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A very beautiful hike starting from the car park at the bar in Saint-Cyr-de-Valorges. You will travel through the Saint-Cyr and Violay countryside, passing by the Échanssieux dam and then Violay, returning via Les Crêtes (GR®7) where you will enjoy two magnificent landscapes: on your right, the Monts du Lyonnais (and, on a clear day, the Alps and Mont Blanc); on your left, the Monts du Forez, Auvergne and Cantal.

A magnificent hike around the countryside of Machézal and Amplepuis. The views of the Roanne and Haut-Beaujolais regions are breathtaking.

This circuit with pleasant trails allows us to admire views of Amplepuis and its surroundings, the Château de Rochefort and splendid views of the Monts du Lyonnais, Tarare and its surroundings. Not to be missed. Following work to install wind turbines, the French Hiking Federation has significantly modified the route at point (8) to divert theGR®7. I have redrawn the route as indicated by the FFR, so please follow this modification to complete the circuit.

On this route, you’ll enjoy splendid scenery: the Forêt du Roannais plain and its hills, the Monts de Tarare and Monts du Lyonnais along theGR®7, and Rochefort Castle to your right, plus a section along parts of the Route Napoléon. A challenging route due to its length and elevation gain. See the ‘Practical Information’ section.

Alternative route via the Panissières monorail: 15.2 km instead of 26 km. Take this route for the view of the Forez Mountains, passing through Donzy – a must-see and well worth a visit. Yellow and white signposted route with a black locomotive from Jas to La Valette, then from Chez Grizonnet back to Jas. Following a comment from the author, it is preferable to park at (4) to start the hike. The coordinates for the car park in the village of Donzy are: Longitude: 4.27990° Latitude: 45.74670°.