Chichilianne: Hiking at Mont Aiguille and village history

Chichilianne combines hiking trails in the Vercors landscape with a village center whose history is reflected in its church, communal bread ovens and fountains. If you are looking for a hotel in Chichilianne, you can plan your stay around whether you are more interested in a short village walk, a longer mountain hike, or the places and stories of the community.

Hiking trails for different timeframes

Le tour de Chichilianne is an easy 4.2-kilometer circular route, planned to take around three hours. The start and finish are at Place de la Fontaine. The route crosses village ridges with viewpoints and information panels. This lets you combine the hike with impressions of the village and views along the way.

Le Pas de l’Aiguille also takes around three hours. This marked out-and-back hike is 8.3 kilometers long. At the summit, you can discover the Nécropole Nationale du Pas de l’Aiguille and a nearby cave. Resistance fighters hid in the cave during a German attack in the Second World War. The two hikes, despite their similar duration, differ in length, route type and destinations.

For a longer day of hiking, the challenging Tour du Mont Aiguille covers 17.5 kilometers and takes around six hours. The circular route starts and ends in the hamlet of Richardière in Chichilianne. Along the way, it enters the Réserve naturelle des Hauts-Plateaux du Vercors several times, where special visitor regulations apply. Before setting out, check the current guidance for the Réserve and the local trail conditions.

Les Fourchaux also combines scenery and remembrance: the route leads to a monument honoring the resistance fighters of the Vercors and offers views of the cliffs of Rochers du Parquet and Mont Aiguille. Mont Aiguille rises to 2,087 meters and is an isolated mountain at the eastern edge of the Vercors. The different hikes therefore offer different highlights—from viewpoints and village ridges to memorial sites and longer routes.

Themed trails and insights into the Trièves

The Sentier des Artisans de la Terre is a themed circular trail between Chichilianne and the hamlet of Trézanne. Information panels introduce agricultural life in the Trièves. The trail is open and freely accessible year-round; snow and weather can affect access conditions. Check these conditions before your visit.

The “Sous le regard du géant Mont-Aiguille” route leads to several hamlets in Chichilianne, whose architecture is typical of the Trièves. Information along the route explores geology, history, art, biodiversity, human life and legends. Those wishing to connect several themes will find both local scenery and a range of perspectives here. The “Rando Châteaux” route leads to the Château de Passières.

Village layout and Romanesque architecture

Chichilianne preserves a compact village layout centered around a medieval church, communal bread ovens and fountains. The Romanesque church is considered characteristic of the Trièves’ Romanesque architecture. Its portal consists of two molded bands. These details add a look at the village’s architectural heritage to the hiking trails; they also make the village a destination in its own right, beyond the mountain hikes.

An information office in Chichilianne provides information about the village and its hamlets, Mont Aiguille, the Parc naturel régional du Vercors and its Réserve. If you plan to use it for guidance, check whether the information office is open locally before your trip.

More activities throughout the year

The Ferme équestre des 4 chemins offers pony rides, riding and nature experiences for children and other visitor groups in Chichilianne. Dates may vary by season. In winter, the activities include Ski-Joëring; this activity is also seasonal. If you would like to plan your stay around these activities, check the relevant dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Herbeys, Panossas, Saint-Christophe-En-Oisans, Mont-De-Lans, Choranche, Montalieu-Vercieu, Viriville, Vernioz.

Go to the main travel overview: Isere.