RANDOLAND: Les Vigneaux

History and architecture

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Armed with your question sheet, set off on a discovery of the village of Les Vigneaux!

A village, a church, authentic heritage and a treasure hunt... all overlooked by the Mont du Montbrison. Perfect ingredients for a family walk!

Description

The trail starts at the mayor's office ("Mairie"). Facing away from the mayor's office, turn right and stop at the water-fountain/wash house to solve the first riddle. Continue along the road until you come to the wooden mission cross.

Cross over the road to take the track opposite. Go past the starting point of the two via ferratas and carry on until you reach the EDF pipe. Take the path opposite, on the left-hand track, and follow an irrigation canal. Continue straight on and go down the track on the left until you come to the water fountain and the hunting cabin opposite. Continue along the edge of the church and stop 50 metres further along on the right, in the grotto of the Fontaine Marie-Madeleine.
Turn right immediately after the water fountain and continue along the track until you come to the road.
Go left, which brings you back to the communal oven. Go downhill to the right until you reach the chapel. Go back to the oven and head towards the church. Stop in front of the statue of the winemaking angel ("L'Ange vigneron") and the painted wall and then carry on to the church. Stop in the churchyard and then go down to the right and back to the car park.

Departure : Mayor's office ("Mairie"), Les Vigneaux
Arrival : Mayor's office ("Mairie"), Les Vigneaux
Towns crossed : Les Vigneaux

Altimetric profile

Recommandations

To download the Randoland clue sheets, visit the Office de Tourisme Intercommunal du Pays des Écrins website.

Check weather conditions before setting off.

Rescue services contact details: Secours Montagne (Mountain Rescue): +33 (0)4 92 22 22 22 or 112

Show consideration for the work of farmers, livestock keepers and owners

Close all gates behind you

Take your litter home

Do not take shortcuts across pastureland

Information desks

Vallouise Park house

, 05290 Vallouise

http://www.ecrins-parcnational.fr/vallouise@ecrins-parcnational.fr 04 92 23 58 08

Information, documentation, models, exhibitions, screenings, product sales and works of the Park. Guided tours for school, reservation required. The new Park House opened in Vallouise since June 1, and offers visitors an interactive permanent exhibition inviting to explore the area and its heritage. A temporary exhibition space will allow a renewed offer. Finally, the device is completed by an audiovisual room to organize screenings and conferences Free admission. All animations of the Park are free unless otherwise stated.

Find out more

Place de l'Eglise, 05340 Vallouise

https://www.paysdesecrins.com/contact@paysdesecrins.com +33(0)4 92 23 36 12

Transport

Public transport >> www.pacamobilite.fr

Consider car-sharing >> www.blablacar.fr

For more information, ask at the Tourist Information Office nearest to the trail starting point.

Access and parking

4.5 km from L'Argentière-La Bessée, take the D994E.

Parking :

Mayor's office ("Mairie") car park, Les Vigneaux

5 points of interest

Panorama
The view over the Montbrison massif
The path offers a beautiful overall view of the limestone massif of Montbrison, overlooking the hamlets of Pelvoux and including the Cime de la Condamine, the Tête des Lauzières, the Pic de Montbrison and the Tête d'Amont.
History
Images of the grapevine
Les Vigneaux owes its name to the vine cultivation once plied on its hillsides. The grapevine is also depicted on the town's coat of arms, which has a vineplant, and also on the traditional houses with vine trellises. Houses with grape presses are also a reminder of the importance of the grapevine.
Vernacular heritage
The sundial
The sundial is an eighteenth-century tradition widespread across the Southern Alps where the sun is ever-present. Artisan sundial makers produced these sundials, which were added as a decoration to house fronts, religious buildings or, as here, a tower. The sayings inscribed on them make some of these artistic works philosophical as well as decorative.
Vernacular heritage
The church in Les Vigneaux
The church of Saint-Laurent with its elegant porch dates from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. On its south wall there are frescoes depicting the vices, dragged towards hell by a demon, and their punishments. Enough to make you shudder! Its Lombard Romanesque bell tower has a very rare one-handed clock dating from the eighteenth century. It is one of the oldest working clocks of its type.
Vernacular heritage
The communal oven
Legend has it that the Lord caused a communal oven to be built and kept it maintained. The local people could use this oven in exchange for the payment of a levy. Families would prepare and knead their own dough at home and then bring it to the oven for baking. Names were drawn by lot to establish their turns.