Gorges de la Bourne

Villard de Lans is not far away from some magnificent gorges along several rivers and yesterday we had a "Gorge Day".  We took two cars and traveled along the Goule Noir ( black throat) to the Grottes de Choranche.  We were able to get a fabulous view of the gorges from the caves.
We stopped at Pont-en-Royans for coffee and a walk around this tiny town build over the river.  There was a lovely walk along the riverside which gave views of the ancient houses perched on the cliffs above the Gorge, where the river can quickly become a dangerous torrent.  I just loved this place and it would have been lovely to stop for a swim, but we had more to do.
We drove through the Combe Laval where the road snakes along the edges of sheer drops and holes cut through rocks. We had a picnic lunch in the cool shade of the Foret de Lente before visiting the moving Memorial to the Resistance in Vercours near Vassieux-en-Vercours, one of several towns completely destroyed by the Germans in July 1944.  We drove home through the Goule Vert gorge.  A beautiful day.