Around the Bozançon

Walk around the Bozançon valley (and even the Bozançon rivers) with remains of Roman aqueducts, water mills, old railway tracks and old gold mines.
At Les Piles, you can continue up the Bozançon to the viaduct and return to Jurieux via the old railway line (an extra 2 hours).

Details

44660
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.76 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 372 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 364 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 463 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 241 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking south of Saint-Maurice, at La Villonière (intersection with the D2E).

(S/E) Take a small road south-west towards La Chandelle (altitude 422).

(1) Turn onto the left-hand path marked in yellow, then head south through Les Ponçonnières until you reach the river.

(2) Follow it to the left south and go around La Roussilière.

(3) Go back down to the Bozançon river and cross it before La Renavelière (ford).

(4) Go up the path to the north-west which passes La Jubilière.

(5) Pass Les Granges and turn right onto a path that climbs and passes by a chapel (Crêt Chagneux, viewpoint).

(6) Turn left, cross the D30 and take thefirst path on the right towards Bissieux, which you will cross.

(7) Turn left to descend towards the river (confluence) and cross it (bridge).

(8) Follow it south-west for 2 km on a small path that is not always clearly visible, until you reachthe first path on the left.

(9) Go back up (there are remains of a Roman aqueduct at the end of the path).

(10) Return to the fork and continue right to La Chandelle.

(1) Go up a path on the left towards the north towards Jurieux.

(11). Turn right onto a path (then a trail) that leads back north-east to Saint-Maurice. When you reach the D2E, turn right to descend to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 451 m - La Villonière
  2. 1 : km 0.56 - alt. 419 m - La Chandelle
  3. 2 : km 1.95 - alt. 307 m - Bridge
  4. 3 : km 3.55 - alt. 342 m - La Roussillière
  5. 4 : km 4.97 - alt. 241 m - Ford at - Le Bozançon
  6. 5 : km 6.4 - alt. 361 m - La Jubilière
  7. 6 : km 7.58 - alt. 382 m - Crêt Chagneux, viewpoint. - Le Bozançon
  8. 7 : km 9.42 - alt. 388 m - Bissieux
  9. 8 : km 10.36 - alt. 340 m - Confluence bridge
  10. 9 : km 11.45 - alt. 315 m - Fork in the road
  11. 10 : km 11.76 - alt. 360 m - Aqueduct ruins
  12. 11 : km 12.9 - alt. 459 m - Jurieux
  13. S/E : km 13.76 - alt. 451 m - La Villonière

Notes

Good walking shoes required as the route crosses rivers and riverbanks.
A map is essential even though all the paths are signposted (signs).

Worth a visit

Remains of a Roman aqueduct that brought water to Lugdunum (Lyon).
Old Mornant-Rive de Gier railway line (pillars, viaduct, path, etc.).
Remains of a water mill (confluence of the Bozançon rivers).
Old gold mines at Bissieux in the woods below La Combe (Saint-Joseph).

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 37 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.1 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Claraazimut
Claraazimut

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I did this hike with my dog. The part along the river is very pleasant. No difficulty except for the mud in places, but that's normal at this time of year.

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herbar
herbar

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk, but not to be done when it's raining or has rained recently, as the stone path is very slippery.
It is best to check the route using the Visorando app.

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Patgone55
Patgone55

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike, tracked by GPS, much of which takes place in beautiful woodland. You will discover the superb remains of Roman aqueducts, which will transport you back to a distant past and reveal the Roman genius for construction and architecture.

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Mcsk
Mcsk

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike done only with description and map (no GPS).
On the descent after point 3, before reaching point 4, ignore a path that branches off to the right as the trail climbs slightly for a few dozen metres.
After the bridge at point 7, I think it is less than 2 km to point 8.
To see the ruins, you must go straight up and then turn around at point 9.
The path will be halfway between points 8 and 9 (contrary to what the map indicates), on the right.

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fch53
fch53

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very interesting route (the south-western section towards Saint Joseph is a little monotonous), with extensive views of the Pilat and the Rhône valley. The path along the Bozançon is superb, but must be more difficult to follow when the vegetation is dense and the water level is high. In addition, fallen trees make some sections more difficult. The return via the aqueducts is interesting, but the multitude of paths makes the climb back up a little confusing (although it's hard to get lost).
Best done in summer. Map essential.

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Kanougole
Kanougole

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This route is pleasant and allowed me to discover this little river.
The description doesn't give you much peace of mind, so I was glad I had the app.
Thanks for this walk.

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lola.ptm
lola.ptm

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Great hike, except it's very hot.
Lots of slippery descents.
But overall it was enjoyable

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momone
momone

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

a beautiful hike, not much road, lots of undergrowth and nice river crossings when it's hot. If you're going for the day, wait until you reach the chapel to have your picnic; it's a very pleasant spot

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geyssautier
geyssautier
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

An interesting hike with some unique features (Roman aqueduct, railway viaduct); best done in summer (cool temperatures) but the route is rather poorly marked.

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Blanca-69
Blanca-69

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Superb hike! One of the most beautiful we've done so far, with varied landscapes, including a hint of Provence at the start, some woodland, lots of beautiful views, very pleasant!
Completed in 3 hours for experienced walkers

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Juébastien
Juébastien

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful and enjoyable hike, my little one loved it.
Be sure to wear good shoes, though.
Thanks for this itinerary.

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

Thanks for your feedback.

Please note that the numbers in the description appear to be out of sync with the waypoints on the map

You are correct, this has been corrected.

Thank you

See you soon

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Georges Tholence
Georges Tholence

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 09, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike on this sunny winter day. Clear views of the Alps before the rain forecast for the next day. The only problem was that trees had fallen fairly recently on the path along the Bozançon after the piers, creating obstacles that were difficult to climb over or get around. However, we made it through, which was good, as this unmarked trail is, in my opinion, the most beautiful part of the circuit (romantic undergrowth, reservoirs and waterfalls from old mills, a chaos of rocks that may be the entrance to old gold mines?? ...)
The description is perhaps a little brief, so it's best to follow the route using the Visorando app. Please note that the numbers in the description seem to be out of sync with the waypoints on the map: D on the map corresponds to 1 in the description, 1 on the map = 2 in the description, and so on. Could this explain some of the confusion reported?

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M@rc
M@rc
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike (as are often those organised by Yves )
A treat of trails and beautiful views. I did the hike with the app, so there was no way to get lost!
Thanks for sharing.

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Thank you, jarsaire
However, tagging is not within the remit of Visorando, nor of the author for that matter

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