Just as you think you have discovered France - Vercors

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Wapping

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Just as you think you have discovered France.... up pops something else.

My aged P's (lucky buggers) are off the isolated Vercors region of south east France.

Anyone down around Grenoble / Die - Route Napoleon (roughly) sort of region... might like to drop by. Loads of good roads, scenery and some interesting 20th century history, too. Worth a detour....as Mr Michelin would probably say.

They are staying in the hotel:

Hôtel - Restaurant Col de la Machine (apt sort of name perhaps)
26190 St Jean en Royans

It's a Logis hotel http://www.hotel-coldelamachine.com/ so probably OK :thumb2

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Load of blurb on it here: http://www.richard-binns.co.uk/pdf-file/b1-p50-55.pdf including the French resistance massacre by the Germans. It's in a bit of a gushing style but readable.

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How to find it and all the roads:


Location_vercors.jpg



vercors.gif



459px-Vercors-routes.gif



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What it looks like:

800px-Gresse-en-Vercors_Panorama_(Mont_Aiguille_et_Grand_Veymont)_2.jpg
 
and dont forget the 'moto camping' motorcycle only campsite.

there is also a good WW2 museum in the area from when the local maquis jumped the gun and tried to take over around june '44.
 
If you're in the Grenoble/Vercors region you can also visit the Chartreuse massif just across the Isère valley from the Vercors. It's equally beautiful but different. It also has some brilliant roads, gorges etc.

You can visit the Chartreuse monastery - the original Trappist one. They don't make the liqueur there any more, it's done in Voiron (up the road) and you can, if you're so inclined visit the distillery. If you buy some DON'T get the normal green or yellow but try the VEP (Vieillissment Exceptionelment Prolongé) It's older and far nicer. The yellow VEP is rare and also well worth a quaff.

When I was a student I did a summer job going around delivering wine and groceries in the area. The SE part of the Vercors had some dramatic views. My boss used to call it the French Dolomites
 
It's definitely a good area for biking and well worth a visit.

We rode down there from Alpe d'Huez en route to Millau. The roads were some of the best and very quiet. There's a limestone gorge that's a bit like Gorge Du Tarn but smaller and with far fewer people.... That's where my clutch went and with about 10minutes at the side of the road no vehicles went past. This was about 5pm on a Thursday. Managed to keep going and found a scooter/quad shop with the owner still working, in a small village to the east of Die. He was a young lad who'd not long had the business and his english was as bad as my french. He gave me a hand to bleed the clutch through so that I'd at least got some lever. Took about 40 minutes and he only charged me 8 euros. Quality.
 
Gaulois said:
If you're in the Grenoble/Vercors region you can also visit the Chartreuse massif just across the Isère valley from the Vercors. It's equally beautiful but different. It also has some brilliant roads, gorges etc.

You can visit the Chartreuse monastery - the original Trappist one. They don't make the liqueur there any more, it's done in Voiron (up the road) and you can, if you're so inclined visit the distillery. If you buy some DON'T get the normal green or yellow but try the VEP (Vieillissment Exceptionelment Prolongé) It's older and far nicer. The yellow VEP is rare and also well worth a quaff.

When I was a student I did a summer job going around delivering wine and groceries in the area. The SE part of the Vercors had some dramatic views. My boss used to call it the French Dolomites
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips. :thumb2

I was looking at pictures of the area and a map, pipe dreaming some routes. I agree with your boss, the area is 'different' and sort of like the Dolomites. I have been to Die several times and often looked across into the distance, wondering what it was all like. Now I shall have to go and have a look.

Report on the hotel and / or other bits to see and do follows....when aged P's return.....
 
ricardo said:
It's definitely a good area for biking and well worth a visit.

We rode down there from Alpe d'Huez en route to Millau. The roads were some of the best and very quiet. There's a limestone gorge that's a bit like Gorge Du Tarn but smaller and with far fewer people....

He was a young lad who'd not long had the business and his english was as bad as my french. He gave me a hand to bleed the clutch through so that I'd at least got some lever. Took about 40 minutes and he only charged me 8 euros. Quality.
Click to expand...

The last paragraph sums up the joy of travelling about and, to a degree, having a problem. You end up not where you expect, meet a local and think he's a good bloke. Lots of people seem to worry about not be able to communicate in a foreign language, sometimes using it as an excuse not to go.

The truth is it's easier than anyone believes. You arrive in a baker's....chances are matey will know you want bread or a pastry. Arrive in a hotel...well you are unlikey to be buying paint.

I do not know the French word for clutch, and it's a fair bet the garage doesn't know the English word either. But, if you arrive at a workshop anyone can get by with a few hand actions and Franglais.... even the German 'Kaput' seems to work... anywhere from Finland to Portugal.
 
Wapping said:
The last paragraph sums up the joy of travelling about and, to a degree, having a problem. You end up not where you expect, meet a local and think he's a good bloke. Lots of people seem to worry about not be able to communicate in a foreign language, sometimes using it as an excuse not to go.

The truth is it's easier than anyone believes. You arrive in a baker's....chances are matey will know you want bread or a pastry. Arrive in a hotel...well you are unlikey to be buying paint.

