The Lignarre valley

This almost 44 km circuit start in Bourg d'Oisans.

With the main road behind you, you reach tiny mountain villages via spectacular narrow lanes. Villages such as Oulles, which only became accessible by road in the 1960s! This used to be an important mining community, but the First World War brought an end to the activity. With only 9 inhabitants, it is now the smallest village in the department of Isère. You have to leave your car, motorcycle or bike at the entrance to the village and walk up the pretty lane that goes past the houses and hamlets.

On your way back down from Oulles, stop off in Villard-Reymond. Along the way, a gourmet stop is not to be missed, namely the Bergerie de la Lignarre in the hamlet of La Palud in Ornon. You can visit, taste and fill your basket with excellent Oisans products. In Villard-Reymond, in addition to the magnificent
scenery, you will see gardens of ‘génépi’ and berries. The ‘génépi’ is an aromatic plant, only found in mountain regions and tasting rather like absinthe, used to make a celebrated liquor of the same name. Chantal sell in plant pots, dried or as a liquor. You can visit the plantations, gardens and her laboratory,
where she prepare the liquors, aperitifs, cordials, jams and condiments.

A little further in the direction of the col du Solude you can meet Cécile in the ferme du Champ Perché. She experiments with high altitude market gardening, selling her vegetables throughout the summer and processing vegetables and
other plants she collects in the wild into original condiments the rest of the year.

If the weather is clear, go up to the col du Solude to admire the magnificent view and then join up with Villard-Notre-Dame on a back road that you will remember for some time. Take care though, as this road is not paved and should only be taken in fine weather, when conditions are good. Villard-Notre-Dame is a charming little mountain-top village, which you should take the time to explore on foot.

You could also stop off in Marieke’s ‘Terra Rêve’ studio, before going back down to Bourg-d'Oisans and the plain, 800 m below.