The Benefactor of Bournillon

This hike leads to the Rochers de Bournillon, where the plateau's forests suddenly give way to a spectacular panorama of the Bourne gorges and the Cirque du Bournillon. The contrast between the peaceful atmosphere of the undergrowth and the immensity of the cliffs lends this walk a unique, almost timeless feel.

Around a bend in the path, the Benevolent One of Bournillon appears, a monumental sculpture created in 2019 by the artist Jérôme Aussibal. Installed at the edge of the cliffs, it seems to contemplate the depths of the valley and engage in a dialogue with the landscape. Depending on the light and the viewer's perspective, it evokes by turns a sentinel, a guardian, or a figure from another age.

As the sun sets, the stone takes on golden hues, and the site assumes an almost ceremonial dimension. This juxtaposition of the artwork and the Bournillon cliffs invites contemplation and serves as a reminder of how art can sometimes reveal the power of a landscape. "The Watcher" thus joins a collection of artistic creations scattered across the Vercors plateaus, inviting hikers to see the mountains in a new light.