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Park in the car park at the Marsanne village hall.
(S/E) On leaving the village hall car park, turn right onto Rue Jean Moulin towards Place Auguste Canon. Go round the main village church by turning left, cross Place A. Canon, then walk past the Bar Restaurant le Globe and turn left to join the Serre de Paruel path.
At the first junction, take the path on the right and leave the Serre de Paruel path, which continues straight ahead. Stay on the main path, keeping to the left at the first fork, then turn right and you’ll reach a forest gate.
(1) Take the path on the left uphill towards the Serre de Paruel and the Creux des Alexis. 200 metres past the forest gate, you’ll come to a viewpoint overlooking the old village.
(2) When you reach the junction with the upper track, take the hairpin bend to the left towards the Serre de Paruel.
(3) Ignore the path on the left – which you’ll take on the way back – and stay on the main track until you reach the forest gate.
(4) At the forest gate, take the path up to the right towards Borne Rousse and the Creux des Alexis until you reach a crossroads.
(5) At the crossroads, carry straight on towards Creux des Alexis.
(6) At Creux des Alexis, turn left towards Borne Rousse. After 150 m, leave the main track and take the track on the left.
(7) After passing through a copse of fir trees, take the path on the left, lined with young fir trees. Enjoy the panoramic views of the Vercors massifs, the Trois Becs, Couspeau, Mont Ventoux, etc. At the end of the path, turn right and rejoin the main track leading to the Serre du Merle.
(8) Leave the main track and take the path on the left. At the end of the path, turn left again at the hairpin bend.
(5) At the junction, take the path opposite, slightly to the left, which is interrupted by a hump. Once at the top of the path, enjoy the view over the Valdaine and the surrounding mountain ranges. At the end of the path, turn left to rejoin the main track for about a hundred metres.
(3) Head off to the right to descend via the Serre de Paruel path. On the descent, this path takes a sharp bend to the left before reaching a four-way junction.
(9) Take the path on the left towards the Sanctuary of Notre-Dame de Fresneau. At the top of the path, there is a viewpoint overlooking the village of Marsanne and the Valdaine plain.
(1) When you reach the forest gate, continue straight on along the access path to the Sanctuary of Notre-Dame de Fresneau.
(10) You may wish to visit the main chapel and taste the water from the miraculous fountain of Fresneau. Continue your visit by following the Way of the Cross, which begins at the corner of the main chapel and overlooks the Sanctuary of Notre-Dame de Fresneau.
The Way of the Cross leads out onto the upper access road to the sanctuary and offers a viewpoint over the village of Marsanne and the Valdaine plain. Follow the road to the left and, at the junction with the Route de Mirmande, cross with care and continue straight ahead to reach the Priory of Saint-Félix.
(11) You can also enjoy the view from the ruins of Marsanne Castle, situated above the Priory of Saint-Félix. For the more adventurous, there is the option of climbing up to the orientation table located above the castle ruins at the hairpin bend.
Return via the narrow streets of the Old Village, steeped in history. Pass through Place de l’Hôpital; after crossing the square, take the path on the right, passing an old fountain, then join the main street of the Old Village. Head back down towards the village.
When you reach the Town Hall, go round it by turning left onto Route de Roynac, then turn right onto Chemin des Buis, which leads directly to the village hall (S/E).
Association / Club / Walk leader
Easy 
Visorando Member
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