The Ferrand round trip (Circuit n°14)

In the heart of the village of Besse-en-Oisans, classified as a remarkable site, the Maison des Alpages houses a museum, a projection room and exhibitions dedicated to pastoralism. It also offers outings to meet the herds and shepherds.The museum tour is divided into several sections: - A permanent, interactive exhibition invites you to discover pastoralism as it is practiced today, dispelling preconceived ideas and highlighting age-old know-how. - A museum area dedicated to the rich history of Besse-en-Oisans and the Ferrand Valley will introduce you to life in mountain villages in bygone days (collection of old objects, photos, personal accounts, etc.). - Numerous modules on issues such as climate change, predation, the environment and the economy linked to pastoralism complete the visit. The Maison des Alpages also offers free activities for children, including access to the library (with a wide selection of books on subjects such as the mountain environment, fauna, flora, transhumance and life in the past), and booklets of games and puzzles available from reception. Finish your visit with a visit to the museum's boutique, dedicated mainly to local producers, whose aim is to introduce quality products to local and visiting customers, promoting members of the Route des Savoir Faire de l'Oisans, Alpe is Here and the Ecrins National Park. The Maison des Alpages also offers guided tours of Besse, outings to the mountain pastures to meet the herds and shepherds, and hikes in the summer pasture hamlets. After these outings, liven up your evenings with the "Les alpages font leur cinéma" film festival. LABELS : - Member of the Richesses Culturelles de l'Oisans (RCO) network - Member of the "Route des Savoir-Faire de l'Oisans". -Esprit Parc National, -Ecrins National Park Information Point

Besse en Oisans, the perfect example of an authentic mountain village. All the houses of this charming village are made in wood and stone. A unique place in Oisans thanks to its typical and preserved architecture.The village of Besse is listed as a "remarkable heritage site", and the Emparis plateau is a Natura 2000 site. The village of Besse is typical of the uissan mountain habitat. Even a hundred years ago, the face of this small mountain village was identical. The inhabitants of yesteryear, whether peddlers, craftsmen or rugged mountain farmers, have left their permanent mark. Come and enjoy the gentle way of life in this unusual village, one of the most beautiful in the Oisans. This large mountain community used to be called "St André au milieu de la forêt". Then, after a major fire on August 24, 1540, legend has it that all that remained of the forest were birch trees. Hence the commune's current name, which comes from Bes, meaning "birch" in local dialect. Facing due south, Besse is famous for its squat stone houses, huddled together to protect themselves from the cold. They are separated by narrow, steep, cobbled streets, built to withstand heavy snowfalls. The walls are made of lauze, whose dark, austere appearance is enhanced by the quartz-veined granite, which glows in the sunlight. It's a busy, bustling village that has preserved the soul of yesteryear. At the heart of the village is the Maison des Alpages, a major tourist and cultural attraction in the département, at the heart of pastoral activities. Young and old alike can discover Uissan cultural traditions and traditional activities linked to pastoralism in a fun and entertaining way. "Who hasn't seen Besse and Paris hasn't seen anything...". By "Paris" we mean the Emparis plateau, whose 2,900 hectares stretch out like a natural balcony at an altitude of 2,200 m, facing the grandiose panorama of the Aiguilles d'Arves, the Meije and the Sarenne glacier. A "giant screen" on one of the finest panoramas in the Alps. This listed natural site is one of the largest mountain pastures in Europe. Every year, it welcomes numerous herds that keep the landscape "open" and perpetuate the ancestral culture of high-mountain pastoralism.

The village of Clavans (1400m) was called “Saint Didier du pied du bois” and means “the key” in local dialect. This name was given because the village always kept the entrance of the Valette and Quirlies passes, located on the former border with the Savoie department.Nestled against a slate ridge, this flowery village, often awarded on the occasion of departmental competition will enchant you with its pretty fountains, squares, its church and its small and charming chapel. The two villages that comprise it (Clavans le Bas and Clavans le Haut) are located 2 kms away from each other, bordering Ferrand. This impetuous torrent, which has also given its name to the valley, has its source in Lake Quirlies on the Sarenne glacier (subject to a beautiful hike in the site) and then passes through the pastures, forming beautiful waterfalls and ends its way into the turquoise waters of the Lac du Chambon. Its beautiful old houses testify to the prosperity of farmers and peddlers of Oisans. The long and harsh winters are the reason that some men became hawkers to sell products throughout France (and sometimes abroad!) They sold haberdashery products, small household items and plants from Oisans. You can also admire the old houses, some of which have hosted Huguenot refugees in the earliest times of the French Wars of Religion. Indeed, following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, there are hundreds of Protestants of Oisans who tried to flee to the Savoie region by crossing the Vallette and Prés Nouveaux passes. The people of Clavans in Haut-Oisans, have maintained their traditions. Discover the craft activities such as “farouilles” (old locks), basketry (homemade wicker baskets…), and taste delicious local honey and local and regional specialties. In summer, it is possible to escape to the hills by crossing the Col de Sarenne, a wonderful panoramic viewpoint of the Massif de la Meije linked with the Alpe d’Huez ski station by a former pastoral road. The slope of Cerisier, of Clos Chevalleret, without forgetting the traditional walk to the Quirlies Lake are some of the beautiful landscapes that you can discover. Note that Clavans is located on the GR54 Tour de l’Oisans. In winter, the backcountry ski slope of the Grand Sablat glacier can be used, starting from the Pic Blanc (Alpe d’Huez) with the help of a guide.

Sitting on a rocky peak, Mizoën is the front door of the Ferrand valley. This charming village of Oisans gives a beautiful and panoramic view on the Chambon lake, located below.Offers a beautiful view of the Meije mountain, the gorges of Romanche and the Taillefer summits. The village of Mizoën is shaped by history and legends (the Huguenots before the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, the history of the Chambon dam in 1920 – 1930,) shaped by the farmers' work, by transhumance, by its traditions and its old paths surrounded by oratories. You can also visit the museum in the Clots hamlet, located near a mountain hut, that will teach you about the life of farmers before. The village is also located in the middle of beautiful landscapes : the Clots, the Emparis plateau and its lakes. You will find in Mizoën a warm and friendly atmosphere where you will be able to rest, discover and contemplate.

We reach the Sarenne pass by following a series of hairpin bends that slowly weaves above the beautiful Ferrand valley until the Emparis Plateau. Did you know that the word Ferrand comes from the latin term “ferus” which means wild?So much to do! The chamois is almost more common that human in this area dedicated to the mountain. A unique road to discover! A beautiful, open sky visit of the typical landscapes of Oisans. The Vallée du Ferrand, dedicated to pastoralism is completely different from its neighbour the Vallée de Sarenne. Here you are in a fragile environment, protected in order to save the animals and the pastures. So discover with care and stay on the roads.