I do not know the French word for clutch, and it's a fair bet the garage doesn't know the English word either. But, if you arrive at a workshop anyone can get by with a few hand actions and Franglais.... even the German 'Kaput' seems to work... anywhere from Finland to Portugal.
Click to expand...

Embrayage or something like that. (I refuse to trawl the net for translation site...)
 
Which brings me to my only French "joke". It's old....

Communist party leader Georges Marchais is driving down the Autoroute du Sud in his Deux Chevaux when he spies in the distance the limousine of President Valery Giscard d'Estaing who is being driven at a stately pace by his chauffeur.

Marchais decides he must overtake and, thrashing the 2CV for all it's worth he draws level with the presidential limo and bawls out through the open half-window: "Va donc, pedale!" "Get lost, pervert!"

Giscard is a little ruffled and he tells the chauffeur: "Doublez le!" "Overtake him!"

The chauffeur overtakes and as they draw level Giscard opens his window and shouts out "Va donc, embrayage!"

Georges Marchais doesn't understand and rushes home to check in the dictionary... "Embrayage... pedale de gauche"

Obviously you had to be there...
 
I went there last year - going back Sept 5th to 15th this year - great place; beautiful; empty roads in Sept. Staying in Recurel.
 
Wapping said:
The last paragraph sums up the joy of travelling about and, to a degree, having a problem. You end up not where you expect, meet a local and think he's a good bloke. Lots of people seem to worry about not be able to communicate in a foreign language, sometimes using it as an excuse not to go.

Very true. I also think it helps not to have too much of a plan. That way you can never take a wrong turn... it's just another road, and very often that's where you find the best memories.
Click to expand...
 
We too have visited the Area a couple of times when staying with Pam and David at La Traversiere near Nyons. www.bedandbreakfast-in-provence.com The climb to the Col de Rousset from Die on the D518 is great with brilliant views to the South and East (all the way to Mount Ventoux on a clear day). On a weekend the D518 can be a bit racetrack as some of the locals test their skills on the countless hairpins so caution is advised. The Tunnel at the top takes you through to the Vercors proper and its like a different world. Brilliant and Recommended.
 
ho he hum...

feel 'triste' reading all this about what people HAVE done ;) in the Vercors area.

Just decided to check ukgser whilst finishing my bouteille Aligote chatillon en dios .. blanc... (pillion!)

Coming to you live from le piqnique spot on the D518 juist outside Vassieux (resistance museum)...

Heading north to......... somewhere!

Gooing to check out link to biker place now... if north then most likely will go there otherwise apres grenoble to Jura.. ish.

weather report... still no effin rain nor a suntan for my bits.

Loads of Gsers about. Not one VW camper!

hic........
ps hi andy!
 
issy said:
feel 'triste' reading all this about what people HAVE done ;) in the Vercors area.

Just decided to check ukgser whilst finishing my bouteille Aligote chatillon en dios .. blanc... (pillion!)

Coming to you live from le piqnique spot on the D518 juist outside Vassieux (resistance museum)...

Heading north to......... somewhere!

Gooing to check out link to biker place now... if north then most likely will go there otherwise apres grenoble to Jura.. ish.

weather report... still no effin rain nor a suntan for my bits.

Loads of Gsers about. Not one VW camper!

hic........
ps hi andy!
Click to expand...

Biker place is in Rencurel - yes it is north of where you are - en route to Grenoble and fantastic roads on the way :-)
 
Report from aged p's:

(a) Hotel good. Not luxurious (didn't think that it would be) but certainly good enough for holiday or stop over. Friendly staff and manager.

(b) Fantastic scenery.

(c) Great motorbiking roads.

(d) Loads of motorbikes.

Worth a visit? Yes definitely. :thumb2
 
issy said:
feel 'triste' reading all this about what people HAVE done ;) in the Vercors area.

Just decided to check ukgser whilst finishing my bouteille Aligote chatillon en dios .. blanc... (pillion!)

Coming to you live from le piqnique spot on the D518 juist outside Vassieux (resistance museum)...

Heading north to......... somewhere!

Gooing to check out link to biker place now... if north then most likely will go there otherwise apres grenoble to Jura.. ish.

weather report... still no effin rain nor a suntan for my bits.

Loads of Gsers about. Not one VW camper!

hic........
ps hi andy!
Click to expand...


got stuck behind an aircooled VW camper for the whole length of A458 today.

As was a Spar HGV, a JCB and about a mile of other cars.

:spitfire
 
I forgot to say in my 1st post that the road (N75?) from Grenoble to Sisteron via Monestier, Vif and the col de la croix haute is a brilliant alternative to the top bit of the Route Napoleon. Brilliant scenery as you drive through the 'Trièves' the region between the Vercors and the Alps proper it's famous for its landscape and the lovely cheese they make there.

Avoid it on Saturdays as all of Germany, Switzerland etc. use it as a cheap road to Provence. Should be better once the motorway is finished (just about the only good thing about it!).
 
Col de la Bataille; Col de Rousset, Col de la Machine (Combe Laval); Gorge de la Bourne + more all great roads with fantastic views.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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