Circular prehistoric route via the Sardinian route

Go back in time a few centuries, or even a few thousand years, first by discovering the Sardinian road built in the 17th century, then the prehistoric paths on the trail of the Magdalenians and Azilians.
Please note that one path is closed in winter.

Details

n°36827736

Creation:
22 Jul 2023

Last update:
12 Sep 2023

Last review:
08 Sep 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 3.61 km
Average duration: 1h 30
Difficulty: Easy
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 171 m
Descent: - 171 m
Highest point: 590 m
Lowest point: 418 m

Country: France
Area: Chartreuse
District: Saint-Christophe (Savoie) (73360)
Start/End: N 45.448001° / E 5.784802°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3333OT, 3333OTR
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Description of the walk

From Saint-Laurent-du-Point, take the D520 to Saint-Christophe-sur-Guiers, then the D46 to Saint-Christophe-la-Grotte. Park in the chapel car park, where there are plenty of parking spaces and a picnic area.

(S/E) At the far end of the car park, take the path on the right to the houses.

(1) Turn left onto the footpath to continue along the Sardinian Way towards the monument. Admire this pediment in honour of Charles Emmanuel II, Duke of Savoy.
Continue along the Sardinian road until you reach the junction with the Prehistoric Trail "In the footsteps of Azil and Magda" (closed in winter, see Practical Information).

(2) Turn right, climb the metal steps and you will arrive at a plateau on the "Sentier des Chèvres" (Goat Trail).

(3) Continue towards the Gerbaix viewpoint. Follow the yellow marked path and the pictograms representing a flint. You will arrive at the intersection of the Bois de la Ravoire.

(4) Continue along the path on the right towards Échaillon and Pont Saint-Martin. Turn right as you approach the Gorges de l'Échaillon.
You will arrive at Pont Saint-Martin, near the car park and a fountain. Walk past it to reach the road. Follow it to the right for about a hundred metres.

(5) At the crossroads, take the path that climbs to the right. You are now on the old royal road. At the end of the road, you will find the path you took on the way there.

(1) Take the path on the left, in the opposite direction, to reach the chapel car park (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 419 m - Car park
1 : km 0.19 - alt. 428 m - Charles Emmanuel II Monument
2 : km 0.83 - alt. 502 m - Trail: "In the footsteps of Azil and Magda"
3 : km 1.13 - alt. 580 m - Sentier des Chèvres - Belvédère de Gerbaix
4 : km 2.09 - alt. 576 m - The Bois de la Ravoire
5 : km 3.15 - alt. 418 m - Ancienne voie royale - Pont Saint-Martin
S/E : km 3.61 - alt. 419 m - Chapel car park

Notes

(2) Please note that the path is closed in winter. There is a picnic table here, in addition to those located in the car park.

(4) The water from the fountain is drinkable spring water, so remember to fill your water bottles even if the end is near.

The path is sometimes narrow and very stony, and the descent is only over rocks. There are no particular dangers. The hike is suitable for children who can walk or in a baby carrier.

Worth a visit

Nearby: Saint-Christophe caves. Continue along the Sardinian road to the end to reach the reception area and the entrance to the caves. There is an entrance fee. See: https://grottes-saint-christophe.com/.

Pictograms and markers punctuate the route as you follow part of the "Sur les traces d'Azil et Magda" (In the footsteps of Azil and Magda) hiking route, a game that explores prehistoric times. It is organised around a path that is over 3 km long. Game booklets are on sale at the cave reception.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5

Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5

Route interest
4.7 / 5

User 6231242

08 Sep 2025 at 10:53 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

...very vague indications of the starting point!

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pomarguet

18 Aug 2025 at 08:53 7200 • Edited: 18 Aug 2025 at 08:53 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, shaded walk with no major difficulties and very well signposted. The Roman bridge and the few metres of the trail along the gorge above complete the walk. Then return to the starting point for the guided tour of the two caves, which is interesting for learning about the geology and history of the area.

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les marcheuses de veurey

23 Aug 2024 at 07:02 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk, well shaded, surrounded by towering rocks – impressive, you can imagine the work that went into it.
We came back down the same way because the people we met told us there were too many rocks and it was very steep, and that it was easier to take the stairs. Very beautiful forest.
The description is perfect, but I had set the GPS, which wasn't good at the start as it took us up a small road reserved for residents. You have to set it to the chapel car park, but no worries, we were very close.
The app guided us well, perfect.

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Maureen E

20 May 2024 at 09:45 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 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 walk, which we did in the opposite direction to the one indicated. There are a few fairly steep sections on the rocks and metal steps, so be careful if you go there the day after it rains, as it can be slippery!
I enjoyed the good balance between forest, rock, views and heritage.

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palmyr

12 Sep 2023 at 15:45 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with an original monument. The ascent and descent from the trail on the plateau are steep (walking sticks and good shoes recommended). While children over the age of eight can do it without any problems, I do not recommend doing it with a child in a backpack: the descent over the rocks requires caution. I did it in the direction indicated.
The trail is well marked, but a GPS is useful as there are many paths that cross each other on the plateau.
Best done in dry weather.

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Ka3169

11 Sep 2023 at 21:29 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike that we decided to do in reverse, so that we could finish with a visit to the caves. At the start, after taking a short detour along the end of the trail to enjoy the St Martin bridge and the Echaillon gorges (at number 5), the trail to take is behind a wash house by the roadside before the bridge. You climb all the way up to number 4 on a stony path with some pretty steep, narrow steps along the edge of the cliff (in the other direction, the descent is said to take 15 minutes... given how steep it was, we much preferred to climb it! With children aged 6, 8 and 11, it took us 35 minutes with two breaks on this section). The next part on the ridge is very pleasant, fairly flat, in the woods with beautiful panoramic views (you can extend the route with the Azil et Magda prehistoric trail game booklet, part of which we used). Then there is a sudden descent between 2 and 1, with several flights of metal steps, down to the caves and the monument to Charles Emmanuel II. In the end, we spent the whole day there from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (including a picnic on the plateau and a 1.5-hour visit to the caves). The sheer rock faces are very impressive. Everyone loved the day! Thank you for the route.