Py Froid and Châteauvieux circular loop starting from Yzeron

Yzeron is one of the villages in the Monts du Lyonnais; see Lord Joseph de Mont-d’Or, who established the famous prebend. The landscape is beautifully undulating, alternating between paths and trails through wooded areas.
This walk, starting from the hikers’ car park, takes you to the Py Froid bouldering site, much loved by climbers, as well as the Romanesque chapel of Châteauvieux and a small waterfall (if it has rained).
You cross from one side of the valley to the other several times, with ever-changing scenery, ranging from coniferous forests on the northern slopes to the densely wooded southern slopes.
This hike can become absolutely magical, reminiscent of the Round Table of the 69, where the Druids, the Knights of the Round Table, the Lady of the Lake or Merlin could very well all be from Lyon. In any case, it is certain that La Dame, not of the lake, but of Châteauvieux, would rest well in this famous chapel.

Details

n°40866078

Creation:
01 Oct 2023

Last update:
21 Nov 2023

Last review:
26 Aug 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 5.82 km
Average duration: 2h 05
Difficulty: Easy
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 140 m
Descent: - 149 m
Highest point: 774 m
Lowest point: 642 m

Country: France
Areas: Massif central, Monts du Lyonnais
City: Yzeron (69510)
Start/End: N 45.706729° / E 4.590298°
IGN map(s): Ref. 2931ET, 2932ET
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Description of the walk

Access by car to the hikers’ car park in Yzeron, located between Montée des Jardins and Montée des Chazieres. There is no public transport serving this car park.

(S/E) Take the Chemin du Panil, then the Panil crossing on your right. Continue to the junction with the Chemin du Py Froid.

(1) Turn left onto this road and follow it to the end.

(2) Continue left along the stony path. Stay on this path, ignoring all the tracks to the right or left. You will reach a meadow and then the summit of Py Froid.

(3) Walk back slightly to take the path on the right, leading to the Chemin de Fontrobert Châteauvieux. Turn right onto this path and then left to reach the Route de la Source Châteauvieux.

(4) Turn left onto this road and continue to the right to visit the village of Châteauvieux. Turn left onto Chemin Chapelle de Châteauvieux and then return to Route de la Source Châteauvieux.

(5) Turn right onto this road, which becomes the D666, and follow it with care. Walk through the woods until you reach the edge.

(6) Turn right onto the stony path and continue right onto Chemin du Charret. You will reach Yzeron at the junction with Rue de la Cascade.

(7) Take this road straight ahead and begin a fairly steep climb, then turn left into a narrow lane to reach Yzeron Town Hall. Continue along the Grande Rue and turn immediately left into the Montée des Jardins to return to the hikers’ car park (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 728 m - Hikers’ car park in Yzeron
1 : km 0.38 - alt. 731 m - Py Froid Trail
2 : km 0.59 - alt. 752 m - End point: Chemin du Py Froid
3 : km 1.87 - alt. 771 m - Crêt du Py Froid (772m)
4 : km 2.95 - alt. 674 m - Châteauvieux entrance
5 : km 3.29 - alt. 676 m - Châteauvieux route
6 : km 4.67 - alt. 685 m - Chemin du Charret
7 : km 5.32 - alt. 657 m - Rue de la Cascade
S/E : km 5.82 - alt. 728 m - Hikers’ car park in Yzeron

Notes

Py Froid walk in Yzeron: distance 5.8 km; duration 2 hrs 15 mins; elevation gain 180 m.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5

Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5

Route interest
3.6 / 5

verthipaul

26 Aug 2025 at 12:49 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A short, easy and pleasant hike on well-maintained trails to the Châteauvieux chapel. The D666 section that follows is too long, with 1.5 kilometres of road before reaching the trail leading to Le Charret. This detracts from the appeal of the second part of the walk, which is a shame.

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Touc

14 Apr 2025 at 11:18 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very affordable and varied route: lakes, forests and meadows, with stunning views from the higher parts of the route. The only slight downside is the long stretch of road, though it’s not very busy. It’s lovely to stop for a drink on a terrace in the centre of Yzeron at the end.

