Saint-Paul-lès-Monestier offers two distinct areas to explore: hiking trails with views of the eastern Vercors cliffs, and an artistic production venue for theatre, dance, circus and music. There are also routes of varying lengths and difficulty levels. When planning a stay, you can consider culture and landscape as separate highlights and use the specific route information to decide which hike fits your schedule.
A cultural venue for artistic work
Le Pot Au Noir is an artistic production venue in Saint-Paul-lès-Monestier. It supports numerous projects by theatre, dance and circus companies, as well as music projects. Artistic work is therefore part of the town’s character alongside its trails through the landscape. Le Pot Au Noir also offers workshops and other activities where people can discover and take part in artistic pursuits. This provides a different experience from hiking: culture enthusiasts can include this in their travel plans alongside the routes.
The venue’s work ranges from supporting artistic projects to offering opportunities to engage in artistic pursuits. Theatre, dance, circus and music are the fields mentioned. Those interested in culture will find a specific local point of interest, while the hikes draw attention to the landscape and trails. These are different aspects of a stay in Saint-Paul-lès-Monestier; they do not need to be combined into a single activity.
Hikes between alpine pastures and Vercors cliffs
The “Rando train: Le pas du Serpaton” route leads to the Alpage du Serpaton, where it offers panoramic views. It passes through Saint-Paul-lès-Monestier and Gresse-en-Vercors. The alpage is an extensive summer pasture where around 600 young cattle graze every summer. This seasonal use is part of the character of the landscape destination. The hike to the alpage is listed as a moderately difficult out-and-back route covering 5.7 kilometres, with a stated duration of three hours. Its format, distance and estimated time provide a concrete basis for fitting the hike into your stay. Trail conditions can change, so take this into account when planning.
Another hiking option is “Autour de la Salette”: an easy, waymarked circular hike covering 7.6 kilometres and passing through Saint-Paul-lès-Monestier. Along the way, there are views of the eastern Vercors cliffs, particularly the Deux-Sœurs. The route also passes close to the Chapelle de la Salette, built in 1862. Compared with the out-and-back route to Serpaton, this hike has a longer stated distance, but it is rated easy rather than moderate and follows a circular route. The two hikes therefore differ both in their format and rating, and in the landscape features they showcase: the alpage and summer pasture on one, and cliff views and a chapel on the other.
Routes of varying lengths
“Coucouri” is part of the Trièves mountain biking base and is a moderately difficult circular route covering 12.6 kilometres, with a stated duration of one hour and 30 minutes. It passes through Saint-Paul-lès-Monestier and Saint-Guillaume, runs close to the Coucouri stream and offers views of the Deux-Sœurs. This means the cliffs can be seen on both a hike and a mountain biking route; each trail offers a different perspective on the same named landscape feature.
Another route option is “Les Grands Cols du Trièves – Étape 1”. It passes through Saint-Paul-lès-Monestier and is listed as a difficult circular route covering 46.7 kilometres, with a stated duration of three hours and 30 minutes. One possible starting point is Monestier-de-Clermont, where access by public transport is easier. Compared with the 12.6-kilometre Coucouri loop, this stage is considerably longer and rated difficult rather than moderate. The figures and difficulty ratings apply to each specific route and help distinguish the different options.
Planning your journey
Nearby Saint-Paul-lès-Monestier, Monestier-de-Clermont railway station is on the Grenoble–Gap TER-SNCF line. The journey to or from Grenoble takes 45 minutes. Monestier-de-Clermont is also a possible starting point for “Les Grands Cols du Trièves – Étape 1”, with easier access by public transport there. Check the timetable before travelling so you can coordinate your arrival with a possible route start.
Discover more destinations: Ambel, Clavans-en-Haut-Oisans, Ruy, Beaurepaire, Pierre-Châtel, Monestier-De-Clermont, La Salle-En-Beaumont, Vaulnaveys-le-Haut.
For the broader travel overview: Isere.
