Chambaran forest

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Monastic products: six kilometres from Roybon, the abbey of Chambaran is home to a community of Cistercian sisters, settled in the Chambaran area facing the Vercors. Until 2003, the nuns produced cheese that was renowned way beyond the region's borders. They have stopped production, but the community sells products from other monasteries including cheese, pâtés, beer, wine, honey, chocolate, cakes, painkiller balm and soap.
The monastery shop is open on weekdays (except Tuesday) from 10:30am to 11:45am and from 2:45pm to 5:00pm, and on Sundays from 11:30am to 12:15pm and from 2:45pm to 5:00pm.
www.chambarand.fr

History, culture and heritage

Chambaran nature reserve: located in Saint-Pierre-de-Bressieux, the Chambaran nature reserve is one of the largest in France with a fenced area of 240 hectares. Discover 35 kilometres of trails where hundreds of animals roam in total freedom including deer, fallow deer, mouflons, roe deer, wild boar, and birds. The reserve also features three ponds (Fond Coully, Fontrouge and Étang Neuf), great fishing spots if you like carp, pike and perch.

Chambaran churches: the church of Châtenay, consecrated in 1862, is a neo-gothic building with rich cast-iron liturgical furniture and painted walls. The bell tower houses a carillon of 19 bells, the oldest listed in France, classified as a historical monument. The church-tower bell sounds from mid-June to mid-September every Saturday from 6:00am to 6:30pm. The Romanesque church of Saint-Pierre-de-Marnans in Marnans dates back to the 12th century. A listed historical monument, it is an important example of Romanesque art in the Dauphiné area. Every year, the pure and austere building is the venue of the "Les étés de Marnans" music festival.

Roybon: the village of Roybon is decidedly the capital of Chambaran, nestled in the heart of an immense forest, with the Vercors mountains in the background. Local architecture: almost all the houses in Roybon built in the last century have pebble walls. The pebbles were found on river beds and in fields. History: many fortified sites belonging to the Dauphiné or the Savoie were built due to the wars between the principalities. In the centre of Chambaran forest which marked one of the borders of the Dauphiné area until 1355, Roybon is an example. Roybon's ramparts have three gates: Romans, Saint-Vallier Gate and La Côte-Saint-André Gate. Close to the village, Lake Roybon provides many leisure activities with beaches, playgrounds and picnic areas. Admission free. Trout is regularly released for fishing.