Paul Smit  Mick Palarczyk | Features, Photos and TextTwo faces, one philosophy |
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FEATURE (Category: Europe | Alps | France | summer | scenic drives | outdoor | hiking | mountains | naturereserves)
France: The Vercors - Limestone Fortress among Lavender Fields
France: The Vercors - Limestone Fortress among Lavender Fields
The Vercors is a natural citadel that stretches for 60 km. along the western edge of the French Alps. This elongated massif is bisected by some spectacular gorges, and its chalky white summit is home to a wild and hauntingly beautiful nature reserve. But it is from the surrounding regions, the secluded Trièves in the east, and the lavender rich Drôme valley in the south, that the full splendour of the Vercors' fortress walls can perhaps best be appreciated.
![Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.503]
'Roman quarry.'
At the Roman limestone quarry on the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors some fragments of ancient pillars can still be found. The quarry was in use from 125 to 275 AD and is situated along the Roman road that, crossing the Vercors massif, linked Die with Grenoble. Photo Mick Palarczyk.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/Features/Europe/France-The-Vercors-Limestone/france-alpsnorth-24503/128500392_CwmF3-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.503]
'Roman quarry.'
At the Roman limestone quarry on the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors some fragments of ancient pillars can still be found. The quarry was in use from 125 to 275 AD and is situated along the Roman road that, crossing the Vercors massif, linked Die with Grenoble. Photo Mick Palarczyk.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.505]
'Lonesome pine-1.'
A lonesome pine tree offers a resting place for hikers on the Plaine de la Querie, a green plain on the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors. Photo Mick Palarczyk.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/Features/Europe/France-The-Vercors-Limestone/france-alpsnorth-24505/128500381_AChTm-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.505]
'Lonesome pine-1.'
A lonesome pine tree offers a resting place for hikers on the Plaine de la Querie, a green plain on the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors. Photo Mick Palarczyk.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.510]
'Lonesome pine-2.'
A lonesome pine tree offers a resting place for hikers on the Plaine de la Querie, a green plain on the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors. Photo Mick Palarczyk.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/Features/Europe/France-The-Vercors-Limestone/france-alpsnorth-24510/128500371_3eeWW-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.510]
'Lonesome pine-2.'
A lonesome pine tree offers a resting place for hikers on the Plaine de la Querie, a green plain on the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors. Photo Mick Palarczyk.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.511]
'Lonesome pine-3.'
A lonesome pine tree offers a resting place for hikers on the Plaine de la Querie, a green plain on the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors. Photo Mick Palarczyk.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/Features/Europe/France-The-Vercors-Limestone/france-alpsnorth-24511/128500360_hxckz-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.511]
'Lonesome pine-3.'
A lonesome pine tree offers a resting place for hikers on the Plaine de la Querie, a green plain on the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors. Photo Mick Palarczyk.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.520]
'Hauts Plateaux du Vercors-1.'
The Hauts Plateaux du Vercors, the southern highest part of the Vercors, is a wild place without villages or roads. Photo Mick Palarczyk.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/Features/Europe/France-The-Vercors-Limestone/france-alpsnorth-24520/128500199_WNxHh-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.520]
'Hauts Plateaux du Vercors-1.'
The Hauts Plateaux du Vercors, the southern highest part of the Vercors, is a wild place without villages or roads. Photo Mick Palarczyk.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.522]
'Hauts Plateaux du Vercors-2.'
The Hauts Plateaux du Vercors, the southern highest part of the Vercors, is a wild place without villages or roads. Photo Mick Palarczyk.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/Features/Europe/France-The-Vercors-Limestone/france-alpsnorth-24522/128500191_LKNMC-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.522]
'Hauts Plateaux du Vercors-2.'
The Hauts Plateaux du Vercors, the southern highest part of the Vercors, is a wild place without villages or roads. Photo Mick Palarczyk.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.523]
'Grazing sheep.'
On the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors, the southern highest part of the Vercors, a herd of sheep grazes the slopes without the attendance of a shepherd. Photo Mick Palarczyk.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/Features/Europe/France-The-Vercors-Limestone/france-alpsnorth-24523/128500178_XYhT4-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.523]
'Grazing sheep.'
On the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors, the southern highest part of the Vercors, a herd of sheep grazes the slopes without the attendance of a shepherd. Photo Mick Palarczyk.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.527]
'Sheep on the move.'
On the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors a herd of sheep passes through a small gully without the attendance of a shepherd. Photo Mick Palarczyk.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/Features/Europe/France-The-Vercors-Limestone/france-alpsnorth-24527/128500275_h8tYm-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.527]
'Sheep on the move.'
On the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors a herd of sheep passes through a small gully without the attendance of a shepherd. Photo Mick Palarczyk.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.529]
'Aiguille seen from Trièves-1.'
Seen from a cornfield with nut trees near the village of Roissard in the Trièves, the Mont Aiguille, on the eastern edge of the Vercors massif, has the appearance of a thin column. Photo Mick Palarczyk.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/Features/Europe/France-The-Vercors-Limestone/france-alpsnorth-24529/128500265_GRoD7-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.529]
'Aiguille seen from Trièves-1.'
Seen from a cornfield with nut trees near the village of Roissard in the Trièves, the Mont Aiguille, on the eastern edge of the Vercors massif, has the appearance of a thin column. Photo Mick Palarczyk.")
[FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.503]
'Roman quarry.'
At the Roman limestone quarry on the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors some fragments of ancient pillars can still be found. The quarry was in use from 125 to 275 AD and is situated along the Roman road that, crossing the Vercors massif, linked Die with Grenoble. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
'Roman quarry.'
At the Roman limestone quarry on the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors some fragments of ancient pillars can still be found. The quarry was in use from 125 to 275 AD and is situated along the Roman road that, crossing the Vercors massif, linked Die with Grenoble. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
![> [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.503]
'Roman quarry.'
At the Roman limestone quarry on the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors some fragments of ancient pillars can still be found. The quarry was in use from 125 to 275 AD and is situated along the Roman road that, crossing the Vercors massif, linked Die with Grenoble. Photo Mick Palarczyk.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/Features/Europe/France-The-Vercors-Limestone/france-alpsnorth-24503/128500392_CwmF3-S.jpg "> [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.503]
'Roman quarry.'
At the Roman limestone quarry on the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors some fragments of ancient pillars can still be found. The quarry was in use from 125 to 275 AD and is situated along the Roman road that, crossing the Vercors massif, linked Die with Grenoble. Photo Mick Palarczyk.")
[FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.503]
'Roman quarry.'
At the Roman limestone quarry on the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors some fragments of ancient pillars can still be found. The quarry was in use from 125 to 275 AD and is situated along the Roman road that, crossing the Vercors massif, linked Die with Grenoble. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
'Roman quarry.'
At the Roman limestone quarry on the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors some fragments of ancient pillars can still be found. The quarry was in use from 125 to 275 AD and is situated along the Roman road that, crossing the Vercors massif, linked Die with Grenoble. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
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