Villard Notre Dame - Hiking from Bourg-d'Oisans

Wild and spectacular route along the waterfalls of the brook of Rochail with the crossing by a footbridge
A mineral and green trail with a grazing finish for a spectacular view of the Oisans.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Start: park at the Lac Bleu parking lot in the hamlet of Le Vert
Difference in altitude: 808M EN POSITIF
Duration round trip: 4h round trip,
Return distance: 14KM
Level: difficult (between 700 and 1100 m): a few aerial and cabled passages, a monkey bridge and a steep path with a few steps. Can be tricky on the way back (be well equipped: good shoes and poles).

TOP MAP
IGN Top 25 map n°3335 E (EST)

ITINERARY

Leaving Lac Bleu at the hamlet of Le Vert, you continue towards the cascade de la Pisse on the voie verte. This part of the hike is rated easy. Just after the waterfall bridge, the start of this hike will be signposted on your right in the direction of "Villard Notre Dame".

The hike then becomes more difficult, on a steep path through the forest, with a few cabled sections before arriving at a monkey bridge - enough to diversify your hike!

A green and mineral world with regular views over the Oisans to catch your breath!

A little extra: the path opens up to offer you a small unsuspected plateau where the torrent de la Pisse flows past, a place of tranquillity before continuing along the path to arrive at the "Sous le Perron" junction. a balcony path linking the Refuge des Sources to Villard Notre Dame.

For this itinerary, turn right to reach Villard Notre Dame. There's a tricky passage before you reach the pastures, which are well stocked with cows. Along the way, you'll discover the ruins of the Hameau des Essards, the historic part of which was looted and burned by soldiers in 1943. The hamlet's occupants, maquisards who had been warned just beforehand, had just enough time to leave.

You'll arrive on the road leading to the village, where you'll find either a picnic table on the bend in the road, or the snack restaurant LA GARDETTE, which will be delighted to welcome you before you set off again!


TO SEE ON THE COURSE
- Large monkey bridge
- Intermediate plateau of the Pisse waterfall
- Viewpoints and flora: lavender
- Historic passage through the hamlet of Les Essards

TO KNOW

- Wired overhead passageways
- A large monkey bridge

- Continuing on the right, just before reaching the road to Villard Notre Dame, you'll find the hamlet of Les Essards, with a detailed description of its history at the end of the path on the village road.

- You can make a loop by continuing along the path and descending towards Bourg d'Oisans N°623 via La Gardette: beware of overhead passages and scree crossings.