Along the old tramway from Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye to La Trappe

In the region famous for walnuts, along the tracks of the old tramway from Lyon to Saint-Marcellin and among various church buildings.
Magnificent panoramic views over the Chartreuse, Vercors and Mézenc mountain ranges.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 20.68 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 428 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 427 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 643 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 355 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park your vehicle on the D27 by the northern entrance to the village of Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye at the foot of the cliff.

(S/E) Go south on the D27 and leave the village on your left hand side.

(1) At the fork, turn right on the D27C and cross the stream. Follow the rising road straight ahead, ignoring two roads on the left.
The road bends left, ignore a road to the right and then another on the left before arriving at the junction at spot height 434. Follow the track that climbs steeply to the right, reach an intersection and follow it for 20 meters to the right to take a trail immediately on the left. Walk past the buildings to the right and continue straight up to an intersection at spot height 489.

(2) Go left and cross the roads to follow the trail to the left. On the ledge, a path with cross yours, which you follow right and pass a farm to your left. After the farm, follow the left-hand trail towards the houses and the Chapelle de La Jayère. Follow the trail straight after the chapel and then, at the T junction, turn right to join the road.

(3) Follow the road (D20B) left until the crossroads at spot height 493 and then follow the D27 which descends slightly to the right.
Ignore the D27A which parts left and reach next path that descends sharply left, the Chemin du Pont de Fer.

(4) Descend on this path and after a right-hand curve, take the grassy trail to the left.
After about 300 metres, ignore a trail rising to the left and take the one on the right.
The smooth profile of the trail and the wall to the left indicate that you've reached the old tramway. Follow it to the Dionay cemetery, located to the right and take the road that rises left towards the village.

(5) Turn right to cross the village, ignore the road going off to the left and take the one that descends to the right. Walk closely past the buildings on your right and, when you have passed these, follow the grassy trail to the left (in fact, it's a continuation of the old track). Go past a house on your right and reach a road at spot height 522.

(6) Follow the road to the right and on the bend, take the right-hand track along the road. After 150m, cross the road before the house and take the track to the left. The track curves left then right before crossing the tunnel. Continue on the track to get to a road on a bend. Leave the path that carries on opposite and take the road up to the left.
Follow this road which then turns into a path until it meets a wide track that crosses your path at spot height 633.

(7) Turn right and get to a road (D20), following it for 50 meters to the left. Take the right-hand trail and follow it through forest to join another trail at spot height 641.

(8) Follow the trail for 150 meters towards the left to reach an intersection. Take the trail at right angles to the left. This trail follows the D20 on the other side of the metal rail. At the end of the rail, follow the steep trail to the right which leads to the site of the Abbaye de la Trappe.

(9) Go back on the same path in the opposite direction. Walk along the road behind the rail and take the forest trail. At the end of this trail, you'll get to an intersection of paths. Turn 90 degrees right and walk for 150 metres to reach the crossroads taken on the outward leg.

(8) Ignore the path on the right and continue straight up to a major intersection of trails and roads.

(10). Cross the road and take the trail almost opposite that goes alongside the forest on your right-hand side. Ignore a path going off right and then another parting to the left and continue almost in a straight line.
When you reach a path coming from the left, our path goes off to the right. Walk between the grasslands and at spot height 553, continue straight along the edge of the fields. Be alert, you arrive at the top of a quarry and walk around it descending steeply to the left to get to a crossroads at the Cul de Perrette.

(11) Follow the road opposite which rises slightly and then descends until you reach a cabin with a pylon. Descend to the left, ignore a road on your left and reach the Chapelle de Saint-Jean le Fromental. Continue, ignoring the roads to your left and right until you reach a fork.

(12) Take the tarmac path to the left. This will give way to a dirt path and then turns back into a road alongside the Barreton farm located to the left. Ignore a road going left and, after 50 meters, follow the road almost at 90 degrees to the right.

Walk past the Ferme de l'Enclos, located on your left at spot height 441 and continue until you reach a playing field opposite. The path goes left, and when it curves to the right take the path on the bend which leads to the abbey buildings. Cross two porches with the abbey to your right and reach an esplanade. You can visit the site (church, museum).
Retrace your steps, cross the Place de l'Abbeye and then turn right on the Grand Rue to join the D27. Then walk for about 50 metres to the right to return to the start point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 359 m - Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye, D27
  2. 1 : km 0.29 - alt. 355 m - D27/D27C junction, turn right
  3. 2 : km 2.2 - alt. 481 m - Tick 489, left
  4. 3 : km 4.14 - alt. 492 m - Left on the D20b
  5. 4 : km 5.05 - alt. 456 m - Left on the Chemin du Pont de Fer
  6. 5 : km 6.64 - alt. 489 m - Dionay, turn right
  7. 6 : km 7.92 - alt. 520 m - Road, hill 522, right on tram track
  8. 7 : km 10.76 - alt. 632 m - Hill 633, right on the road
  9. 8 : km 11.81 - alt. 641 m - Crossroads
  10. 9 : km 12.86 - alt. 617 m - La Trappe Abbey
  11. 10 : km 14.48 - alt. 629 m - La Chapelle Redon, cross the road, turn opposite
  12. 11 : km 16.25 - alt. 536 m - Cul de Perette crossroads, go straight ahead
  13. 12 : km 17.69 - alt. 484 m - Left on the tarmac road
  14. S/E : km 20.68 - alt. 359 m - Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye, D27

Practical information

Usual walking equipment.

