The Vercors Regional Natural Park (French: ''Parc naturel régional du Vercors'') is a

protected area Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural, ecological or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the ena ...

of forested mountains in the

Rhône-Alpes Rhône-Alpes () was an administrative region of France. Since 1 January 2016, it is part of the new region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. It is located on the eastern border of the country, towards the south. The region was named after the river Rhône an ...

region In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...

of southeastern France.

Geography

Set upon a limestone plateau south of

Grenoble lat, Gratianopolis , commune status = Prefecture and commune , image = Panorama grenoble.png , image size = , caption = From upper left: Panorama of the city, Grenoble’s cable cars, place Saint- ...

, the park extends into the French Western Alps. It spans two departments, Drôme and

Isère Isère ( , ; frp, Isera; oc, Isèra, ) is a landlocked department in the southeastern French region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Named after the river Isère, it had a population of 1,271,166 in 2019.Le Grand Veymont (2341m). The Vercors area is peppered with caves. During World War II, it served as a safe and defensible position for the

French Resistance The French Resistance (french: La Résistance) was a collection of organisations that fought the German occupation of France during World War II, Nazi occupation of France and the Collaborationism, collaborationist Vichy France, Vichy régim ...

: ''Forteresse de la Résistance''. The area now contains around three hundred monuments to the Resistance, including a memorial center and the preserved remains of a destroyed village. In modern times, Vercors has become a popular tourist destination frequented for skiing, hiking and

spelunking Caving – also known as spelunking in the United States and Canada and potholing in the United Kingdom and Ireland – is the recreational pastime of exploring wild cave systems (as distinguished from show caves). In contrast, speleology is ...

. Several small

communes An intentional community is a voluntary residential community which is designed to have a high degree of social cohesion and teamwork from the start. The members of an intentional community typically hold a common social, political, religious, ...

dot the landscape, supported principally by forestry,

shepherd A shepherd or sheepherder is a person who tends, herds, feeds, or guards flocks of sheep. ''Shepherd'' derives from Old English ''sceaphierde (''sceap'' 'sheep' + ''hierde'' 'herder'). ''Shepherding is one of the world's oldest occupations, i ...

ing and tourism. The area was officially designated a

regional natural park A regional nature park or regional natural park (french: parc naturel régional or PNR) is a public establishment in France between local authorities and the French national government covering an inhabited rural area of outstanding beauty in ord ...

in 1970.

Member communes

The Vercors parklands include the following

: * Auberives-en-Royans *

Autrans Autrans () is a former commune in the Isère department in the Rhône-Alpes region of south-eastern France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Autrans-Méaudre-en-Vercors. At the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, it hosted ...

Beaufort-sur-Gervanne Beaufort-sur-Gervanne (; Vivaro-Alpine: ''Beufòrt de Gervana'') is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France. Population See also *Communes of the Drôme department *Parc naturel régional du Vercors The Vercors Regional Na ...

Beauvoir-en-Royans Beauvoir-en-Royans is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France. Population See also *Communes of the Isère department *Parc naturel régional du Vercors The Vercors Regional Natural Park (French: ''Parc naturel régional ...

Bouvante Bouvante () is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France. Population See also *Communes of the Drôme department *Parc naturel régional du Vercors The Vercors Regional Natural Park (French: ''Parc naturel régional du Ver ...

* Chamaloc *

Château-Bernard Château-Bernard () is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France. Population See also * Communes of the Isère department *Parc naturel régional du Vercors The Vercors Regional Natural Park (French: ''Parc naturel région ...

* Châtelus *

Châtillon-en-Diois Châtillon-en-Diois is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France. On 1 January 2019, the former commune Treschenu-Creyers was merged into Châtillon-en-Diois.Chichilianne Chichilianne () is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France. Population See also *Communes of the Isère department The following is a list of the 512 communes in the French department of Isère. The communes cooperate ...

Choranche Choranche (; oc, Chaurança) is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France. Famous is . The grottoes were discovered end the 19th Century and hide a unique sight of fine stalactites. Population See also * Communes of the Is� ...

Clelles Clelles (; oc, Clèlas) is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France. Population See also * Communes of the Isère department * Col de la Croix Haute *Parc naturel régional du Vercors The Vercors Regional Natural Park ...

Cognin-les-Gorges Cognin-les-Gorges () is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France. Population See also * Communes of the Isère department *Parc naturel régional du Vercors The Vercors Regional Natural Park (French: ''Parc naturel régi ...

