Les crêtes de Belle Combe

Description

History, culture and heritage

The GR de Pays "Tour des Monts du Matin

The itinerary described here takes in part of this GR, which joins up 1km from the village at "la Madelanière". It can be done in 2 sections of 2 to 3 days, and invites you to discover the Monts du Matin (so named because they are located in the foothills of the Drôme Vercors on the rising sun side) on either side of the line of ridges with vertical walls rising in a single line from 200 to 1300m above sea level.

Guidebook with maps/step-by-step

1/ From the town hall, climb up through the village to "Montée du Cimetière" (alt. 225m). Continue along the road, skirting the Cemetery, staying on the road until you reach "les Holmes" (alt. 265m). Take the first path that dips to the left, towards Merisier. Follow the foot of the mountain. The path descends to a walnut orchard. Turn right and follow the walnut groves. Reach the asphalt road and turn right. Go round the mountain to "Massotiers" (alt. 208m).
2/ Follow the GR de Pays des Monts du Matin (yellow-red markings), climb up into the undergrowth and pass through the ravine. Climb a steep slope to reach a small pass and turn left to reach the "La Madelanière" crossroads (alt. 400m). Continue to the left. Further on, you come to a track, turn left, then right at the "Vanille" sign (alt. 406m).
3/ Go straight on to the "Côte" crossroads (alt. 457m), then fork right. Join the mountain crest. Pass under a pylon and descend into the woods to reach "le Col de Bois Communaux" (alt. 536m). Continue straight ahead on a steep ascent to the "des Crêtes de Belle Combe" junction (alt. 730m).
4/ Descend to the right along a narrow path in the undergrowth towards La Montagne. Join a wide track, go up it to the left and then, a little before the private property, go down on the path to the right, in the woods. At "la Montagne" (alt. 530m), turn right. Cross the ravine and descend the hillside. At the crow's-foot, take the path furthest to the right. At "Cabanon" (alt. 370m), go straight ahead. Follow the wide path along the clearing. At the wash-house (alt. 290m), take the left-hand road to the "Château" (alt. 260m). Turn right to join the road up to Les Royets.
5/ Follow the road to Place Riquet, then take the communal path back to the village center.

Opening periods