Heritage and tradition

Our architectural heritage

Our architectural heritage is representative of the evolution over the centuries of the villages of Villard de Lans and Corrençon en Vercors.

Initially driven by a forestry economy, the area later turned to agriculture. The many farms still standing on the Vercors plateau bear witness to this agricultural past.

Whether in bright sunshine, a thick white blanket or dense fog, these farms are part of our local landscape, blending seamlessly into the natural environment. Take the time to look up – you’ll be amazed!

Why this shape of gable?

These traditional farmhouses in the Vercors are very characteristic for their mineral profile and the presence of a lauze gable, otherwise known as a “redenté” or “sparrow-stepped” gable.
This was done to protect the thatched roofs from bad weather, such as the south wind, which is very common on the Vercors plateau. The facade of the house generally faces due south, turning its back on the cold north wind, and includes most of the openings. The purpose of the Vercors farmhouse was to shelter people, animals, crops and equipment. At the top of the roof is a heavy stone, known as the “couve”, a symbol of fertility.

If you look at the heavy Vercors farmhouse lurking on the ground, you’d guess it was full of livestock and crops…

1924 Jules Blache. Geographer and Resistance fighter

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Guides will help you discover the Vercors through its fauna, flora and local heritage.

Our agricultural heritage

Villard de Lans and Corrençon en Vercors have always been lands of livestock farming and agriculture. This know-how has forged our landscapes and our people.

It plays a major role not only in the local economy, but also in the use and maintenance of open spaces.

Like tourism, it is a dominant economic activity in the PNRV area, with a number of assets, based on the quality of its products and its integration into its landscape and economic environment.

Despite recurring questions about the decline of farming, agriculture remains very dynamic, with farmers collectively thinking about their future while respecting numerous values: quality of life, quality of products, quality of the environment, openness to residents, local authorities and other socio-professional categories, etc.

Want to find out more?

Committed to maintaining mountain traditions, the farmers of Villard-de-Lans/Corrençon-en-Vercors invite you to discover the wealth of their know-how and savoir-vivre.

Don’t miss the opportunity to admire the herds in the pastures, the presence of which is testimony to intense agricultural activity. Farmers can also welcome you to their gîtes, farms or inns, or for a snack to share a moment of their life in contact with the animals of the Vercors. Proud of their heritage, they can help you discover products with a long tradition, such as goat’s cheeses, St-Marcellin and the famous “Bleu du Vercors/Sassenage”, which has been made here for over six hundred years, not forgetting honeys, unusual jams (milk, dandelion, etc.) and poultry… So many healthy products close to nature that can help make your stay in the Vercors a pleasant one.

Our architectural heritage

Our architectural heritage

Why this shape of gable?

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