The Bure plateau and its peak, the Dévoluy’s other world
We went up twice this summer — in late June when snow patches still cling to the slopes, then in mid-August under the dry summer light. Two moods, one same shock: up there, the Dévoluy becomes a mineral landscape unlike anything else in the massif.
| Outings | 20 June and 15 August 2026 (same route) |
| Character | High limestone mountain, scree and late snow patches |
| Best for | Walkers — long climb, rocky ground |
A lunar plateau above the valleys
Past the last pastures, the trail tips into a world of pale stones and grey ridges. In late June, tongues of snow still cut across the slopes; by mid-August everything is dry, white and blazing under the sun. Either way, you walk through an almost lunar landscape.
From the top, the panorama is immense: the farmed valleys far below, the Dévoluy ridges in the foreground and, on a clear day, the neighbouring massifs as far as the eye can see. This is the outing that gives you the true measure of the massif.
The plateau is also home to a true singularity of the Dévoluy: the NOEMA observatory of IRAM, one of the most powerful millimetre-wave radio telescopes in the Northern Hemisphere. Its twelve giant antennas, set at 2,500 m amid the scree, listen to the birth of stars and galaxies — a science-fiction setting in the very heart of the massif.
Good news: the observatory can be visited (booking page in French). Guided science tours run on selected Friday mornings from May to October, from age 6, with a cable-car ride up from the Enclus station — booking required, places are limited. A perfect outing for sky-curious minds, young and old.
Our tips
This is a walkers’ outing: a long climb, rocky ground, no water source and practically no shade. Plenty of water, proper shoes and an early start are essential.
In early summer, snow patches may remain on the upper section — take care when crossing them. The reward matches the effort.
