Mont Aiguille rises above Clelles to the west. The area also features a rural landscape shaped by farming and livestock grazing, marked trails, a seasonal Sunday market and the history of the Église de Clelles. When planning a trip, you can therefore make hiking, local specialties and culture your own priorities.
Landscapes and trails around Clelles
Clelles lies on the edge of the Parc régional du Vercors. Its rural landscape has been shaped over centuries by traditional farming and livestock grazing. It includes fields, meadows, woodland, hedgerows and sunken lanes; the wildlife and plant life around Clelles are also diverse. Mont Aiguille, rising above the village to the west, is a distinctive landmark in this landscape.
Numerous marked trails run through Clelles and its surroundings. The long-distance GR 91 trail also passes through the nearby area. Two circular walks offer practical starting points for planning a hike. The short circular walk at Canal de Clelles runs close to the station and the Maison de Pays, follows the canal and offers views of Mont Aiguille. Les facettes du Mont-Aiguille is a marked circular walk of 11.4 kilometers with around 415 meters of elevation gain. It takes about four hours and is rated as moderate. While the Canal walk focuses on the canal and mountain views, Les facettes provides specific details on distance, elevation gain and time required. Trail conditions can change; check them before setting out.
Sunday market and local cuisine
A producers’ market takes place every Sunday morning from March to November in the town hall square. Products on offer include fresh meat, vegetables, fruit, eggs, cheese and honey, as well as processed goods such as pasta, fruit juice and terrines. There are also handicrafts, plants and flowers, and knives can be sharpened. The selection may vary from one market day to another. If you are going to the market for a particular product, check what will be available that Sunday.
Local specialties in Clelles include ravioles and caillettes. Ravioles are small parcels of dough filled with potato and onion. Caillettes are made with pork neck, liver and bacon, along with herbs or leafy greens such as spinach and sorrel. The two specialties thus differ in their ingredients: one is a dough parcel filled with potato and onion, while the other combines meat with herbs or leafy greens.
Church history and cultural program
A papal bull from 1123 mentions the Église de Clelles under the name Sancta Maria de Claelis. The bell tower dates from the 15th century and is listed as a historic monument. The church also houses a Westminster carillon clock made by the MAYET company.
The cultural program includes the traveling cinema L'Ă©cran vagabond, which screens films in the Jean Giono hall in Clelles. Screening schedules can change, so check the dates before your trip.
Plan your journey and stay
Trains run between Grenoble and Clelles. Check the timetable for your travel date, as services can change. This lets you plan your travel dates around the activities that interest you most.
Discover more destinations: Chozeau, Saint-Étienne-De-Saint-Geoirs, Velanne, Saint-Pierre-De-Chartreuse, Saint-Nazaire-Les-Eymes, Ornon, Viriville, Morette.
For the broader travel overview: Isere.
