The banks of the Rhône and the hills around Champagne

(S/E) Leave the car park at the Champagne cemetery by crossing the D86 at the pedestrian crossing and heading briefly south before turning left into the alley opposite (towards the banks of the Rhône). The lane turns 90° to the left, then right, then left again to come out onto Rue du Port. A sign tells you that the banks of the Rhône are on the right. Follow it.

(1) You arrive at the riverbank at the “pile du Bac à Traille”. Take the path on the left. You have the river on your right and climbing equipment on your left (which you can of course use, but save your energy for what lies ahead...).

When you reach a small bridge with stone parapets, take the wide track. A sign forbids you from littering (as if that would ever cross your mind...). Turn left onto the track leading towards the village and the hill.
As you enter the village, pass the first alleyway on your left and then take Rue Saint-Jean. It bends right, then left, taking you past the church.

(2) You are on the church forecourt (admire the carving on the lintel above the door). Cross over to take Rue de la Voûte opposite. And look how well things are done: you do indeed pass under a vault... Your path begins to curve as it crosses the railway line. This line is in use; there are trains running. Please take care. Further on, when the path turns right, take the dirt track opposite. You arrive at the foot of the hill. Your path turns uphill to the right (yellow markings).

(3) You pass a signpost whose signs have been torn off (Côte Panel, alt. 190 m). Continue straight ahead. Your path crosses the disused railway line. You can see it through the vegetation. Your path climbs steadily and steeply for quite some time. As you emerge from the woods, you come out onto a lovely vineyard. First, ignore a vineyard track on the left, then another track further on the left. You come out onto a lovely, well-marked track coming from your right. Turn left. Continue along this lovely, wide, sandy track heading south-west, ignoring any paths coming from the right or left.

(4). You emerge from a small wood (on the right and left) and arrive at vineyards (on the right and left). Ignore a path that emerges from the left and immediately take a track on the right (sharp bend). Soon, you’ll see a dead tree on the left with white and yellow markings on the trunk. Turn left and then continue straight ahead. You’ll reach a crossroads.

(5) Your path, opposite, narrows. Head left towards a hamlet whose roofs you can see. You enter the hamlet of Brunieux. Cross the road and take Rue du Marronnier opposite.

(6) Turn slightly left into a vaulted passageway under a house. Continue along the grassy path straight ahead. You descend and arrive at a housing estate. Don’t be tempted by the attractive track on the left. Stay on your barely marked grassy path which descends into the vineyards. You arrive at a large wayside cross.

(7) Continue the descent through the heart of the vineyards. Very soon, you’ll see a path on the left with a ‘no vehicles’ sign. As you’re on foot, take it. It’s a steep descent. You’ll emerge onto a concrete path, which you take to the left, arriving almost immediately at the old railway line.

(8) You turn left onto it. You walk down it slowly and steadily for a long way until you reach a tightly sealed tunnel. It has been converted into a wine tasting cellar.

(9) Fortunately for you, a diversion has been provided on the right. Ignore a path leading down to the right towards the cooperative winery. Continue along the old railway line. You’ll cross three small bridges over the track.

(10) On the left, you’ll find a sign for “Chemin de l’arborescence”. Take the unobtrusive path on the right.

(3) You head down to the right (unless you’ve decided to do another loop…). You cross the railway line again and return to the village of Champagne. Before the arched passage, take the narrow lane on the right and rejoin the D86, which you follow, also to the right, to return to your starting point (S/E).

The walk starts at the cemetery car park, south of the village of Champagne, along the D86. Champagne is south of Serrières, not far from Saint-Désirat.

The only difficulty of the walk lies in the uphill climb, which is completed almost in one go.

To my knowledge, there are no shops in Champagne.

There are no water points along the route, apart from the one at the Champagne cemetery.

The Bac à Traille ferry allowed people to cross the river on a raft held in place by a chain stretched from one bank to the other. The structure that remains is one of the two piers to which the chain was attached.

Once on the plateau, you’ll have lovely views of the Vercors and Pilat massifs, and even the southern tip of the Chartreuse.

The walk down through the heart of the vineyards is well worth a visit.

The centre of the village of Champagne is quite pretty, as is the church.

Two kilometres south of Champagne, at the entrance to Saint-Désirat, there is a cooperative wine cellar.