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The Balcon de Montaud (Montaud rock step) has a valley topography sculpted by erosion into the marl (Hauterivian) that overlies the limestone bar (Valanginian) of Bec de l'Échaillon. Another limestone bar (Urgonian), which forms the cliff of the Dent de Moirans, overlooks it.

The geographic location of this small agricultural plateau, an elevated refuge close to the development zone of the Cirque de Moirans, has generated residential pressure that is bound to increase.

Close to Grenoble, via Veurey-Voroize and Noyarey, the plateau has preserved its agricultural continuities despite real estate pressure and some undergrowth and conifer colonisation. The result is an attractiveness that fits well with the tranquillity and serenity typical of an elevated location in direct contact with sky and stars.

On the upper plateau, Montaud and a few hamlets occupy the lowest point of a longitudinal profile, towards which there is a convergence of meadows, separated by long lines of trees that follow the small valleys. The overall impact is balance, or even more, genuine harmony.

The lower plateau has a bocage with more pronounced meadow and grain-growing continuities, which gradually grow less frequent and give way to forests as one moves towards Bec de l'Échaillon , the northern- most point of the Vercors, at the foot of which the Isère passes after having crossed the Cluse de Voreppe. A great calm reigns undoubtedly due to the isolation of the area, heightened by the closing of the Mortier tunnel due to the risk of landslides.