Around Brossainc via Vinzieux

Head to the small village of Brossainc and park in the car park near the church and the town hall.

The route is signposted in yellow and white, except between points (3) and (5).

(S/E) Start from the church, going round it to the left. Ignore the Impasse du Clocher on the right and, immediately afterwards, turn right onto the Place des Anciens Combattants, then go straight up Rue du Puits.

(1) Continue straight on along Chemin de la Croix de Barnabé, ignoring Rue de la Chapelle which branches off to the right.
You will come to a crossroads. Continue straight ahead, following the yellow and white markings, climbing until you reach a tarmac road and follow it to the left until you reach the Croix du Jean, which stands to the right of the path.

(2) Leave the tarmac road and take the dirt track that continues straight ahead, ignoring the one on the left.
Follow this track straight ahead. You’ll come to a junction where a track branches off to the left, almost in the opposite direction to the one you’re on.

(3) Take this path, leaving the straight-ahead direction and the yellow and white markings. Continue along this path, downhill, ignoring the turn-offs to the left, until you reach a hairpin bend on this path.

(4) At the hairpin bend, keep to the right and continue straight ahead. This path will eventually lead out onto the D342.

(5) Cross it carefully and walk a few metres to the left. Then take a small, narrow, downhill path opposite that is barely visible (not shown on the map and somewhat obstructed by fallen trees). This path leads to a wider track. Take it on the left and continue straight ahead, ignoring the paths branching off to the right. When you are almost at a road, continue along the dirt track that branches off to the right, running parallel to the road, pass a standing cross (Croix Saint François Régis), and join the road.

(6) Take the Route du Fayet on the right to enter the village of Vinzieux. Here you will find the yellow and white markings again. In the centre of the village at the Place de la Fontaine, turn right onto the Route des Fontaines. After walking for about thirty metres, take Rue des Écoles on the left, and pass a first standing cross on the right (Croix Saint-Pierre), then a second (Croix du Jubilé). The yellow and white markings tend to direct you via Rue du Prieur, but take Rue des Écoles instead, which is more picturesque. Go round the church on the left, pass a property entrance on the right and, immediately after, in a bend, keeping to the right, take Chemin du Patrimoine. An information sign marks the start of this path.

(7) Continue along this path, ignoring a turning off to the left. All along this path, you’ll see the same type of information signs as at the entrance. Pass close to a fire hydrant, visible on the right.

(8) Here, leave this signposted path and turn left. Continue straight ahead along the wide path, ignoring the turnings to the right and left, until you reach the D271.

(9) Follow this road carefully, continuing straight ahead. Enter the hamlet of Mantelin. Reach the first road on the right (Route de Maclas), and follow it for about sixty metres.

(10) Take a dirt track on the left and continue straight ahead. Cross a ford (often dry). You will come to a road. Turn right, heading towards a hiking signpost visible at this point.

(11) Continue left along the road, leaving the path junction on the right, following the sign for Brossainc. Further on, ignore a second junction on the right. You’ll reach a crossroads where there’s another hiking signpost.

(12) Ignore the path on the right, heading towards a bridge, and turn left towards Brossainc. Follow this path, continuing straight on uphill, until you reach the D271, near the cemetery.

(13) Follow this road to the right and, about a hundred metres further on, you will reach the church car park (S/E).