Stargazing with the family in Vercors Drôme

Watching the night sky light up from the Col de Rousset is a family experience. Looking up at the night sky and feeling so small in the face of the immensity that surrounds us is what the Vercors is all about: thousands of stars as far as the eye can see and sometimes even the Northern Lights. A real eye-opener for the kids!

What if we went on an adventure in the Vercors?

This morning, my teenagers wanted to go to Disney to "be amazed" because apparently "on TikTok it looks amazing." Who knows... But I have something better than Disney... and closer! Without further ado, the backpacks are ready, the picnic is in the car, a quick look at the webcams to see if the weather is nice and we're on our way to the Col de Rousset. Arriving at the 4 Seasons Station, the sun is shining, it's 15:30 p.m. and the temperature is perfect. It smells like a good day!

Col de Rousset, the resort for young and old

To start the afternoon off in style with overexcited, adventure-crazed teenagers, there's nothing better than a bit of downhill scootering. Armed with helmets and our speed machines, we venture out onto the resort's trails. Rocks, roots, little wooden bridges—the kids are going crazy! After all this excitement, a break is in order! Head to the Hôtel Restaurant Le Carnozet for a well-deserved ice cream. With this beautiful weather, it would be sacrilege not to take advantage of the terrace.

The most beautiful panoramas of the Vercors

Already 17:15 p.m.! No time to waste, let's head for the last chairlift ride and head to the top of the pass for the evening. Once we reach the summit, we head off for a short walk to the orientation table with an unbeatable view of the Diois Valley and the Grand Veymont. Armed with binoculars, it's time to observe the vultures. Not 1, not 2, but 3 vultures strut across the sky! A breathtaking spectacle! Between gliding flights and soaring peaks, it's enough to dream of having wings.

Observe the famous vultures of the Vercors

The sun sets little by little over the ridges and bathes the valley in a golden light, it's the "Golden Hour" as the Djeun's say. After a day like this, the stomach starts to rumble. It's time to eat! A baguette bought on the road at the Vassieux bakery, a little cheese from the market: Bleu du Vercors, Camembar and sausage from Verta Cochon. And to make things right, we adults treat ourselves to a small beer from the Brasserie du Slalom. They're nice at Slalom, they even thought of the children with their lemonade. A real meal fit for a king!

While waiting for lights out, a game of Uno with the family is in order. It's a great time... except for the one who ends up taking all the +4s! Yes, our kids are being raised tough!

The starry sky of Vercors, a spectacle not to be missed!

Day has fallen, the air is getting cooler, and the first stars are illuminating the sky. Did you know that the Vercors is a popular spot for astronomy enthusiasts? Far from the light pollution of the Drôme valley, you can enjoy ideal conditions for stargazing. Labeled an International Dark Sky Reserve, it's the 5th in France and the 22nd in the world. It's a real treat!

Jackets buttoned up, lying in the soft grass, eyes wide open: a cloud of tiny sparkling dots unfolds before us. The Big Dipper, the Little Dipper, and the evening star are accompanied by their thousands of companions. A grandiose spectacle as far as the eye can see. We were even able to make a wish when a shooting star passed by.

So, kids, did you get a great view? Apparently so, mission accomplished!

It's getting late, time to head home. Headlamps are out of backpacks and we're off on the way back. There's no chairlift there, so we take the GR93 road to the Col de Rousset resort. Be careful on the descent; the path is steep. Twenty minutes later, we arrive at the car to head home. It may not have been Disney, but we had an exceptional family day in the Vercors region of Drôme.