Combovin Combovin () is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France. Population See also *Communes of the Drôme department *Parc naturel régional du Vercors The Vercors Regional Natural Park (French: ''Parc naturel régional du Verco ...

Corrençon-en-Vercors Corrençon-en-Vercors (, literally ''Corrençon in Vercors'') is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France. Population See also *Communes of the Isère department *Parc naturel régional du Vercors The Vercors Regional Na ...

Crest Crest or CREST may refer to: Buildings *The Crest (Huntington, New York), a historic house in Suffolk County, New York *"The Crest", an alternate name for 63 Wall Street, in Manhattan, New York *Crest Castle (Château Du Crest), Jussy, Switzerla ...

Die Die, as a verb, refers to death, the cessation of life. Die may also refer to: Games * Die, singular of dice, small throwable objects used for producing random numbers Manufacturing * Die (integrated circuit), a rectangular piece of a semicondu ...

* Échevis *

Engins Engins () is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France. Population See also *Communes of the Isère department *Parc naturel régional du Vercors The Vercors Regional Natural Park (French: ''Parc naturel régional du Verco ...

* Gigors-et-Lozeron *

Glandage Glandage () is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France. Population See also *Communes of the Drôme department *Parc naturel régional du Vercors The Vercors Regional Natural Park (French: ''Parc naturel régional du Ve ...

Gresse-en-Vercors Gresse-en-Vercors is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France. Population Twin towns Gresse-en-Vercors is twinned with: * Calvanico, Italy, since 2003 See also * Communes of the Isère department *Parc naturel régiona ...

* Izeron * La Chapelle-en-Vercors *

La Motte-Fanjas La Motte-Fanjas is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France. Population See also *Communes of the Drôme department *Parc naturel régional du Vercors The Vercors Regional Natural Park (French: ''Parc naturel régional d ...

* La Rivière *

Lans-en-Vercors Lans-en-Vercors is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France. Population Twin towns Lans-en-Vercors is twinned with: * Saint-Donat, Lanaudière, Quebec, Canada, since 1990 See also *Communes of the Isère department *Parc ...

Laval-d'Aix Laval-d'Aix is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France. Population See also *Communes of the Drôme department *Parc naturel régional du Vercors The Vercors Regional Natural Park (French: ''Parc naturel régional du Verc ...

* Le Chaffal * Le Gua *

Léoncel Léoncel (; oc, Lioncèl) is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France. Population See also *Communes of the Drôme department *Parc naturel régional du Vercors The Vercors Regional Natural Park (French: ''Parc naturel r ...

* Lus-la-Croix-Haute *

Malleval-en-Vercors Malleval-en-Vercors is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France. The commune was named ''Malleval'' until September 12, 2005. Population See also * Communes of the Isère department *Parc naturel régional du Vercors ...

* Marignac-en-Diois *

Méaudre Méaudre () is a former Communes of France, commune in the Isère Departments of France, department in southeastern France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Autrans-Méaudre-en-Vercors.Miribel-Lanchâtre Miribel-Lanchâtre (; oc, Mirabèu e L'Enchastre) is a commune in the Isère department in south-eastern France. Geography It is located about south of Grenoble exposed on the south-east slopes of the Vercors balcony, stretching over several ...

Le Monestier-du-Percy Monestier-du-Percy (, known as Le Monestier-du-Percy until 31 December 2022) is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France. Population See also *Communes of the Isère department *Parc naturel régional du Vercors The Verc ...

* Montaud * Omblèze * Oriol-en-Royans *

Percy The English surname Percy is of Norman origin, coming from Normandy to England, United Kingdom. It was from the House of Percy, Norman lords of Northumberland, derives from the village of Percy-en-Auge in Normandy. From there, it came into use ...

* Plan-de-Baix * Ponet-et-Saint-Auban *

Pont-en-Royans Pont-en-Royans () is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France. Geography The town is located near the Isère valley at the gates of the Vercors Regional Natural Park. It lies at the meeting of the rivers Bourne (which rises ...

* Presles *

Rencurel Rencurel () is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France. Population See also * Communes of the Isère department *Parc naturel régional du Vercors The Vercors Regional Natural Park (French: ''Parc naturel régional du Ve ...

* Rochechinard *

Romans-sur-Isère Romans-sur-Isère (; Occitan: ''Rumans d'Isèra''; Old Occitan: ''Romans'') is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France. Geography Romans-sur-Isère is located on the Isère, northeast of Valence. There are more than 50,000 in ...

