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MTB and Cycling in Oisans |
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MTB Trails
in Oisans :
- » Cross country
- » Freeride
- » DownHill
- » Raid
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Season's events
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MTB and Cycling in Oisans |
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Season's events
Cross country
Leave your car in one of the free car parks in Bourg-d’Oisans – the ride will bring you back to the same place.
This is a fine circular ride on paths cooled by the Romanche River. The remains of a Roman road, carved high up out of the rock, are a reminder that a lake, the Saint-Laurent, once covered this land. In 1191, a landslide around Infernet led to a significant rise in water levels. This natural dam gave way 28 years later, taking with it Vizille and Grenoble.
Chroniclers recount that the devastating wave was felt as far away as the Camargue…
From Bourg-d’Oisans, follow signs to Grenoble to the football pitch on the outskirts of the village, just after the VVF centre. Cross the road and take the signposted track, known as the Roman path, that runs along the mountainside through the small villages of La Paute and Les Sables. In Rochetaillée, look up to your left, where you will see the astonishing remains of the Roman road, built high up because of the lake that then filled this plain. Several parts can still be seen today over a 300m stretch, with the hollowed-out rock forming a 2.2m wide arch. Evenly-spaced grooves are a probable indication of beams to support a wooden deck used to widen the road. This shows the strategic importance of the Oisans road during Roman times as it linked Italy to Gaulle.
Cross the main road and continue on the same path to the Romanche dyke on the left-hand bank of the river. Join the D526. Turn right and right again, onto the D44 to Le Rafour. From Le Rafour, take the right-hand path to Le Chatillon. Join the main track again from the left. After La Vieille Morte, cross the Romanche and follow the dyke all the way along up to the junction of the road, on the right, which will take you back to your departure point. Go off to the right, following the signs. The path starts off alongside the mountain, before crossing a bridge to finish along the peaceful Romanche dyke. Take care crossing the road.
The remains of the Roman road.
