Distance
6km
Elevation
392m
Duration
2h30
Difficulty Level
Moderate

Hike description

Type

Signposted Loop

The audience

  • Walkers/hikers

Introduction

This heritage trail takes you up the pastoral mountain of Laud and on to the hamlet of Chômeil. It presents the life and history of this mountain pasture in twelve stages with information panels created by "Gresse en Vercors Histoire et Patrimoine".

It can be covered in two to four hours, or you can make a day of it and picnic near the market hall.

Panel 1: The barony of Gresse at the time of the lords: the Artaud de Montauban and De Ponnat dynasties.
Panel no. 2: Rural road no. 1 from Gresse to Monestier and the fairs of our two villages.
Panel 3: The birds of Gresse to admire, listen to and, above all, not to disturb! Thank you
Sign no. 4: The Laud mountain, home to 9 of the commune's 13 hamlets.
Sign no. 5: The dairy cable and the Fruitière (cheese-making company)
Sign no. 6: The market hall, a place for sharing and meeting, where you can picnic.
Sign no. 7: Le Pas de l'Echaillon and the Chômillous hay sleighs.
Sign no. 8: La belle histoire de Thérèse aux Côtes du Chômeil.
Panel no. 9: Mont-aiguille and Grand Vyemon as seen from La Chauvette.
Panel no. 10: Le Chômeil, the village with its fine stonecutters' houses.
Panel no. 11: The work of shoeing cattle.
Panel 12: The lower station of the milk cable and return to the village.

Don't forget to bring water, which is not available on this itinerary.
The mountain pasture is a shared space, a place to recharge one's batteries, but also a place of work for shepherds and breeders. Respect the shepherd's peace of mind!
Stay away from the heifers, don't damage the fences and close them behind you.
Take care of watering holes and dispose of garbage.
Stay on the paths and tracks, admire the flowers and photograph them without picking them!

Pets welcome : yes

Further detail on accompanying pets : Dogs must be kept on a leash due to the presence of herds.

Further information on this Hiking Trail

Follow the yellow-green signs to the Serpaton parking lot, then follow the signs for the Gresse en Vercors Histoire et Patrimoine association. Yellow markers complete the route to Chomeil.

Tricky passes

The return journey from the hamlet of Chomeil to the village follows the RD8A, so take care!

Useful information

Local Services

  • Pets welcome

Facilities

  • Car park
  • Charging stations for electric vehicles
  • Free car park

Step by step

Parking: park in the parking lot at the entrance to the village of Gresse en Vercors, opposite the hotel-restaurant Le Chalet.

1. The first sign is at the corner of the parking lot. Then take the tarmac road towards the cemetery (village entrance), then quickly find a post on the right called "La Casse". Follow signs for "Le Serpaton".

2. Gradual but steady ascent with fine views over the village before reaching the asphalt alpine road and then the parking lot.

3. At the end of the parking lot, turn right towards the old "cable laitier" below, then continue to the market hall.

4. Continue behind the hall to Pas de l'Echaillon, then follow the path down to the hamlet of Chomeil.

5. Return to the village along the tarmac road (take care!).

Location

Parking entrée du village
38650 Gresse-en-Vercors

Latitude : 44.902

Longitude : 5.5682

Altitude : 1165m