The mountain of Uriol

This hike will allow you to discover the eastern flank of a beautiful mountain of the Vercors, characteristic by its shape of pyramid that we discover when we go by the highway towards the South.

Go to Vif and park your car at the town hall. Take the RD75 on foot for 50m and cross the Gresse river. Take an alley on the left that runs alongside the old Visitation monastery. The path starts to climb the first meters of this steep slope. Quickly, a first intersection is left and follow the direction of Echaillon. At the next hairpin, a very beautiful panorama on Vif and the plain of Reymure is already offered to you. Further on, leave on your right the ascent towards the domain of Rocher Saint Loup and continue straight ahead. Follow the path until the altitude of 650m, pass a gate, then turn left, always in the direction of Echaillon. A few minutes later, what a surprise to discover the hamlet of Uriol unfortunately in ruins, nestled in a flat area. The size of the buildings and the remains of a chapel suggest that many inhabitants have lived on these isolated lands. The path continues towards the south, where dry meadows and forests follow one another. You will not fail to notice the Mediterranean character of the vegetation (e.g.: pubescent oak, cotinus or wig tree) on this steep limestone slope, exposed to the South-East and therefore dry and hot. The path passes here vertically over the old cement limestone quarries of Champrond. Further south, you will finally cross the South ridge of Le Pieu at the altitude of 900m to finally go down on the West side to the charming hamlet of L'Echaillon (690m). The descent to Les Grand Amieux, passing by the pas de l'Echalier, will be done on a wide track. After a few twists and turns on the small paved road, turn left at the reservoir and go down to the Champa micro power station. Continue on the road to the village of Le Gua, turn left towards Champrond/Vif, and finally reach Vif on the left bank of the Gresse.

HISTORICAL HERITAGE: In the 19th century, the Grenoble region experienced a very important industrial boom. The invention of cement contributed to this development, causing a rush for cement stone. The areas of Vif and Le Gua were quickly identified as being particularly rich in this resource. This prosperous activity has belonged to the VICAT company since 1920 and employed 220 people in 1960. From 1973 onwards, the factory was progressively abandoned and closed definitively in 1976.