Chamaloc combines the striking cliffs of the Vercors and hiking options with a lavender tradition maintained since 1930 and local cheese production. When planning your trip, you can choose between an easy hike, a more challenging via ferrata, watching bearded vultures, and visits to farms.
Cliff scenery in the Vercors
Chamaloc is an agricultural village at an altitude of 800 metres, near Die, and lies on the D518. Since the Col de Rousset Tunnel opened, the road has served as a gateway to the Vercors. Cliffs several hundred metres high dominate the village. Its elevation, agriculture and striking landscape give Chamaloc a distinct character for anyone interested in experiencing nature and local history together.
But de l’Aiglette is a rocky promontory on the southern cliffs of the Vercors, at an altitude of 1,524 metres. From there, the 360-degree panorama stretches from the Diois to the south to the Vercors Plateau to the north. The view thus takes in two distinctly named landscapes and extends from the south to the north of the Vercors.
Hike or via ferrata?
Les Fayards de Chironne is an easy out-and-back hike, 2.91 kilometres long with 131 metres of elevation gain. It starts and ends in Chamaloc and takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. The route is marked with the white-and-red GR trail markers and the green-and-yellow markers of the Vercors Regional Nature Park (PNR). Markers may be updated; check trail conditions and signage before setting out.
The Via ferrata de Chironne offers a different challenge: it is 500 metres long, with 160 metres of elevation gain, faces east, and is rated difficult to very difficult. The route is estimated to take about two hours. A marked trail then leads users back to the starting point in about 20 minutes; allow extra time for this return walk. Compared with Les Fayards, the difference is not just the time required, but above all the via ferrata’s difficulty rating.
To protect the white-clawed crayfish, do not enter the stream above the access point to the Comane. Below the village, there is also a designated observation point where bearded vultures can be watched near a feeding site. So, alongside the trails, visitors can choose to focus on landscapes or wildlife.
Lavender and farm-produced cheese
Distillerie des 4 Vallées is a family-run farm in Chamaloc, at the foot of the Vercors. Since 1930, it has continued the tradition of growing and distilling lavender. From April to October, guided tours cover cultivation, harvesting and distillation methods. Workshops on traditional lavender distillation may depend on the season or require a reservation.
At La Tournelle Farm, 80 Alpine Chamoisée goats are raised organically and fed hay produced on the farm. Their milk is used to make Picodon and other cheeses. The farm offers guided tours and on-site sales; booking is required. The two farm visits therefore differ in focus: this one centres on goat farming and cheese, while the distillery focuses on growing and processing lavender.
Temple and local history
The Temple de Chamaloc was built around 1870 and restored as a municipal building. An earlier point in the village’s history is the year 1685: at that time, Chamaloc had its own pastor, a temple, a cemetery and 87 Protestant families. Before then, the village was a branch of the church in Die. These details trace distinct chapters in the village’s history without conflating the two dates.
The different attractions offer practical guidance when choosing where to stay: an easy hike, a challenging via ferrata, bearded vulture watching, or insights into lavender and cheese production. When planning, also take into account the distillery’s seasonal tours and the booking requirement for La Tournelle Farm.
Discover more destinations: Hauterives, Mornans, Montjoyer, La Roche-De-Glun, Saulce-Sur-Rhône, Beaumont-Monteux, Saint-Barthélemy-De-Vals, Piégros-La-Clastre.
For the regional travel overview: Drôme.
