Family trail

Le tour d’Allemont N°14

Le Raffour > Le Boulangeard > Oz village > Lac du Verney

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

This easy route will give you an opportunity to explore the Eau d’Olle valley. From the small road along the bottom of the Belledonne mountains to Allemont (D43) you can enjoy magnificent views of the Grandes Rousses mountains. This is a good late-afternoon tour, so you can enjoy the gentle evening sun which gave this impressive mountain range its name.

ITINERARY

From Bourg-d’Oisans follow the bottom of the famous road to Alpe-d’Huez (D211). Then turn left and follow the small road from Le Bassey to Les Essoulieux. Then you will catch up with the RN91 on which you will cycle in the direction of Grenoble. In Rochetaillée turn right and cycle towards Allemont. After the first bridge turn right and follow the D44 towards Le Villard-Reculas. Cycle through the small hamlets of Raffour and La Beurrière. Keep climbing and follow the small road to Le Boulangeard (D44a). Go back down to the Lake Verney on the D526 in the direction of Le Rivier-d’Allemont - the Col de la Croix de Fer. The road rises steeply; turn left on the D43 to Le Villaret. Then you can nicely and quietly cycle all the way to Allemont.

A LOCAL STORY

During the silver mining activities of Chalanches, which took place between 1767 and 1799, an estimated quarter of the production was stolen by the minors, in spite of every possible precautionary measure taken (the mineral was taken down to Allemont in sewn-up bags). In order to combat the fraud, the mining authorities pleaded with the clergy three times to hold ceremonies of the « monitoire » to put an end to this fraud. The procession would move from house to house, dragging a crucifix along by the feet. This was meant to symbolise the pain that Christ felt about this theft. The procession would stop in front of each house, claiming that the thief was going to die in that year. Nonetheless, a clandestine foundry was once found in a place adjoining the sacristy, as well as slag in the floor of the church of Allemont!

A QUOTATION

"The wheel that keeps turning won’t rust."
Ancient Greek proverb