Cirque d'Archiane, Natural amphitheater in Châtillon-en-Diois, France

Cirque d'Archiane is a natural amphitheater formation where limestone cliffs rise approximately 400 meters (1,300 feet) and create a basin-shaped bowl. The structure was carved by erosion and sits at the southern edge of the Vercors mountain range.

The karst erosion cirque formed by the collapse and clearing of a karst network, running from south to north; the national natural heritage inventory describes it as the Urgonian escarpments of the Cirque d'Archiane, a platform-to-basin transition in the southern Vercors. Alpine ibex were reintroduced in 1989 and 1990. Three young bearded vultures were released here on 16 June 2010, a programme still running in 2023, with a first egg laid in 2022. The site was classified, together with the Rocher de Combeau, by a decree of 28 May 2025.

The hamlet of Archiane sits at the foot of the cirque, and a farm there marks the start of the GR93. A waymarked vulture trail leaves the hamlet, letting walkers watch the griffon vultures that nest on the cliffs. Climbers use the surrounding walls under a charter agreed between climbers, naturalists and the Vercors park to avoid disturbing the birds.

A marked circular trail begins from Archiane village and takes roughly two to three hours to complete the full route. Visitors should wear proper hiking shoes and check seasonal conditions, as the path can be challenging during winter or after heavy rain.

The cirque holds the Vercors' main griffon vulture colony, re-established about 25 years ago; a signposted "sentier des vautours" starts from the hamlet. Since 16 June 2010 bearded vultures have been released here, and a first egg was recorded in 2022. A climbers-naturalists charter sets climbing restrictions to avoid disturbing nesting birds.