Refuge de La Tour de Borne
© latourdeborne.org
The place
Capacity: 25. The staffed refuge is open from 1 July to 1 September. You can stay for one (or several) simple night(s), with or without breakfast, half-board or full board — or just stop for a drink or a snack (very popular with children). Self-service operation as a gîte is possible outside these dates, booking by phone only: Booking contact André Besson, tel. 06 42 67 91 16, or if unavailable: Christine Rouquier, tel. 04 75 21 17 99. Postal address: La Tour, Borne, 26410 Glandage, France. There is a winter shelter, separate from but adjoining the refuge, to its right, in the form of a single-story building with: - 5 places on sleeping platforms. - A new stove that heats very well. - Several mattresses (at least 5). - A firewood store (the quantity doesn't mean there's ever too much!). - A spring + basin 5 meters away. - BBQ grills + broom + 1 metal hand shovel and a snow shovel (outside). No saw or axe. - Absolute quiet. - Close the door carefully behind you. Mobile signal: an improvement — you get about 50% signal (Orange) in front of the hut, but not inside. Check their website (linked). - From the south: Take the D939 (which passes in front of the Rio Sourd waterfall) toward Glandage. Continue straight on at the road junction to the village of Borne. Car park 350 m past the end of the hamlet (careful in winter: that's where the snowplow turns around...). A marked trail climbs in 1 h 30 to the Refuge de La Tour. Well signposted. Take in the vertical rock blades of the "Sucettes de Borne" along the way. - From the north: At the Col de Menée, take a pastoral road heading SE, to the Cabane de Jiboui. From there head SSE toward the Col de Jiboui, where a trail descends to the refuge. About the same walking time. Co-owned by 550 people organized as a GFA (land co-op). Official website: http://latourdeborne.org/
Getting there
Point de départ : le village de Borne (26410 Glandage). Depuis le premier parking (fin de route goudronnée) : 1h30 de marche. Depuis le dernier parking accessible par piste forestière (5 min en voiture) : 45 à 50 minutes de marche. Dénivelé et altitude non précisés sur le site officiel.
The setting
Le refuge est situé dans le sud du Vercors, à 5 km du hameau de Borne (Glandage), dans un cadre d'alpages et de forêts montagnardes, face aux crêtes du Jocou (2050 m). Faune locale : chamois, marmottes, tétras, aigles royaux.
What you'll find
Good to know
Booking is required year-round for the gîte section. No booking can be made for the refuge section.
