Around the Coisin, from Coise to Maltaverne

Park in the square near the town hall in Coise-Saint-Jean-Pied-Gauthier.

(S/E) From the town hall roundabout, head towards the former priory and the Coise cemetery. After crossing the Coisin stream, follow the cemetery wall to the right. At the end of the tarmac road, take the wide path to the right: this climbs steeply and can be a bit muddy in wet weather. As you emerge from the woods, pass a small path coming in from the right from the source of the Saulce (a sulphurous spring), before reaching the tarmac road (D31). Cross it carefully and take the path climbing up to the right opposite, leading to the hamlet of Villard Siard d’en bas.

(1) In this hamlet, opposite the bread oven, take the small straight road that climbs to the left between the houses. As you leave the hamlet, the view opens out towards Les Bauges. At the bend to the right on this tarmac road, leave it and continue straight ahead along a lovely, straight, flat farm track which bends to the right to reach a small wood and then turns left. On the climb, keep right at the track coming from the left and rejoin the tarmac and the houses.

(2) Keep going straight on, ignoring the tarmac roads coming from the right or the paths branching off to the left. The tarmac gives way to a wide track and you must continue straight on, following a large concrete wall, to reach the edge of the hamlet of Villard Lamard at a small wayside shrine.

(3) Continue along the path, which climbs a little further before becoming a pleasant trail that gradually descends to the Hauteville cemetery.

(4) Continue straight on past the cemetery to the next crossroads, where you should turn left to reach the Chapel of Saint Bonaventure: the view opens up once more onto the southern face of the Bauges (information board).

(5) From the chapel, turn right and continue along the tarmac road, ignoring the dirt track on the left. At the next crossroads, take the path that descends to the left, running alongside the property wall. Pass under a canopy before a meadow on the left, then through another wood where you must turn immediately left to descend to the edge.

(6) Turn immediately right onto a straight path through woods, meadows and fields. The path bends left, then right as it descends, and left again to join a small tarmac road. Take this road to the left, cross the bridge over the Coisin and arrive at a busy road (D204). This road connects Montmélian to Malataverne via La Chavanne, Planaise and Coise, and was the old route taken by stagecoaches heading towards Mont-Cenis.

(7) Cross the road with care and head up the hill opposite towards the hamlet of Tardevel. Pass through the hamlet, following the road which bends left once you reach the plateau at the very top. Continue along this small road to pass through another part of the hamlet of Tardevel, before coming out onto the D31, which is quite busy.

(8) Turn left and follow this road carefully to the hamlet of Villaret.

(9) At the crossroads, take the Chemin de Grateloup on the right. Well past the houses, leave this path and turn left onto a very beautiful country lane, which runs alongside the woods. After a right-hand bend, then a left-hand bend, it becomes straight whilst climbing slightly: there is a bench on the right facing the mountains.

(10) At the next junction with the path coming from Le Tremblay, head up to the right to reach a magnificent ridge path amidst the fruit tree plantations. It then descends gently, and after a path joins from the left, reaches a junction.

(11) Turn left onto the path that descends and, after a bend, crosses the hamlet of Le Clos before rejoining the tarmac road. Head left to continue descending, pass the hamlet of Les Plans to reach a major junction with the D31a.

(12) Cross this carefully to take the road leading down opposite. You will reach a three-way junction.

(13) Take the small, very steep road sloping diagonally to the right, marked as a no-entry road for vehicles. Head straight down, pass through the hamlet of Le Bachat and emerge onto the D204 at Coise.

(14) Turn right onto the D204, then left at the next junction to return to the car park (S/E).

Bring water, as there are no places to refill your supplies.

Wear good walking boots, as some sections (very few) may be slippery and stony.

This open route offers stunning views of the Bauges, the Chartreuse and the Lauzière. In addition to the Saint-Bonaventure Chapel, you can see the castles of Rubaud and Miolans (Saint-Pierre d'Albigny). In early spring, the walk along a ridge path amidst blossoming fruit trees is magnificent.