In the Land of Golden Stones

A hike that follows paths and little-used roads through the Pierres Dorées region in the Beaujolais area near Lyon. Between vineyards and meadows, this route takes you to charming villages, castles, wash houses, mission crosses and more. An ideal walk in spring, autumn (when the vineyards are ablaze with colour) and winter.

Details

1864417
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 18.24 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 368 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 359 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 510 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 271 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Close to Lyon (less than 30 km) and Villefranche-sur-Saône (12 km).
Parking at the town hall at the start of Alix, but other signposted parking spaces are available in the village.

(S/E) Leave the car park and take Rue Aymé Chalus, which goes straight out of the village. Very soon, on the left, you will see Impasse du Lavoir. Take a detour to discover this "impluvium", a unique wash house fed by rainwater. Then continue on your way and turn left at the first road signposted "Salle Rurale". Then turn left onto Chemin du Clos des Liesses, which leads to this famous enclosure, and continue past it.

(1) At a bend to the left, take the path that runs along the wall. This path leads to the edge of the aerodrome. Turn left to rejoin the road and continue along it.

(2) At the signpost "Le Bois des Filles", continue to the right towards Bagnols. From this point, join theGRP® "Tour des Pierres Dorées", marked in yellow and red. Follow it and leave the road for a path on the left that leads to Lonchamps. Keep going without worrying about the paths that cross. When the path reaches the road, continue straight ahead, going uphill to the entrance of the hamlet, following the castle wall. Turn left at the gate and then turn right onto the first road.

(3) At the end of the tarmac road, take the path that starts at the last house. Follow it to the left, passing meadows and vineyards. At the crossroads with the road, turn right to go back up towards Bagnols, crossing the D338 (be careful, it is very busy), then pass the hamlet of Le Baronnat and turn left to enter the village of Bagnols. Drive past the imposing castle, which has been converted into a 5-star hotel, and take Rue de l'Église to cross the village. Just as you leave the village, turn right onto Montée des Carrières.

(4) In front of the cemetery, there is a picnic area with tables offering magnificent views of the Monts du Lyonnais and Beaujolais mountains, Bagnols Castle and its dovecote. Continue along the road and you will see some old quarries on your left where golden stones were once extracted for use in local buildings.

(5) Just after a recent house with columns, turn left onto a mountain bike trail that ends at the D38. Cross it and continue straight ahead on a path that branches off to the left, then turn right and head back up towards the village of Moiré on a small road lined with dry stone walls.Cross the village and note the curious fridge-library on the square in front of the chapel. Take Chemin du Pagnon on the right just as you leave the village. This road climbs through vineyards towards Les Verchères.

(6) When the path crosses the road, find the trail that branches off to the left about ten metres ahead. Follow it downhill, ignoring any possible turnoffs to the right. When it reaches the road, continue straight ahead towards the Château de Rapetour. When you reach the castle, take the path that branches off to the left, running alongside the garden. When the path curves, turn right and head back up towards Theizé. At the roundabout, go straight ahead towards the centre of the village.

(7) Admire the Croix des Enfants as you pass, then turn right after the café onto the street that descends towards the car parks (Rue Fabisch). When it crosses the D19 (Route de la Cruisille), turn left onto the pavement on the right-hand side of the road.

(8) About a hundred metres further on, follow the Chemin des Morguières (yellow signposts) between the houses, which leads downhill to Le Guéret.

(9) When the path reaches the track, turn left until you reach the crossroads with the road, then turn right and then left again onto Chemin des Abreuvoirs. When the path reaches the road, continue left towards the entrance to the village of Le Boîtier. Turn right onto Rue du Charron and follow it to the end, then turn right onto Rue Manon Rolland and continue to a fork at the end of the village.

(10) Take the left-hand path that descends between the vineyards to a crossroads at a mission cross. Continue on the path opposite, which is signposted for the Chapelle Saint-Hippolyte (200m further on in an enclosed area on the left). Continue to the Bois Bourland.

(11) At this signpost, take the path that branches off to the left towards Lachassagne. The path crosses the D338 (very busy road) at an industrial estate. Cross the road and continue opposite, following the sign for "Boucle des Grands Taillis", which will take you back to Alix.

(12) In the woods, there are many tracks, but stay on the well-marked path (Bois d'Alix). This leads to Monéron

(13) At the signpost with a new junction with theGRP® du Tour des Pierres Dorées, turn right towards "Les Grands Taillis".

