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 24.486]
'Mont Aiguille-1.'
Millennia of erosion have isolated the needle of the Mont Aiguille from the main limestone massif of the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors. Photo Mick Palarczyk.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/128500326_iGG64-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.486]
'Mont Aiguille-1.'
Millennia of erosion have isolated the needle of the Mont Aiguille from the main limestone massif of the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors. Photo Mick Palarczyk.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.488]
'Mont Aiguille-2.'
Millennia of erosion have isolated the needle of the Mont Aiguille from the main limestone massif of the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors. Here a view from the Pas de l'Essaure, at the eastern edge of the plateau. Photo Mick Palarczyk.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/128500315_Wmk8P-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.488]
'Mont Aiguille-2.'
Millennia of erosion have isolated the needle of the Mont Aiguille from the main limestone massif of the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors. Here a view from the Pas de l'Essaure, at the eastern edge of the plateau. Photo Mick Palarczyk.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.492]
'Mont Aiguille-3.'
Millennia of erosion have isolated the needle of the Mont Aiguille from the main limestone massif of the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors. Here a view from the Rochers du Parquet, at the eastern edge of the plateau. Photo Mick Palarczyk.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/128500296_tsTZJ-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.492]
'Mont Aiguille-3.'
Millennia of erosion have isolated the needle of the Mont Aiguille from the main limestone massif of the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors. Here a view from the Rochers du Parquet, at the eastern edge of the plateau. Photo Mick Palarczyk.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.494]
'Mont Aiguille-4.'
Millennia of erosion have isolated the needle of the Mont Aiguille from the main limestone massif of the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors. Here a view from the Rochers du Parquet, at the eastern edge of the plateau. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/128500287_DrwUn-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.494]
'Mont Aiguille-4.'
Millennia of erosion have isolated the needle of the Mont Aiguille from the main limestone massif of the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors. Here a view from the Rochers du Parquet, at the eastern edge of the plateau. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.496]
'Eroded plateau.'
At the eastern edge of the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors, near the Rochers du Parquet, the limestone plateau of the Vercors is cut by erosion gullies. Photo Mick Palarczyk.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/128500409_sgmY2-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.496]
'Eroded plateau.'
At the eastern edge of the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors, near the Rochers du Parquet, the limestone plateau of the Vercors is cut by erosion gullies. Photo Mick Palarczyk.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.499]
'Edge of Vercors massif.'
At the southern edge of the Vercors massif, limestone cliffs catch the last rays of the setting sun near the Pas de l'Echelette, just east of the Col de Rousset. Photo Mick Palarczyk.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/128500401_jecyZ-Ti-2.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.499]
'Edge of Vercors massif.'
At the southern edge of the Vercors massif, limestone cliffs catch the last rays of the setting sun near the Pas de l'Echelette, just east of the Col de Rousset. Photo Mick Palarczyk.")
![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/photos/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/photos/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/photos/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.")
[FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.486]
'Mont Aiguille-1.'
Millennia of erosion have isolated the needle of the Mont Aiguille from the main limestone massif of the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
'Mont Aiguille-1.'
Millennia of erosion have isolated the needle of the Mont Aiguille from the main limestone massif of the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
![> [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.486]
'Mont Aiguille-1.'
Millennia of erosion have isolated the needle of the Mont Aiguille from the main limestone massif of the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors. Photo Mick Palarczyk.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/128500326_iGG64-S.jpg "> [FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.486]
'Mont Aiguille-1.'
Millennia of erosion have isolated the needle of the Mont Aiguille from the main limestone massif of the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors. Photo Mick Palarczyk.")
[FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 24.486]
'Mont Aiguille-1.'
Millennia of erosion have isolated the needle of the Mont Aiguille from the main limestone massif of the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
'Mont Aiguille-1.'
Millennia of erosion have isolated the needle of the Mont Aiguille from the main limestone massif of the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
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