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BJMC69

22 Oct 2024 at 11:37 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A nice, easy short walk. There are some lovely views along the way. The paths are wide and pleasant.
Easy to follow with the provided description. Towards the end, there’s a stretch that might seem a bit long on
the road, but it’s really not very busy so no worries.

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Zoltic

13 May 2024 at 12:23 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely, easy hike.
The only potential hazard: watch out for children and animals on the rocks at Py-Froid. You can’t see the drop because of the trees, but it’s definitely there!
Between points 4 and 5, on arrival in Châteauvieux, the signposting on the ground suggests turning left onto the Chemin de Fontrobert, contrary to the route description. We followed the description but it’s frankly a (short) detour of no interest and it’s better to follow the signposting.
The chapel is interesting but is only open on Sunday afternoons. Do bring a small donation for the association that keeps it open. A dolmen is signposted 800 metres due east (I didn’t make the detour).
Junction 6 is not signposted at all and is easy to miss.
At point 7, there is a short detour to the waterfall (moderately interesting).
The end of the walk takes you through the village’s main square: bars and small shops.

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Jps69

29 Jan 2024 at 09:07 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

A lovely, relaxing route around Mont du Puy Froid, one of the first hills of the Coteaux du Lyonnaix visible from Lyon, set amidst the woods. The paths are wide, comfortable and well-maintained.

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Other walks in the area

Aqueduct, view of the Alps and Madone from Yzeron

Departure from Yzeron (Rhône)

A beautiful circular walk starting from the village of Yzeron, alternating between forest paths and clear views of Lyon and the Alps. In good weather, there is an exceptional view of the Alps: you can easily recognise Mont Blanc, the Belledonne massif, the Chartreuse, the Vercors and even (for those in the know) the Meije! Part of the route follows the old (buried) aqueduct of Yzeron, which supplied Lyon with water in Gallo-Roman times (there are very informative signs along the route).

Circular from Yzeron via La Croix de Pars, Col de Malval and Les Rivoires

Departure from Yzeron (Rhône)

This beautiful circular walk takes place in the wooded hills north of Yzeron. From the village of Yzeron, the fully signposted route passes by Lac du Ronzey and, after crossing a few valleys, reaches Croix de Pars, then the ruins of the old Chapelle Saint-Clair. After a long stretch through the woods, it reaches the Col de Malval, goes around the Crêt Chevreau and descends to the hamlet of Soupat. At the Crêt de Piraluron, it continues towards La Goutte Chérine, Les Esselards, Le Trossin and La Roche, from where it reaches the Crêt de la Madone before descending to Yzeron.

Circular route from Yzeron via Courzieu, St-Bonnet le Froid and St-Laurent-de-Vaux

Departure from Yzeron (Rhône)

From Yzeron, this lovely, very hilly route climbs towards the imposing statue of the Madonna overlooking the village, then passes by the Saint-Clair Chapel, the peaceful village of Courzieu, the hamlets of Lafont and Les Vechères, ascends to the Courzieu wildlife park and the Château de Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid before descending to Cunieux. To complete the circular route, it crosses the Col de la Fausse, traverses the Yzeron valley via Saint-Laurent-de-Vaux and then the Châteauvieux Chapel, and via the Crêt de Py Froid returns to the starting point.

Circular Yzeron route via Bibelain, Col de Malval, Le Barthélemy and Les Esselards

Departure from Yzeron (Rhône)

This is a pleasant hike from Yzeron through the charming wooded hills of the Monts du Lyonnais, offering beautiful views of the Rhône Valley and the Alps along the way. From Yzeron, the route runs alongside Lake Ronzey and reaches the Col de la Croix de Pars, then the small Saint-Clair chapel before passing Les Jumeaux to reach the Col de Malval, from where it descends to Le Barthélemy. It climbs to the Croix de Garde and, after La Milonière, follows the route of the Roman aqueduct of Yzeron to Les Esselards, then climbs back up to the Crêt de la Madone before returning to Yzeron.

Yzeron - Lakes and ridges

Departure from Yzeron (Rhône)

Loop trail starting from Yzeron, through varied landscapes. The trail passes around the small dam lake at the foot of Yzeron and then, at the end of the hike, along the Lac d'Yzeron, whose new facilities were inaugurated on 19/07/14.

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Author

Kryst
1 Route

Visorando Member

City: Saint-Priest (69800)

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