NATURAL HERITAGE
Autrans, situated in the heart of the Vercors Natural Regional Park has preserved its natural environment and typical architecture of this mountain region.
Situated at 1,050m altitude, Autrans offers a landscape typical of the Vercors : large open rolling hillside pastures surrounded by forests of pine and beech trees, dispersed by isolated hamlets.
Highest point : 1,709m in Charande on the Molière mountain crest.
Places to discover :
* la forêt de Claret, takes its name as it is the first area to welcome the sun at sunrise.
* le Pas de la Clé 1509 m. In the past, Autrans and Méaudre forests formed a corridor at the « Pas de la Clé » by which you could descend to the villages of Montaud and Veurey.
* la Molière 1632m, Panoramic table identifying the principle alpine peaks including Mont Blanc..
* le Signal de Nave 1609m, stunning viewpoint over the Isère valley plain to the Chambarans.
Forests
The forests of Autrans extend over an area of 3500 hectares...
The forests of Autrans extend over an area of 3500 hectares (of which 3000 hectares are owned by the community with the remainder in private ownership) within a total territory of 4325 hectares. This demonstrates the importance of the natural landscape of our village.
The forests themselves are composed of pine trees (45%), spruce (40%) and beech (12%) with the remainder being maple, ash and other species. These woods are characterized as "futaie jardinée".
The Autrans forests produce high quality wood of which 8,000m3 to 10, 000m3 is felled annually and used as an energy source by the local community in several of the public buildings (school, village hall,…)
Fauna - Flora
The forests provide shelter for the natural wildlife….
The forests provide shelter for the natural wildlife (deer, chamois, roe deer, wild boar). However do not forget the other animals such as the wolf and the lynx, who are discreet but ever present.
And also the flowers of which there are the lady’s slipper, the martagon lis and other numerous orchids. This floral variety demonstrates the importance of the biological diversity of the region.
The area of Gève hosts a large number of « Tengmalm owls » (this is a small fluffy owl, the size of a blackbird which originates from Scandinavia).
The Wild Grouse which enjoys the open forest meadows can be frequently found here.
Agriculture
A dynamic agriculture in Autrans...
At the beginning of the 20th century there was about 130 working farms in Autrans.
By the 1970s this number had reduced to 50.
Now there are only 17 operational farms of which 13 are dairy producers within the Autrans community.
In July 2003, it was decided to unify the milk production with "Vercors Lait" and regroup the Vercors farms. Now “Vercors Lait” includes 68 producers from Rencurel to Autrans.
The forests provide shelter for the natural wildlife (deer, chamois, roe deer, wild boar). However do not forget the other animals such as the wolf and the lynx, who are discreet but ever present.
Annual milk production represents 8 million litres and 1 million litres of “bio milk”. Vercors Lait utilizes a unique micro-filter method in the fabrication of the traditional local cheeses, including Bleu du Vercors, Col Vert, Brique and St Marcellin.
Autrans also has 2 cheese dairies and shops within the village : Cheese dairy « les hauts plateaux » and cheese dairy « Bellecombe ».
Farms visits
Farm & hostel "La Ferme de Martine et François"
* Evening entertainments and farm produced dinners,
* Farmhouse meals available on site or home delivered.
Open all year, reservations only
(+33)04 76 95 73 63
(+33)04 76 94 76 12
Farm "Les Marmottes"
A registered farm with the societies « Bienvenue à la Ferme », "Ferme découverte" and "Goûter à la ferme", "Ferme pédagogique"
Visits available to a fully operating mountain farm:
* History of the farm,
* Visit to the milk dairy,
* Opportunity for the children to bottle feed the calves,
* Farmyard animals,
* See the milking process,
* Experience traditional farm food specialities and birthday parties
* Educational farm visits
Open all year, reservations only (visits on Tuesdays and Fridays)
(+33)04 76 95 73 40
beatrice@lafermedesmarmottes.com
www.lafermedesmarmottes.com
Cheese Dairy and Shop « Les Saveurs du Haut Plateau »
Cheese dairy with Vercors milk :
* Tome grasse,
* Raclette,
* Fromage blanc,
* Meule du Vercors,
* Fresh cream and "Ripioupiou".
The cheese dairy is available for visits one day a week.
The shop is open daily 9 - 12.30am and 3 - 7pm
(+33)04 76 27 77 80
Cheese Dairy and Shop « Bellecombe »
* Bleu du Vercors,
* Pic-Abeau,
* Tomme,
* Bombé,
* Butter, cream,
* Farm visits,
* Autrans market.
Open daily 8.30 - 11.30 am and 5 - 9 pm
(+33)04 76 95 76 49