(14) At the junction with the D39, cross and leave theGRP® trail, walking about 200 metres to the right to find a wide track marked "Boucle des Grands Taillis". This track crosses a series of meadows in a straight line and leads directly back to Alix. In the village, turn right onto Rue de l'Église, which descends alongside the retirement home to the town hall car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 276 m - Parking: Alix Town Hall Square
  2. 1 : km 1.36 - alt. 314 m - On the left, signpost for the VTT7 mountain bike trail
  3. 2 : km 1.9 - alt. 317 m - Signpost "Le Bois des Filles"
  4. 3 : km 3.49 - alt. 360 m - At the last house, take the path on the left
  5. 4 : km 5.04 - alt. 430 m - Panoramic view of Bagnols and Beaujolais, tables
  6. 5 : km 5.61 - alt. 416 m - Mountain bike trail on the left
  7. 6 : km 6.94 - alt. 507 m - Opposite on the path, 10 metres to the left
  8. 7 : km 8.92 - alt. 455 m - Children's Cross
  9. 8 : km 9.25 - alt. 440 m - Chemin des Morguieres, yellow signposts
  10. 9 : km 9.67 - alt. 390 m - Track on the left
  11. 10 : km 10.8 - alt. 366 m - Road on the left between the vineyards
  12. 11 : km 12.26 - alt. 282 m - In the Bourland woods, turn left towards Lachassagne
  13. 12 : km 14.07 - alt. 307 m - Head towards Bois d'Alix on the right
  14. 13 : km 15.15 - alt. 290 m - At Monneron, on the right
  15. 14 : km 16.11 - alt. 339 m - D39 for 200 metres, then turn right and follow the track
  16. S/E : km 18.24 - alt. 277 m - Parking: Alix Town Hall Square

Notes

Picnic tables in Bagnols and Theizé.
In case of rain, the wash house in Theizé can provide shelter.

Worth a visit

Alix impluvium.
Castle and dovecote in Bagnols and Rapetour.
Children's Cross in Theizé.
In Theizé, Rochebonne Castle (in the village).
Saint-Hipolyte Chapel
Beaujolais wine cellars.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 29 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
olatower
olatower

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 05, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk with a few points of interest.
Around the ten-kilometre mark, it was quite muddy.

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User 26511980

A very pleasant route. Well marked, allowing you to see the beautiful villages of the Pierres Dorées.
At the end of this wet winter, the final stretch of the route is very muddy on the wooded paths. It must be lovely in dry weather!

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CATTIN
CATTIN

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A walk of mixed interest; too many sections along roads, but also some beautiful panoramic views and stately homes.

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Mercou
Mercou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A route that takes you past several beautiful villages in the Pierres Dorées region. Varied and hilly, you can linger along the way to enjoy the beautiful views of the countryside. On a beautiful sunny winter's day, this walk with friends was very enjoyable. Worth repeating in other seasons.

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User 12044598

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 12, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with a well-planned route that avoids tarmac roads and takes us through lots of very pretty places.

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rdub
rdub

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, easy walk through vineyards and typical villages in the southern part of the Beaujolais region, offering both historical and rural interest. Largely open, this walk is at its most attractive in autumn when the vineyards are ablaze with colour!
Admittedly, there is a lot of tarmac, but the roads are quiet except for two or three crossings that require a little caution...
Thanks to the author.

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Rackoon
Rackoon

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike that is interesting for its golden stone villages.
Luckily, most of the roads are pretty quiet. But in this area, it's hard to avoid them.
No particular difficulties in terms of elevation.

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Yamaska
Yamaska

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

not much tarmac, well done! Lovely sites with golden stones! A beautiful walk, even in winter

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jd693854
jd693854

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This hike can be done during the week and is not particularly difficult, even though it is 18.5 km long. There is little elevation gain and it is easy to complete.
We did it on a rainy day and had a picnic sheltered under the wash house in Theizé.
But that didn't detract from the charm of the hike with its golden stone villages.

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Michel lacroix
Michel lacroix

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk to do in spring or autumn as the route is very open.
Pleasant and beautiful views, not to mention the charm of the villages you pass through.

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Syl P.
Syl P.

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very good hike, things to see along the way, well described in the comments, pretty villages. We ate at the Ste Hyppolite chapel, where there is a picnic table. The only downside is that there is a bit too much tarmac.

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Carameldu69
Carameldu69

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, shaded route, quiet with a few climbs but nothing too challenging.
we just had to change part of the start of the route (around the 2nd km) because of a hunt taking place on Sunday
Otherwise, nothing to complain about, a few vineyards, cows in the forest, very refreshing

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Selligus
Selligus

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Between beautiful villages, vineyards and shaded paths, only the last 2 kilometres to the finish are monotonous; otherwise, it is a very beautiful hike.

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Patrixdemex
Patrixdemex

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Due to time constraints, we shortened the route by turning right at the junction with the D338 between 11 and 12, heading south through Maupas and Les Yabottes.
It's a beautiful loop through the vineyards and golden stones, with no difficulty. Some beautiful photos to take
Thanks for the route.

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le dav 42
le dav 42

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Pass through beautiful little villages typical of the region.

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