Bois du Fournet

Fournet is not the best-known starting point, but this circular route along the cliff edge offers magnificent and varied panoramic views, passing by the paragliding take-off area.

Details

2567586
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Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.18 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 703 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 695 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 977 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 305 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the entrance to Le Fournet, where there is a small car park next to the rubbish bins.

(S/E) Head east on Rue du Lamphion, then, in front of the oven, turn right onto Chemin de Raffour and go straight up until you reach a small chapel.

(1) At this point, turn right onto the path.

(2) Keep to the right and enter the forest. Continue along the path, following the yellow markers.

(3) Continue straight ahead, passing Montagny Castle on your right, and begin a gradual climb. Continue through the forest, where the paths may be slightly narrow at times but without any particular difficulties.

(4) Turn left at the intersection for the most difficult part of the climb, which is quite steep (100m elevation gain over approximately 400m) but short and shaded in summer.

(5) At the Tilleret junction (540m), turn left onto theGR® (white and red markings). Stay on the path that will take you to the paragliding launch area. At Mont Peney, take a short detour to the left to enjoy the view.

(6) Retrace your steps and continue on the left until the next intersection.

(7) Continue straight ahead.

(8) Before continuing straight ahead, take a short break to admire the paragliders and the view overlooking the entire valley, which will give your knees a rest before continuing and beginning the descent to Malpassant.

(9) Take the path that descends to the left. It is quite steep and long, so take your time.

(10) At the flat section at the bottom of the descent, at Grand Essart, turn left. Keep heading south-west.

(11) At Grand Lavieu, take the second path on your right to reach the foot of the stone dam, where you will need to continue on the left. Then turn right and descend past the chapel and the oven to return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 305 m - Containers, mini car park
  2. 1 : km 0.11 - alt. 312 m - Chapel, crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 0.42 - alt. 328 m - Fourche, on the right
  4. 3 : km 1.33 - alt. 354 m - Montagny Castle
  5. 4 : km 2.64 - alt. 392 m - Intersection, on the left
  6. 5 : km 3.31 - alt. 555 m - Le Tilleret, on the left
  7. 6 : km 4.45 - alt. 716 m - Viewpoint
  8. 7 : km 5.7 - alt. 870 m - At the crossroads, go straight ahead.
  9. 8 : km 5.98 - alt. 904 m - Paragliding take-off area
  10. 9 : km 7.07 - alt. 954 m - Malpassant, trail on the left
  11. 10 : km 8.17 - alt. 543 m - Grand Essarts Turn left
  12. 11 : km 9.53 - alt. 436 m - Grand Lavieu, path on the right
  13. S/E : km 10.18 - alt. 305 m - Containers, mini car park

Notes

There are no water sources, so bring your own as this hike can make you thirsty and it gets hot in summer.
The view from the cliff edge over the Belledonne mountain range, the Croix du Nivolet and Lake Bourget is simply breathtaking.

Worth a visit

Aix-les-Bains.
Chambéry.
Lake Bourget.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Isabelle Sc
Isabelle Sc

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike with views of Lake Bourget.
Paragliding take-off area at the summit.
Route taken in reverse: it is easier to do the section with the cable on the way up.
Park just outside the village in the small car park with rubbish bins. (Very difficult to park in the village.)

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JJT74
JJT74

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, long hike (about 13 km) with a good elevation gain (about 700 m) and a magnificent view of Lake Bourget from the paragliding launch site at the summit.
For those who want to save their knees, it is better to take the Malpassant trail, which is a little steep but effective, and then enjoy the more gradual descent at the end of the loop.
To do this, I recommend reversing the GPX track provided with this hike and following it carefully, as it is very reliable and allows you to follow the right direction at certain unmarked junctions.
Many thanks to the author of this itinerary

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sempervivum
sempervivum
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike done with GPS tracking. Difficult to park in the hamlet. Climb in the shade, path offering views of Chambéry and the lake. Frequented by hikers, trail runners, mountain bikers and paragliders. The Malpassant path lives up to its name, hike to be done in the opposite direction?

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Traileur74350
Traileur74350

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Hello, great route with lots of ups and downs.

Great view of Aix-les-Bains and its lake.

Highly recommended.

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groupe ballade73
groupe ballade73

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A very beautiful walk near the Chambéry basin with numerous viewpoints.
Between points 4 and 5, you can pass by the Chapel of St Saturnin, which involves a longer but less steep climb.

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michel_fontaine
michel_fontaine

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, well-shaded route with beautiful views. The estimated time is accurate.
A few comments:
- It's not easy to park near the rubbish bins or in the hamlet; I left my car at the entrance to the "La Croix du Fournet" housing estate.
- At the start, in front of the oven, do not turn right but pass to the right of the oven to climb Chemin du Raffour to the chapel, where you turn right.
Between points 2 and 3, there are several trailheads and few yellow markings, which can cause a lot of hesitation if you are not using a GPX track of the route.
- Point 9: the start of the Malpassant descent is very steep and requires constant attention; this descent to point 10 seems quite long.
If I return to Aix-les-Bains, I would gladly do this route in the other direction!

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vincent D
vincent D

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant route with beautiful views and a few steep slopes...which can be done in either direction. In my opinion, it is safer to start from Méry, as the descent from Malpassant may intimidate some people who would feel more comfortable going uphill (personal opinion, of course).

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Traverse
Traverse

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
Nice hike
I think this route is more interesting in the opposite direction:
- the "malpassant" is more comfortable going uphill (and probably dangerous in wet conditions).
- What's more, the landscape at the top is nicer when walking southwards. (Belledonnes in the background)
Please note that parking is difficult in the village.

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Deuxpattes
Deuxpattes

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Much of the route is through woodland, which was very welcome on this hot day. There are lovely views here and there.
Thank you for this post!

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gresy73
gresy73

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 04, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Thank you for this beautiful, little-known hike with magnificent views of Lake Bourget, Les Bauges (Croix du Nivolet), etc.
The route is well marked from Le Tilleret.
Point (5): this is not Mont Peney, but Roc Peney.
The route is fairly easy, except for the descent from Malpassant, which we found tricky, even dangerous if the ground is wet. If you want to avoid this section, you can do a round trip from Malpassant, which is a 14 km journey, or return to the paragliding launch site (12 km), or even start from the Château de Montagny (2.5 km less).

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.