauts Plateaux, a truly unspoilt area since there are no roads or villages there.
To admire and make the most of this extraordinary countryside, the Vercors Regional Nature Park offers a wide range of activities. On sunny days, explore the paths on foot or by mountain bike. Thrill-seekers can opt for climbing, canyoning, caving or paragliding. In winter, the ski resorts such as Villard-de-Lans - Corrençon-en-Vercors and Lans-en-Vercors welcome you to go skiing down the many snowy slopes or enjoy lots of other winter pursuits.
Lastly, you can't talk about the Vercors massif without mentioning its significant historical past. This mountainous territory was indeed a bastion of the Resistance during the Second World War and was one of the most important maquis in France. Yet this heroic movement came to a tragic end in July 1944 when the Germans launched a powerful attack on the Vercors. A number of remembrance sites, like the Memorial of the Resistance in Vercors at the Col de la Chau pass, the Museum of the Resistance in Vassieux-en-Vercors and La Cour des Fusillés at La Chapelle-en-Vercors, welcome visitors to help them understand and never forget this dark period of history.
