Similar to the rest of the Vercors range, the Moucherotte is largely composed of limestone. At the foot of Moucherotte, there are three rocks, known as the Three Maidens, which were used in the resistance during the second world war by the maquis of Saint-Nizier-of-Moucherotte. The southern slopes and ridges of the Moucherotte extend to the Col de l'Arc, with three consecutive secondary peaks, called "la Croix des Ramées", "du Grand Cheval" and "du Pic Saint-Michel". The Moucherotte is home to a variety of fauna, including chamois, mountain sheep, and deer. The summit is covered in grass, and loosely wooded.
Commercial use
There was once a cable car, built by the company Applevage, which connected the village of Saint-Nizier Moucherotte to the summit, where there was also a hotel, l'Ermitage. Following first financial difficulties and then vandalism, the hotel closed permanently in the mid-1970s. The uniqueness and outstanding natural beauty of the location attracted the stars of the era, and it served as the setting for the filming of some scenes from the movie "La Bride sur le cou", with Brigitte Bardot; the lead actress stayed at the hotel longer than expected, as access was cut off due to a snowstorm. The stately hotel, abandoned and left in ruins, was finally demolished at the start of the twenty-first century to return the site to its original beauty. At the same time, the derelict gondola station was also demolished. Today, there is almost no trace of its glorious past.
Sporting history
During the 1968 Winter Olympics, the ski jumping competition was held on a 90-metre springboard, which is still in place on the northern foothills of the Moucherotte. However, it has seen no use since the late 1980s.
Ascent
There are several conventional methods of ascent:
From the village of Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte, either by the Grande Randonnee, or up past the old ski slope.
From the bottom of the commune of Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte, possible routes are either through the vallon des Forges, or by the east face.
From the Lans-en-Vercors winter-sports stadium, the easiest route utilises a wide track and has a relatively gentle gradient.
