Panoramic views in the heart of the Trièves

Park your vehicle near the village of Saint-Jean-d'Hérans, on the edge of the D34B at the waste collection point.

(S/E) Follow the D34B westwards for just over 100 m and take the path on the right just after the village exit sign (Tracot signpost). Pass a surprising graveyard of around ten tractors, then the sewage treatment plant below the path, and cross a pleasant beech wood.

(1) At the junction, ignore the path on the right towards Caillat and Les Rives. Turn left, cross a meadow, turn right at the next junction then immediately left to reach the D34b road and follow it downhill to the right. At the next crossroads, stay on the main road for almost 200 m.

(2) Turn right onto a good track, pass another sewage treatment plant before heading uphill towards the small village of Villard de Touage.

(3) Turn right onto the second path, which climbs very steeply. Enjoy the view to the right where the path runs along a ledge. Reach an altitude of 825 m before descending to cross the Combe Noire ravine. Continue along this good path which runs along the edge of a meadow and reach a large left-hand bend, with views of Mont Aiguille and the Grand Veymont. Descend to a junction at the edge of the woods.

(4) Take the path furthest to the right under the pine trees for less than 100 m. Turn left and walk for almost 300 m along a path offering superb views of Lake Monteynard/Avignonet and the Vertacomicorian peaks of the Grande Moucherolle and the two sisters, Agathe and Sophie.

(5) At the next junction, head right onto an unmarked path which quickly joins the PR® and leads to Villard Julien. Cross the hamlet via the road on the left.

(6) Pass a beautiful fountain and stay on the tarmac, climbing steadily until you reach the D34. Follow it to the left for almost 250 m to reach the Col de Cornillon (885 m, magnificent views over the peaks from the Grande Tête de l’Obiou to the Grand Ferrand).

(7) Stay on the tarmac, following the Route du Col as it descends gently to the right, passing the cemetery and then the Domaine des Hautes Glaces, housed in the Château de Cornillon. Turn left after the church (signpost) and continue the descent for 850 m to reach a junction with the D34G (signpost).

(8) Follow it to the right, continuing downhill for 100 m, then turn right onto the Chemin Vieux and follow it to the centre of the hamlet of Grand Oriol.

(9) Continue straight ahead along the Montée des Terrasses until you reach a junction at the Col du Thaud (view to the left of the beautiful Thaud pig farm, the Bonnet de Calvin to its right and, in the background, the Écrins and Valgaudemar).

(10) Continue straight ahead and descend to rejoin the tarmac on the D34D, which you follow to the left until you reach the D34; follow this straight ahead with care for 450 m towards Mens.

(11) Turn left onto a pleasant unmarked path, cross the Ruisseau d’Emery and reach a junction (signpost). Turn right, cross the Ruisseau de Mens and follow the Chemin des Planches to enter Mens via Place Paul Brachet.

(12) Head towards Rue du Breuil (shops and signposting for the GR®965 ‘In the Footsteps of the Huguenots’). Explore the historic centre of Mens at your leisure. Leave via Rue du Bourg , which leads to Rue Louis Rippert; follow this until the junction with Rue des Alpages or the D66 (signpost for “la Croix”). Turn left and continue for just under 400 m.

(13) Leave the D66 by turning right onto Chemin de Bas Saint-Genis and begin a pleasant, steady climb , during which you’ll be treated to stunning views in every direction! Turn left at the first junction, and again at the next one, to come out onto the D66E at a place called Saint-Genis. Walk up the tarmac road opposite for just under 200 m (signpost).

(14) Turn left onto a pleasant path through the meadows, cross a small tarmac road after 600 m, then the Ruisseau Mort, and reach the fountain at the hamlet of Ser Clapi.

(15) Continue straight ahead, then head down the small tarmac road leading to Souville and continue straight ahead along the path that crosses the Ruisseau des Prés before climbing a little more steeply to reach the Col de Saint-Sébastien on the D66.

(16) Cross it to find the road opposite that climbs to Château Vieux, allowing you to admire the magnificent panoramic view to the north with the Coiro, to its left the Tabor-Taillefer massif above La Mure, and to its right the imposing Écrins massif. 100 metres before the hamlet, head down to the left across the meadows and reach the edge of the woods to rejoin the GR®965 (signpost for “Sous Château Vieux”).

(17) Head down to the right, staying on the GR®, and emerge onto the plain onto a path which you follow to the right until you reach the tarmac road at the entrance to the hamlet of Bongarrat. Follow the small road to the left until the junction with the D228. Follow the D228 to the left until you reach the village of Saint-Jean-d’Hérans.

(18) Cross the D526 and follow the small street opposite, which leads onto the D34b near a fountain (which is not running). Walk past the church, staying on the D34b, which takes you back to your car park (S/E).

• Numerous signposts.
• Water fountains at Villard Julien (6), at Grand Oriol, in Mens, and at Ser Clapi (15).
• Several starting points are available on this circular route, depending on the villages crossed or the road passes taken.
• Red and white GR® markings from Rue du Breuil in Mens to (13) then from (17) to the church of Saint Jean d'Hérans.
• Yellow PR® markings throughout the circular loop except for 560 m from (5) and 550 m from (11).
• Refreshments available in Mens, including all shops and accommodation.

A festival of breathtaking scenery between the Vercors and Dévoluy massifs and their iconic peaks.

Mens, a Protestant stronghold situated at the foot of Mont Châtel (also known as Bonnet de Calvin). Strolling through the narrow streets of its historic centre is a real pleasure. Don’t miss the chance to sample the “Bouffette”, a pastry speciality made exclusively in Mens, and the Café des Arts, decorated in 1896 by Gustave RIQUET, who created a series of remarkable murals there dedicated to the landscapes of the Trièves.

Lake Monteynard, Avignonet (Himalayan footbridges) and Lake Sautet.