Around Fontanès, on the west side

Beautiful route along the ridges around the village of Fontanès. Free parking in the castle grounds.

Technical sheet

214273
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.30 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 218 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 212 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 869 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 690 m

Description of the walk

Park in the car park inside the castle’s grounds where parking is free.

(S/F) Head out of the park by the large gate and immediately take the path on the left, Chemin de Saint-Galmier. Walk along the boundary wall of the park for a few dozen metres and continue straight downhill.

(1) Take the road to the right Head alongside a farm building to meet up with another road below.

(2) Follow the road to the right and continue on the paved road.

(3) Take the left path that goes straight to the Greloup farm. Go around the farm on the right as far as the road.

(4) Follow the road left for a few metres then take the dirt road that goes right opposite of the entrance to the farm. Continue on the path through woods and go straight to the hamlet of Aliziers on the RD54.

(5) Arrive at the intersection, continue for a few tens of metres eastbound on the RD54 before taking the right dirt road that divides immediately at a fork. Then take the path on the left.

(6) Back on the RD54, follow the road for a few metres and then take the dirt road to the left at the buildings. 50 m further on take the right fork along the pin hedge around a house. Continue straight, cross a local road at a place called Le Pilon and reach the RD3.

(7) Follow RD3 straight towards Fontanès for about 500 m.

(8) Take the local road that starts right in front of an abandoned farm. Continue straight until the first dirt road on the left. Continue straight on the dirt road and, a few hundred metres before a crossing, turn left towards La Croix des Hommes Morts. Take the path that goes to the right of the cross and go straight.

(9) At the fork, take the dirt road that goes uphill opposite and go straight to the village. Once in the village, cross the RD3 and take the street opposite, Rue de l'Ecole. Continue straight and arrive in opposite the big castle gate and the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 856 m - Castle car park
  2. 1 : km 1.08 - alt. 717 m - Firm, right then left
  3. 2 : km 1.29 - alt. 692 m - Route
  4. 3 : km 1.97 - alt. 705 m - Leave the road, take the path on the left
  5. 4 : km 2.39 - alt. 756 m - Le Greloup
  6. 5 : km 4.68 - alt. 836 m - Les Aliziers
  7. 6 : km 5.08 - alt. 823 m - D54
  8. 7 : km 5.94 - alt. 799 m - Le Pilon, D3
  9. 8 : km 6.53 - alt. 811 m - At La Grande Borne, turn right onto the local road
  10. 9 : km 8.28 - alt. 853 m - Fontchevalier, three-way junction, take opposite
  11. S/E : km 9.3 - alt. 854 m - Castle car park

Practical information

The terrain is varied but always dry. Bring walking shoes as some trails are quite stony.

In the nearby area

The castle park is open to the public. You can see a pigeon loft, a hen house (open from 1 March to 1 October) and there is a nature trail that explores the different trees found in the castle grounds.

Reviews and comments

3.9 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.8 / 5
Clarity of route map
3.7 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
pechal
pechal

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of walk : May 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : N/A
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No


The route was followed using the Visorando app, so there was no problem following the route.
The route is very pleasant because it is on the ridges, so there are great views over the St Etienne valley and Le Pilat.

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DILN
DILN
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Good route, but the signs are too blurred in places, leading to mistakes (particularly towards the Grateloup farm). There are landmarks to be added (Don't turn instead of Les Roches, for example).

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Thank you JMRAND
I have the impression that you have reversed the quotations for the description and interest of the tour. Am I wrong?

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JMRAND
JMRAND

Overall rating : 3.5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 22, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : N/A
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Lots of tarmac on the course

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anniall
anniall

At the bottom of the descent, the path comes to a tarmac road and you need to turn RIGHT to take the path on the left again, about 50m further down (1). This is what is shown on the map.

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Thank you fiat60
The author can now update his description.

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fiat60
fiat60

When you reach the road below after walking along the castle wall, take the road on the left. I took it to the right and couldn't find any teeth on the left. After asking around in the village, I saw that you had to turn right onto this road (paragraph 2: follow the road to the LEFT unless I'm mistaken).

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Thank you fiat60
I don't know which route you mean.
Give me more details; wpt for example.

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fiat60
fiat60

Overall rating : 3.5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 29, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : N/A
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

At the bottom of the path in the first part, take the road on the left and not on the right.

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nfoyatier
nfoyatier

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : May 05, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

From crossing point 3, there is a problem finding the path that goes straight up to Greloup farm.
A very pleasant and varied walk (rolling countryside, meadows, forests, beautiful views of Pilat and the Forez mountains).

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bourin
bourin

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 13, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

enjoy your hike

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