Shared and protected spaces

Dévoluy is a wild and sensitive natural setting where people and animals live together. To keep relations between all the inhabitants of the massif at their best, here are a few tips to follow during your stay.

Alpine pastures

A place to work and play

On your walks through the vast mountain pastures of Dévoluy, you’re likely to come across herds of cattle, guarded by shepherds and their dogs. During the summer months, the mountains are where they live and work, so it’s important to respect their peace and quiet: don’t enter their huts without permission, don’t frighten the herds, and keep your dogs on a leash.

On foot :

By bike, on a trail :

Herding dogs

how to react?

If you come across a herd on your way, you’re likely to encounter the dogs in charge of protecting it. First of all, signal to avoid surprising them, and go around the herd if possible. Here are a few rules to follow if they approach you:

stop ;
face the dogs ;
don’t stare into their eyes;
speak to them calmly;
put an object between you and the dogs without waving it (backpack, jacket, bicycle, etc.).

When a guard dog detects an intruder close to the herd, his reflex is to bark or run towards it.

This behavior is normal: its purpose is to intimidate the intruder and dissuade him from attacking the herd. This behavior is not a sign of aggression on the part of the dog. On the other hand, any aggressive gesture towards the dog will only aggravate the situation.

The essentials

I keep my cool

I identify myself as a human and speak calmly to the dog.

In case of bite

I fill in a declaration form at the Tourist Office in Le Pré, which will be forwarded to the appropriate authorities.

I don't attack the dog

Stone-throwing, stick-throwing and pepper-spraying all contribute to making dogs aggressive.

Focus on

The Dévoluy ewes

Have you come across the producers of Dévoluy during your walk? Discover their products!

Made in Le Dévoluy

Protected areas

A sensitive spaceThe Bure plateau

The Plateau de Bure is a unique area: a gigantic, high-altitude scree, it is home to a rich diversity of protected animal and plant species found only in this type of environment.

In order to limit the disturbance of wildlife and the destruction of this biotope, and to ensure that the Bure plateau remains preserved and open to all, regulations have been put in place limiting practices.

The following are prohibited (among others):

Traffic outside marked trails (except during winter);
Motor vehicle traffic;
Fires;
Camping and bivouacs;
Mountain biking and electrically-assisted mountain biking;
Dogs not on a leash;
Take-off and landing of any aircraft (drone, paraglider, etc.);
Aerotract activities (kites);
Flying any motorized craft less than 300 m above ground level;
Flying drones over the entire perimeter (except in exceptional cases);
Gathering, uprooting and destroying plants;
Harvesting fossils, insects and other animals;
Deposit waste of any kind.
Gathering, uprooting and destroying uncultivated plants and collecting fossils, insects and other animals.