Welcome to grâne

• The local quarry and remaining ramparts:

Stones for the steeple and Crest’s tower were extracted from the quarry, which is now partially occupied by the school complex.  Evidence of cutting and carving are quite visible in the Théâtre de Verdure.

• The castle district:

Narrow and steep alleys, often separated by masonry arches. Dated lintel.

• The steeple:

Dates from the 15th century, is 36 meters tall, with walls two meters thick.  Was used as a defence tower, having been next to one of the two village gateways.  Equipped with loopholes for firearms.  Decorated with numerous embossed stones (human figurines, animals, leaf work...) Buttressed on the side facing Rue du Fossé.  Topped by a pyramid-shaped stone spire with eight faces.  Gargoyle located on the north-east corner of the flat roof.  Has four ogival openings.  A turret sits on a cul-de-lampe, with a bartizan on the northwest corner (interior staircase).

• The ruins of the Poitier’s castle:

The remains of the mounting for an old mullioned window and a spiral staircase.  Arched cellars from the 13th century.  View of the new castle: the four sides of its towers roofs are covered in coloured tiles.

The forests, covering a large portion of the hillsides, provide numerous leisurely circuits, be it for walking or for mountain biking.  Grâne is one of the departure points in the the French Cycling Federation’s mountain biking area “Vallée de la Drôme Diois”.  The circuits of all levels of difficulty offer 110 km of trails, enthusiastically managed and maintained.  The small subsidiary roads winding across the commune are well known by the cycling tourists who brave the exceptional slopes, particularly those found between Grâne and Mirmande.  Also, the diversity of hiking paths invites you to discover the different hamlets of the commune.

Grâne is one of the departure points for the marked mountain bike circuits within the “Vallée de la Drôme-Diois”.  The six circuits begin at the square Champ du Mars, in front of the sign “Informations VTT” and follow the road to Roche sur Grâne.  The direction of circulation was established by the circuit’s creator so as to have nice downhill rides, without having to push the bike up the slopes.  The circuits are given intersection by intersection (italicized and in quotation marks in the text), in accordance with the new signalization by the Drôme’s General Council and the pictograph of mountain bike circuits.

These circuits total 110 km in the woods and hills of Grâne.  Many distances and levels of difficulty are offered. 

 38 km, 4 hours 30 minutes, over 850 m of elevation change Very difficult
A greatly varied trail having beautiful ups and downs and diverse panoramas of Montélimar’s plain, the Prealps of the Vercors, the Ardéche Mountains and the Drôme Valley.

Go to the “Pierre Sanglante” via the trail “Bois de la Dame” and enjoy the panorama of Montélimar’s plain.  A steep climb around the 3rd kilometre, a downhill stretch at the 5th kilometre towards the stream La Grennette and another steep climb up towards the “Pierre Sanglante” via “Les Micoulaux” and “Le Manchet”.  After “Voie N° 2”, there’s a slight technical variation before climbing back up towards the “Pierre Sanglante” and the panorama.  Then go to “Forillon” via a beautiful forested trail.  From there, head towards “Val Brian” on the nice trails until “Radisses”.  Head towards “Mt Brian” on the nice but sometimes rocky trails.  At “Brian Sud”, amongst the boxes, there is an abrupt drop in the direction of “Serre Avolas” and a beautiful path towards “Landon”.  From there, go towards Subsidary Road 104, then climb back up towards “Fonds de Brian”.  After a little pushing, take the passage to “L’Adret”, head down towards “Val Brian”, through the woods and the scrubland. Go towards “Freydières” and “La Planche” and “Grâne” via some nice trails.