Mont Aiguille reaches 2,087 metres and is an inselberg on the eastern edge of the Vercors. In Chichilianne, you can choose from circular routes of varying difficulty, marked out-and-back trails and themed routes. To plan your visit, first compare distances and approximate durations; then decide whether village history, landscapes or memorial sites should be your focus.
Hiking by distance and duration
Le tour de Chichilianne is an easy 4.2-kilometre circular route that takes about three hours. It starts and ends at Place de la Fontaine. The trail follows the village ridges, passing viewpoints and information panels. This route combines choosing your distance with discovering the area around the village.
The Tour du Mont Aiguille is considerably longer and more challenging: this circular route covers 17.5 kilometres, takes about six hours and starts and ends in the hamlet of Richardière. It enters the Réserve naturelle des Hauts-Plateaux du Vercors several times; special visitor regulations apply there. Before setting out, check the latest official guidance and trail conditions.
Le Pas de l’Aiguille is also listed as taking about three hours, but it is a marked out-and-back hike covering 8.3 kilometres. Compared with the 4.2-kilometre circular route Le tour de Chichilianne, the two hikes of similar duration differ both in distance and format.
Village, landscapes and memorial sites
Chichilianne retains a compact village layout centred around a medieval church, communal bread ovens and fountains. The Romanesque church of Chichilianne is characteristic of the Romanesque architecture of the Trièves; its portal consists of two moulded bands.
The Les Fourchaux route offers views of the cliffs of Rochers du Parquet and Mont Aiguille. It also leads to a monument honouring the Vercors resistance fighters. At the summit of Pas de l’Aiguille are the Nécropole Nationale du Pas de l’Aiguille and a nearby cave where resistance fighters hid during a German attack in the Second World War. The Rando Châteaux route leads to Château de Passières.
Themed trails and practical information
The Sentier des Artisans de la Terre is a themed circular route between Chichilianne and the hamlet of Trézanne. Information panels explore agricultural life in the Trièves. The trail is open year-round and free to access; snow and weather can affect access conditions.
The Sentier des Artisans de la Terre focuses on agriculture; the Sous le regard du géant Mont-Aiguille route passes through several hamlets of Chichilianne featuring typical Trièves architecture. Its information panels cover geology, history, art, biodiversity, human life and legends. The trails therefore differ not only in their route format but also in the subjects they explore.
The Ferme équestre des 4 chemins in Chichilianne offers pony rides, horse riding and nature experiences for children and other visitor groups. In winter, activities include ski-joëring; opening times may vary by season. The information centre in Chichilianne provides information about the village and its hamlets, Mont-Aiguille, the Parc naturel régional du Vercors and its Réserve. If you are planning a visit, check availability before travelling.
Discover more destinations: La Mure, Seyssuel, Châtelus, Pont-En-Royans, Saint-Clair-Du-Rhône, Charavines, La Ferrière, Proveysieux.
For the regional travel overview: Isere.