* Romeyer * Rovon *

Saint-Agnan-en-Vercors Saint-Agnan-en-Vercors (Vivaro-Alpine: ''Sant Anhan de Vercòrs'') is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France. Population See also *Communes of the Drôme department *Parc naturel régional du Vercors The Vercors Regional ...

* Saint-Andéol, Drôme * Saint-Andéol, Isère *

Saint-André-en-Royans Saint-André-en-Royans (; oc, Sent Andrieu de Roians) is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France. Population See also * Communes of the Isère department *Parc naturel régional du Vercors The Vercors Regional Natural ...

* Saint-Gervais *

Saint-Guillaume Saint-Guillaume () is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France. Population See also * Communes of the Isère department *Parc naturel régional du Vercors The Vercors Regional Natural Park (French: ''Parc naturel régio ...

Saint-Jean-en-Royans Saint-Jean-en-Royans (Vivaro-Alpine: ''Sant Joan de Roians'') is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France. Population International relations Saint-Jean-en-Royans is twinned with: * Câmpani, Romania *Roccagorga, Italy See als ...

* Saint-Julien-en-Quint * Saint-Julien-en-Vercors *

Saint-Just-de-Claix Saint-Just-de-Claix (; oc, Sent Just de Clais) is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France. Population See also *Communes of the Isère department *Parc naturel régional du Vercors The Vercors Regional Natural Park (Fre ...

* Saint-Laurent-en-Royans * Saint-Marcellin * Saint-Martin-de-Clelles *

Saint-Martin-en-Vercors Saint-Martin-en-Vercors (, literally ''Saint-Martin in Vercors''; Vivaro-Alpine: ''Sant Martin de Vercòrs'') is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France. Population See also *Communes of the Drôme department *Parc nature ...

* Saint-Martin-le-Colonel *

Saint-Michel-les-Portes Saint-Michel-les-Portes () is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France. Population See also * Communes of the Isère department *Parc naturel régional du Vercors The Vercors Regional Natural Park (French: ''Parc naturel ...

* Saint-Nazaire-en-Royans *

Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte is a commune in the Isère department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in Southeastern France. In 2019, it had a population of 1,083. Demographics 1968 Winter Olympics The commune hosted the ski jumping individua ...

* Saint-Paul-lès-Monestier * Saint-Pierre-de-Chérennes * Saint-Romans * Saint-Thomas-en-Royans * Saint-Paul-de-Varces * Sainte-Croix *

Sainte-Eulalie-en-Royans Sainte-Eulalie-en-Royans (; Vivaro-Alpine: ''Santa Eulàlia de Roians'') is a commune in the Drôme department in the region Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, southeastern France. Population Geography Sainte-Eulalie-en-Royans is located 7 km nort ...

Treschenu-Creyers Treschenu-Creyers (Vivaro-Alpine: ''Treschanuts e Creiers'') is a former commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France. On 1 January 2019, it was merged into the commune Châtillon-en-Diois.Vachères-en-Quint *

Vassieux-en-Vercors Vassieux-en-Vercors is a commune in the department of Drôme in southeastern France. The town is known for its assistance to the French Resistance during World War II, for which it was awarded the Ordre de la Libération. Geography The villa ...

Villard-de-Lans Villard-de-Lans (; oc, Lo Vilar de Lanç) is a commune in the Isère department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France. The town is also situated in the Vercors Massif. It was the administrative centre of the eponymous ca ...

* Vinay

Partially affiliated

* Claix * Fontaine *

Noyarey Noyarey () is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France. It is part of the Grenoble urban unit (agglomeration).Saint-Quentin-sur-Isère Saint-Quentin-sur-Isère (, literally ''Saint-Quentin on Isère'') is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France. Population See also *Communes of the Isère department *Parc naturel régional du Vercors The Vercors Region ...

Sassenage Sassenage (; frp, Sassenâjo) is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France. It is part of the Grenoble urban unit (agglomeration).

Seyssinet-Pariset Seyssinet-Pariset () is a Communes of France, commune in the Isère Departments of France, department in southeastern France. It is part of the Grenoble urban unit (agglomeration). Population Sights La tour Sans venin located in the hamlet of P ...

Seyssins Seyssins () is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France. It is part of the Grenoble urban unit (agglomeration).Varces-Allières-et-Risset Varces-Allières-et-Risset (; frp, Varse-Aliéres-et-Riosèc) is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France. It is part of the Grenoble urban unit (agglomeration).Veurey-Voroize

References

External links

Official park website
{{Authority control Regional natural parks of France Geography of Drôme Geography of Isère Tourist attractions in Drôme Tourist attractions in Isère Protected areas established in 1970