Commune de BARD

After passing through Bellevue, you’ll walk alongside the vineyards and reach a plateau from where you’ll see the Vizézy Gorges and the village of Essertines to your right, and the tower of Old Ecotay and the Cotayet Valley to your left. You’ll cross the Cotayet and pass through beech woods. Following a steep path, you’ll reach the ‘end of the world’, near the ruins of an old hamlet. Taking a path through the valley, you’ll reach Vinols.

This route crosses the River Cotayet twice and offers varied scenery: low stone walls, beech groves, paths lined with hazel trees, and views over the plain and the Alps.

This route will allow you to discover the hamlet of Vinols from different angles. It crosses the Cotayet twice and winds its way through woods of Garoles and Fayards.

After passing through the hamlet of Celle, a pleasant hillside path descends to the Charavan river, then climbs back up to Quérézieux, surrounded by deciduous trees. The descent offers a splendid view of Bard, then of Vieil-Écotay nestled at the bottom of the valley, with its beautiful stone houses, castle, church, wash house, and two rivers that meet under a magnificent little stone bridge.

You will discover the charms of Charavan, Bard and the Forez plain from an enchanting perspective.

This route will take you from Vinols to Bard, featuring a few steep climbs. In Bard, you can enjoy a meal at the Auberge de la Grand Font. On the way back, a short detour via the Roman road will offer you a magnificent view of the Forez plain.

This route, starting from Lérigneux, will take you along the Roman road, with lovely views accompanying you all the way. On your return, you can enjoy a refreshing drink in the village at the Coin des Écureuils.