In the nearby area

Numerous walnut plantations.
Chapelle de La Jayère.
The village of Dionay.
The old tramway from Lyon to Saint-Marcellin in service from 1897 to 1937 and its tunnel.
The Abbaye de la Trappe de Chambaran with a site tour, church services and souvenir shop open at certain times. A twentieth century chapel and its cemetery in Saint-Jean-the-Fromental.
The medieval village of Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye with its church buildings.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 25 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Jaijai
Jaijai

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A very nice walk with no real difficulties, lovely scenery to see, especially when you have a beautiful blue sky and you set off in the happy morning.
The only downside is that, in my opinion, a lot of the sections are on roads, which is the only negative point I have to say.

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cathyferrer
cathyferrer

Please check for tar before starting the circuit !!!!!!

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aubert.montelier
aubert.montelier

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Interesting route for the views of the Vercors in particular, and of course the visit to St Antoine, the Abbey, but a lot of tarmac on busy roads that are not very wide (departmental roads) and borderline dangerous at crossroads (col de la Madeleine, rte de Dionay...), so be careful when taking this route.

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castaing.laurent
castaing.laurent

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of walk : May 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : N/A
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant walk, with no difficulties and views of the Vercors.

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Martinou
Martinou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A lovely walk accessible to all, with beautiful open views. Variations are possible to shorten the walk if you wish. If you have children, be sure to do the part that passes through the old tram tunnel. After the walk, meet up in Saint Antoine l'abbaye for a convivial moment in this beautiful village to add to the atmosphere.

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Isabelle BDP
Isabelle BDP

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A route that can be muddy in places after heavy rain. Some beautiful views! There are indeed stretches of road to be taken, but they are not very busy. One towards "La Ville d'or" can be avoided by taking the GRP, which continues across the road to the abbey of Notre-Dame de Chambarand. Then follow the directions for the walk. We were disappointed with this Abbey. It's busy, so it's impossible to visit or take photos. And no viewpoint for a picnic. But there are other points on this walk that are a sight to behold! Thank you

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monique maussire
monique maussire

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

very pleasant..peaceful grassy paths; information on the tram and old photos all OK:::

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VaninaMJ
VaninaMJ

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Magnificent!!!
Breathtaking scenery and a hike rich in history, following in the footsteps of the old tramway that linked Lyon to St Marcellin.
This walk will also enable you to discover the Chapelle de la Jayère and the magnificent and surprising village of St Antoine l'Abbaye.
Magnificent views all along the route.
(The only downside is that I had to get out the GPS because at point 6, from memory, there is a discrepancy between the description and the reality on the ground).
No particular difficulty on this walk.
Many thanks to the author for this wonderful discovery!

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monique maussire
monique maussire
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : May 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

A little too much tarmac (from 1 to 2) and from 12 to 1
A walk that allows you to discover some very beautiful scenery; at Dionay I cut through the "cul de perrette".

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vuagnoux
vuagnoux

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant tour, with little change in altitude and many viewpoints...
We set off from St Antoine to extend to around 14 km with a country loop (yellow signs).

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ALEXC15
ALEXC15

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Superb walk!!!
A great time following the old tram route, magnificent scenery and a superb view of the Abbey as you fall back onto Saint-Antoine.
Highly recommend

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cascsdis
cascsdis

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Tour carried out on 18 07 20 in very fine weather, temperature 26 degrees.
This tour was done on a state-of-the-art LAPIERRE VTTAE.
First of all, don't choose the wrong car park, as the start will not be the same. The ideal spot is the sloping car park next to a factory in the centre of the village, as all you have to do is turn off onto the D27c.
All I can say about this walk is that it's superb. On a sunny day, you don't need a torch for the 71 metres of the tunnel. However, on a mountain bike, with your head in the handlebars, it's easy to miss the junctions indicated in the description!
Between junctions 10 and 11, there's a steep descent over large stones that's a bit technical and tricky, but otherwise the route is very rolling for most of it.
The route can be completed in between 2 and 2.5 hours.

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PELLORCE Alain
PELLORCE Alain

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Nice little walk on the hills of Saint Antoine
In these troubled times, the sun is shining, which is good for morale and we're respecting the instructions (no group hikes).

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gilbert.agnes@orange.fr
gilbert.agnes@orange.fr

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 06, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

lovely walk at walnut time, not in the fields but with the walnuts falling all over the roads.

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Lyly26
Lyly26

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Good hike with no difficulty, very beautiful landscapes of the Vercors and absolutely worth the 2 to 3 km diversions to the Abbey of Notre Dame de Chambarand.
Description parfaite attention à dionay bien prendre le chemin à droite
It's a shame you're walking on the road from Saint Antoine to Dionay, so there's no interest in this part of the route.

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