Notre-Dame de Bois Vert - Les Farelles, via Clot de Ventecul

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A walk in the Notre-Dame de Bois-Vert forest, on the mountainside with a magnificent view of the Champsaur valley and its typical bocage landscape.
The Notre-Dame de Bois-Vert sanctuary is a true haven of peace!

Details

n°36133326
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.81 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 237 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 240 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,348 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,153 m
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Photos

View of the Aiguille and the Villard torrent
South view of Coste Belle
View of the Champsaurin bocage
Torrent des Farelles and view of the Champsaur

Description of the walk

Head to Notre-Dame de Bois-Vert (above La Fare-en-Champsaur) and park in the car park above the cemetery.

(S/E) Facing the cemetery, head right towards the west. The route starts on a forest track. Keep left on the track, which climbs in two hairpin bends through the larch forest for 400 m before continuing along the hillside.

(1) After crossing the first valley, the path through the woods is fairly easy going with a few short descents. The trail comes to a halt at the ramparts of a double valley, which you will need to cross via a path carved into the detrital cliff. There are no particular difficulties, except in the event of a storm! The path then turns into a pleasant, bucolic trail. You will reach a fork at the signpost marked "Clot de Ventecul" (1,330 m).

(2) Leave the forest track that descends to the left and continue straight ahead towards the Laye station. You are now in the Bois Vert National Forest. Cross the Ruisseau du Villard at the foot of the Pic de l'Aiguille. Reach the "Les Croussières" crossroads (1,350 m).

(3) Continue downhill to the left (ignore the path that climbs to the right). You will then reach a forest road at a place called Les Chaumattes (1,320 m).

(4) Continue along the road that branches off to the left (ignore the two paths on the right that lead to the Laye resort). Staying in the forest, cross the Villard stream again.

(5) Continue along the track, ignoring the small path that descends to the right (towards an elevation of 1220 m), and continue to a new fork at Les Selliers (1180 m).

(6) Leave the path that climbs to the left and continue on the road towards the houses. Cross the Torrent des Farelles again just before the road makes a wide bend. Cross the hamlet almost to the last houses (tarmac road) and continue to the junction with the D 217a (Route du Plantier).

(7) Take the path on the left (Chemin de Bois Vert) for 900 m. You will arrive at the sanctuary of Notre-Dame de Bois-Vert (1,213 m) via the chapel. Go around the cemetery on the right-hand side before arriving at the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,201 m - Notre-Dame de Bois-Vert - Notre-Dame de Bois-Vert
  2. 1 : km 1.41 - alt. 1,277 m - Torrent des Farelles
  3. 2 : km 2.4 - alt. 1,320 m - Clot de Ventecul
  4. 3 : km 3.11 - alt. 1,347 m - Croussières
  5. 4 : km 3.47 - alt. 1,305 m - Les Chaumattes
  6. 5 : km 4.66 - alt. 1,196 m - Torrent du Villard
  7. 6 : km 5.34 - alt. 1,171 m - Les Selliers
  8. 7 : km 5.78 - alt. 1,153 m - les Farelles
  9. S/E : km 6.81 - alt. 1,201 m - Notre-Dame de Bois-Vert - Notre-Dame de Bois-Vert

Notes

Fountains at the religious site and nearby (Font Saint-Clair).

This hike can be started from the Laye station by joining the route at (5) Les Chaumattes (1.1 km trail).

Although it is not particularly difficult, it is essentialto wear hiking boots andtake care when crossing ravines (the path is sunken and narrow in places).

Shorter option: at the signpost "Clot de Ventecul" (1,330 m) (2), take the forest track that descends to the left to reach Les Selliers (1,180 m) directly (6), avoiding the 3 km section "Les Croussières" - "Les Chaumattes".

Longer option: you can continue to the small resort of Laye by going straight up to Croussières (3), then taking the path on the left to descend along the Ruisseau Grand Clot and arrive at the resort. Set off again by climbing the path towards the old Villard ski lift to reach (4) Les Chaumattes and resume the route via Les Selliers and Les Farelles (total 12 km and 420 m elevation gain).

Worth a visit

Notre-Dame de Bois-Vert
The magnificent chapel, topped by a bell tower with two beautiful bells, was built at the end of the 17th century, then restored in 1840 and 1925 by Antoine Taix, a local who made his fortune in the United States.
He enriched the site by adding a statue of Saint Vincent de Paul, the friend of the poor, a stele in memory of his sister and a mausoleum-like structure in memory of his mother. One of the stained-glass windows in the latter depicts Antoine Taix surrounded by two Native Americans, a reminder of his life in America.
It is worth noting that the cemetery blends perfectly into the landscape, particularly as there is no surrounding wall.
The name "Bois vert" (green wood) does not refer to the forest surrounding the site, but rather to the beautiful view: "Bèu veïre" in Vivaro-Alpine Occitan (a belvedere). Here, the name at least has the advantage of suiting the place. But it was indeed the beautiful view that gave it its name!

Saint-Clair Fountain
Five minutes from the chapel, the miraculous fountain of Font Saint-Clair is renowned for healing eye ailments. This gushing spring is said to have been blessed by Saint Clair, Bishop of Vienne, in the 7th century.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 8 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
François Libre
François Libre
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a short walk taken on 27/08/25 under slightly threatening skies, fortunately without rain, especially when crossing the stream where the stones can sometimes be slippery and, given the width of the path, it could have been a little dangerous
i recommend this short hike even with children, provided they are old enough to understand the danger posed by the drop
a quick visit to the cemetery at the end is worth it for the interesting graves
thanks to the person who mapped out the hike

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HENRYD57
HENRYD57

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Trip taken on the evening of 16 August 2025, very few people around
A beautiful, pleasant walk through forests, ravines and mountain balconies
Not recommended for very young children or people prone to vertigo
A very difficult ravine crossing due to a broken path

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rodriguezbernard
rodriguezbernard

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a fairly gentle hike, but note that there are two long narrow sections close to the cliff with three slightly tricky steps.
Not recommended for those who are afraid of heights.
The path is mostly shaded.
As we were in good shape, we went as far as the LAYE station and returned via the path indicated by Chaumattes, Selliers and Farelles
for a total distance of 12 km and an elevation gain of 420 m

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jean phiilippe
jean phiilippe

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An interesting and fairly straightforward route, often in the shade, ideal in hot weather, with two slightly tricky sections where you need to take extra care! Not recommended for those who suffer from vertigo

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Kindid
Kindid

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful site.
Forest trail with a stop on the way to Laye station in a meadow with magnificent views.
Short rocky section on the mountainside with a slightly challenging stream crossing.
Not recommended for people who are not very comfortable hiking.

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diggi
diggi

Thank you for your constructive feedback.
I have added the clarification regarding the shoes and the ravine crossing with the narrow path.

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catluc
catluc

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This is a pleasant hike with beautiful scenery and forest trails. You will need hiking boots and to be careful at two tricky sections where the trail has collapsed and narrowed due to bad weather. Thank you to the author for this route.

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Inered
Inered

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, easy to follow. Climb through the forest on a wide path, then on a narrower but pleasant path high up with beautiful views of Champsaur! Cross several streams, which can be tricky in rainy weather (or after rain, as the water level can be quite high). Return through the forest.
A beautiful, relaxing walk in the heart of the forest and streams of the Champsaur.

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christinecolombel
christinecolombel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pretty route, varied with beautiful views. Best done in the morning, as the slope faces east.
No major difficulties... However, don't underestimate the ravines, especially in wet weather. Good equipment is essential (good shoes).
The site of Notre Dame de Bois Vert is very peaceful and worth a visit in its own right.
Best regards.

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