This year we returned again to the Briançonnais region in Hautes-Alpes for our winter/spring vacation. However, we did not stay in the Serre Chevalier valley as we usually have done, but booked the accommodation in the village of Villar-Saint-Pancrace in a different river valley, namely that of Durance, which by […]
For our last hike of this vacation we climbed from the village of Ville to the limestone plateau of Gras and walked down to the village of Vogüé. Again, this wasn’t difficult or technical hike, just long, and mostly traveled on a smooth trail. Only the ascent from and the […]
After five nights in Aurillac it was time to move on, to Mende. We had planned to visit a couple of villages on our way: Bozouls and Aubrac (both in the department of Aveyron), but also made quick stops in Estaing and Espalion (also in Aveyron) — in the first […]
There are two things to like about Annecy; one is the annual Martin Fourcade Nordic Festival — an invitational biathlon and cross country skiing competition, always attracting the world’s top athletes in both disciplines — and the lake, especially the running/bicycle trail by the trail. Annecy is a beautiful town, […]
The design capital of France truly disappointed us. Ever since we drove through the central Saint-Étienne a couple of years ago, and got somewhat lost there, I have wanted to visit the city with more time. The city was filthy, filthier than the capital, if it even is possible: there […]
We spent a week in Crest in central Drôme at the foot of Southern Vercors range, hiking in surrounding areas, but also going for a couple morning runs. We like this area of Drôme for multiple reasons: its landscape is an interesting mixture of forested mountains and Mediterranean scenery. Also […]
I’ve lost track how many times we have spent our winter vacation in the Serre Chevalier Valley in Hautes-Alpes department, but one thing is sure: the weather has been mostly good. And so it was this time, too. Actually it was extra good, since the sun shone from the clear […]
This was again one of those hikes that go up, up, up and then down, down, down, and one can’t take the eyes off of the trail — otherwise one risks tripping or twisting an ankle. Supposedly easy (according to several sources) this hike was nice but somewhat tedious (11.6K […]
Another easy hike (11.6K in 3h 50mins, D+/D- 720m) deep in the Chartreuse range. The first half was quite boring, since we mostly walked in the forest and did not have many views to the surrounding mountains. The second part was much more interesting. It also traveled in the forest, […]