Le Rafour - Villard Reculas

A beautiful loop following the ancestral paths that linked the villages of the Oisans, and which offers a breathtaking view of the plain of Le Bourg-d'Oisans and the Uissans summits. Ascent and descent in the forest.TECHNICAL INFORMATION Departure: Le Bourg-d'Oisans Tourist Office Difference in altitude: 810 mtr Duration of the loop: 6h.30 Distance: 16,4 km Level: difficult TEMPORARY ITINERARY! (Until reopening of Vieille Morte) Le bourg-d'Oisans - La Garde - Le Ribot d'en haut - Sous St Férréol - Huez - Pas de la Confession - Pierre Ronde - Villard Reculas - St Antoine - Lachal - Pas de la Confession - Le Ribot d'en Haut (Decent OBP 266) - La Garde - Le Bourg-d'Oisans. ORIGINAL ITINERARY From Le Bourg-d'Oisans, head towards Vieille Morte via Les Essoulieux. Just before the ruins of the old hamlet, coming from Bourg d'Oisans, you will find the path that goes up on the right through the woods towards Récompense/ Villard-Reculas. The forest of beeches, oaks and spruces is home to a rich fauna, and you may even meet a roe deer. At Villard-Reculas, an area of mountain pastures and hay meadows surrounds the village. The view extends over the plain of Le Bourg-d'Oisans and the Taillefer massif. The houses in the village of Villard-Reculas are highlighted by a harmonious architecture using exposed stone and wood. At the church, continue in the direction of Lanchal. This path takes you through the meadows and back to the tarmac road. You can also continue towards Huez and stay on the tarmac road to the Pas de la Confession. From the shale cliffs overlooking the valley between Villard Reculas and Huez, the view from the balcony over the whole plain is superb. Below Huez, you can enjoy a plunging view of the Sarenne gorges. We take the route of the Pas de la Confession. . From Huez, join St Ferréol by the road to join the path which passes in front of the Chapelle St Antoine and crosses to the right before going directly down to the Ribot d'Huez by crossing the Alpe d'Huez road twice. A short descent through the forest, before crossing the road again, leads to Ribot d'en Bas. You arrive in La Garde between the houses, by the road to La Ville. Next to the cemetery, the route continues in the direction of Bourg d'Oisans. The descent cuts through the bends of Alpe d'Huez before joining the road to Bassey. On the main road you turn right to return to the centre of Bourg d'Oisans. It is possible to link the Pas de la Confession to the Ribot d'Huez by the Chemin des Miettes (OBP N°2 -266). This very steep path always follows the line of the slope in short laces. From the path in the pine forest there is a panoramic view of the 21 bends of Alpe d'Huez, the plain of Bourg d'Oisans and the Rochail massif. It allowed the inhabitants of La Garde and Ribot d'Huez to go to Villard Reculas. From Huez, join St Ferréol by the road to join the path which passes in front of the Chapelle St Antoine and crosses to the right before going directly down to the Ribot d'Huez by crossing the Alpe d'Huez road twice. A short descent through the forest, before crossing the road again, leads to Ribot d'en Bas. You arrive in La Garde between the houses, by the road to La Ville. Next to the cemetery, the route continues in the direction of Bourg d'Oisans. The descent cuts through the bends of Alpe d'Huez before joining the road to Bassey. On the main road you turn right to return to the centre of Bourg d'Oisans. It is possible to link the Pas de la Confession to the Ribot d'Huez by the Chemin des Miettes (OBP N°2 -266). This very steep path always follows the line of the slope in short laces. From the path in the pine forest there is a panoramic view of the 21 bends of Alpe d'Huez, the plain of Bourg d'Oisans and the Rochail massif. It allowed the inhabitants of La Garde and Ribot d'Huez to go to Villard Reculas. TO SEE DURING YOUR HIKE -The Oratory of Huez -The Chapel of St Férréol -Route de la Confession -Panoramic view of the plain TO SEE CLOSE BY -Sensitive natural area of the Marais de Vieille Morte TO KNOW According to the legend of the "Route de la Confession", only the pure souls could venture on this narrow road, exposed to rock falls (chamois love the slopes above the road) and intimidating in case of vertigo. The villarais therefore claimed to be of good virtue. An oratory at the start of the road, on the Huez side, was an obligatory stop to confess before setting off