59,00 Km
4 h 00 min
Difficult
59,00 km cycling route from Herbouilly to Die
A stage entirely located in the Vercors Regional Nature Park. In the first part, we relied heavily on local resources to avoid the busy departmental roads.
From the Auberge-Refuge de Roybon, in Herbouilly, descend to the hamlet of Tourtre on a fairly technical forest track, then join La-Chapelle-en-Vercors on pleasant forest paths (2 or 3 pushes in the sand pits in case of rain), some of which are used by sled dogs in winter. From La-Chapelle-en-Vercors, continue to Vassieux-en-Vercors via the hamlet of Fouletier. From the village center, head towards the Col de Rousset, passing the Château-Loup gîte and the Raphaël Poirée biathlon stadium.
Cross the Col de St-Alexis (1222 m) to reach the Col de Rousset (1245 m). The 769 m-long Rousset tunnel requires a little lighting.
The Col de Rousset (1245 m) is a beautiful descent into the Diois region. When you switch to the Die side, the contrast is striking. You come across your first lavender fields, a foretaste of Provence. A final steep climb past Chamaloc to the Col de Romeyer before dropping down to the Diois capital.
From the Auberge-Refuge de Roybon, in Herbouilly, descend to the hamlet of Tourtre on a fairly technical forest track, then join La-Chapelle-en-Vercors on pleasant forest paths (2 or 3 pushes in the sand pits in case of rain), some of which are used by sled dogs in winter. From La-Chapelle-en-Vercors, continue to Vassieux-en-Vercors via the hamlet of Fouletier. From the village center, head towards the Col de Rousset, passing the Château-Loup gîte and the Raphaël Poirée biathlon stadium.
Cross the Col de St-Alexis (1222 m) to reach the Col de Rousset (1245 m). The 769 m-long Rousset tunnel requires a little lighting.
The Col de Rousset (1245 m) is a beautiful descent into the Diois region. When you switch to the Die side, the contrast is striking. You come across your first lavender fields, a foretaste of Provence. A final steep climb past Chamaloc to the Col de Romeyer before dropping down to the Diois capital.
Elevation of the stage
1899 m 1019 m
915 m / ↘ 1794 m
Don't miss
- The Vercors Regional Natural Park: dominated by the Grand Veymont (2341 m), partly occupied by a nature reserve, the Vercors RNP is a natural setting marked by history. Thousands of kilometers of trails and poignant memorial sites await visitors.
- Mémorial de la Résistance et nécropole de Vassieux-en-Vercors: a unique site with an exceptional architect, it provides a better understanding of the tragedy that claimed the lives of 201 civilians and 639 maquisards in July 1944. Built at an altitude of 1,300 meters, it offers breathtaking views over the Vassieux plain and the Vercors massif.
- Die : pretty town in the Drôme valley, at the foot of the Vercors and the small Col de Rousset resort. Famous for its agricultural products, in particular the sparkling Clairette de Die wine.
Travellers’ reviews