In Oisans, the valleys do not just trace reliefs: they tell stories, shaped by glaciers, torrents and human life. Each valley has its own character.
The Romanche Valley, with its dizzying gorges, bears witness to a ceaseless struggle between water and stone. The Vénéon, wild and untamed, leads dreamers to the edge of the Écrins National Park. On the Eau d'Olle side, it is a mosaic of mountain pastures and forests that invites you to travel. The Oisans valleys cannot be summed up: they must be explored, to grasp their uniqueness!
The one who shapes Oisans
Romanche Valley
The Romanche is the main valley of Oisans, crossed by the eponymous river that has sculpted the landscape for millennia. It rises at an altitude of 2 m, in the Écrins massif, and crosses Oisans from east to west. This valley is home to emblematic villages such as La Grave and Le Bourg-d'Oisans. One of its particularities is to be marked by a rich activity linked to hydraulic energy, while retaining access to the prestigious summits of the Écrins National Park.
The gateway to Alpe d'Huez
Olle Water Valley
Located in the north of Oisans, the Eau d'Olle valley is the one bathed by water, with its lakes of Verney and Grand-Maison. Its name comes from its torrent, whose source is located to the east of the Col du Glandon, in Savoie, and flows into the Romanche. Enclosed by the Belledonne and Grandes Rousses massifs, this valley is a privileged access point to the Alpe d'Huez area. Its villages, such as Allemond et Vaujany, offer a blend of mountain traditions and modernity.
The origins of the Écrins National Park
Vénéon Valley
Stretching from the southeast to the southwest of Oisans, the Vénéon valley is a paradise for mountaineers and hikers. Saint-Christophe-en-Oisans and Vénosc, true high mountain landmarks, are places steeped in memory. It is here that the history of the Écrins National Park began, with the short-lived creation of the Bérarde National Park in 1913. Today, a large part of the valley is in the heart of the park in order to preserve its natural wealth. The vertical landscapes, between glaciers and impetuous torrents, make this valley a must-see for lovers of raw mountain scenery.
Alpine lands
The Ferrand Valley
Isolated and wild, the Ferrand Valley exudes the timelessness of a preserved world. This territory flourishes around the Ferrand torrent, which springs at 2 m, east of the Pic de l'Étendard (475 m), before joining the Romanche River. Its vast mountain pastures have provided an ideal refuge for shepherds and their flocks for centuries. The villages of Besse, Clavans-en-Haut-Oisans et Mizoën are the guardians of this pastoral history, embodying an art of living rooted in the agricultural traditions of the region.
The hidden gem of Oisans
Sarenne Valley
Known for the famous Sarenne black run, the longest in Europe, this valley stretches below Alpe d'Huez on one side, andAuris-en-Oisans on the other. Shaped by the Sarenne torrent, which rises from the eponymous glacier at 2 m, it offers beautiful landscapes on the peaks of the Grandes Rousses. To explore its treasures, such as its forests and waterfalls, you will have to take the trails on foot or by mountain bike. No road will take you there, which contributes to its charm.
Secret and powerful
Lignarre Valley
With an almost mysterious discretion, this valley first insinuates itself into the hollow of the gorges, where the road follows the meanders of the Lignarre torrent. The steep cliffs of the Écrins and Taillefer rise up like stone giants, imposing, almost oppressive. Then, everything opens up. A soft light bathes a green setting, where the small hamlets ofOrnon cling to the slopes, discreet, as if they were watching over this motionless landscape.
FAQ
from the Oisans valleys
What are the Oisans valleys?
In Oisans, there are 6 valleys:
- Romansh,
- the Veneon,
- Olle Water,
- the Ferrand,
- the Lignarre,
- the Sarenne.
Which Oisans towns can you visit by valley?
- Romanche Valley: Villard-d'Arêne, La Grave, Le Freney-d'Oisans, Le Bourg-d'Oisans, Livet-et-Gavet.
- Olle Water Valley: Vaujany, Allemond.
- Vénéon Valley: Saint-Christophe-en-Oisans, Vénosc (commune of Deux Alpes).
- Ferrand Valley: Clavans-en-Haut-Oisans, Besse, Mizoën.
- Sarenne Valley: La Garde-en-Oisans.
- Lignarre Valley: Ornon.
What is the longest valley in Oisans?
La more largee vallée from Oisans is that of Romanche. It is divided as follows: Upper Romansh Valley, Valley of the Middle Romansh, valley of the low Romansh.
What is the shortest valley in Oisans?
Most short Oisans Valley is that at Line.
What is the most beautiful valley in Oisans?
Impossible for us to choose ! They all have a charm and character of their own.
