Chalon Chapel from the Chemin du Liby

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A lovely route through woodland for the most part. You can start by crossing the Pont de Sardagne via a path running alongside a small ravine, to the right of which you’ll find a few small, typical stone houses, recently restored by a local association. You’ll follow sections ofthe GR®42andPR®.
This path will take you to the well-known Chapelle de Chalon, built 800 years ago. A few young couples who love nature and heritage still get married there on fine days.
The return route takes you through the Combe des Acacias, passing at the foot of the magnificent Banc des Novis. Much of the route follows a (dry) stream with beautiful limestone paving.

Details

n°30507999
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.96 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 823 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 833 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,309 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 561 ft
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Photos

Forest trail
Chapel of Chalon
Chapel of Chalon
Banc des Novis

Description of the walk

Park at the Croix de Liby, north-west of Bourg-Saint-Andéol.

(S/E) Take the small tarmac road, the Chemin de Liby, to thefirst bend.

(1) Leave the road and take the path running alongside the Ruisseau de Sardagne. Follow a steady climb to join theGR®42.

(2) Follow it straight ahead towards the Laoul Forest House. Join the D4, keep left, watching out for vehicles, to quickly reach a new junction.

(3) Leave theGR® and head straight on along the wide forest track marked in white and yellow. Then turn right onto a path to reach the D4 again. Turn left onto theGR®42for a few dozen metres to reach the signpost at Combe des Acacias.

(4) Keep to the right and follow theGR®, veering right at the 395m mark.

(5) Turn right, cross the forest road, then at the next junction turn left onto the Route Forestière des Géants to reach the Chapelle de Chalon and its picnic area.

(6) Return in the opposite direction to the junction at the Combe des Acacias, which you passed on the way out.

(4) Head right into this valley and continue down a gentle slope. Further on, the path sometimes follows a dry stream bed. You will then reach another junction.

(7) Take the path at a right angle to the left, ignoring the path on the right. Off the marked trail and still following the stream, veer left to reach the Banc des Novis.

(8) Join the path and continue south-east to reach the Sentier Découverte.

(9) Ignore this path and take the one on the left, which climbs slightly. At the highest point, you’ll reach a T-junction.

(10) Take the path on the left then keep to the right, ignoring the turn-offs to the left and then to the right. You’ll reach a road and then the Haut Darbousset crossroads.

(11) Continue along this tarmac road to the left to return to the initial crossroads you passed on the way out.

(1) Retrace your steps along the route you took on the way out to return to the Croix du Liby car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 663 ft - Car park - Croix du Liby (Bourg-Saint-Andréol)
  2. 1 : mi 0.13 - alt. 659 ft - Crossroads of the circular loop – Tourne (stream) – Tributary of the Rhône - Tourne (ruisseau) - Affluent du Rhône
  3. 2 : mi 1.34 - alt. 1,302 ft - °°GR®42°°
  4. 3 : mi 1.69 - alt. 1,289 ft - Junction, abandonment °°GR®°°
  5. 4 : mi 2.13 - alt. 1,276 ft - Signpost at Combe des Acacias
  6. 5 : mi 2.74 - alt. 1,286 ft - Towards Les Géants
  7. 6 : mi 3.39 - alt. 1,302 ft - Notre-Dame de Chalon Chapel (Bourg-Saint-Andéol) - Chapelle Notre-Dame de Chalon (Bourg-Saint-Andéol)
  8. 7 : mi 5.84 - alt. 774 ft - Crossroads
  9. 8 : mi 6.03 - alt. 712 ft - Banc des Novis
  10. 9 : mi 6.78 - alt. 640 ft - Nature trail
  11. 10 : mi 7.03 - alt. 702 ft - Forest path
  12. 11 : mi 7.53 - alt. 758 ft - Haut Darbousset
  13. S/E : mi 7.96 - alt. 663 ft - Croix du Liby car park

Notes

The route is very well sheltered from the wind, except for the last few hundred metres. Virtually no tarmac. Paths are often very stony and some sections are unmarked.

Take plenty of water with you; there are no water points along the route.
TheGR® route offers little shelter from the sun.

Worth a visit

Between (1) and (2) along the path running alongside the Sardagne stream, there are a few ruins of small houses built from local limestone.
(6) The 800-year-old Chapel of Chalon.
(8) Banc des Novis, a geological curiosity.

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.

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Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
.domino
.domino
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk along varied, shaded paths sheltered from the wind, but not much of interest apart from the chapel. No views; the stream in the Combe des Acacias was dry. We avoided the long round trip from 4 to 6 by doing a circular walk.

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randodromeardeche
randodromeardeche

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A walk along a very stony but easy path. Part of the route follows the stream bed, which is quite pleasant.
Some lovely discoveries. Very little elevation gain. Easy. A quiet walk; branches and tall grass are taking over, particularly in the section along the stream bed.

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mancusoagnes
mancusoagnes

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We set off from the forest lodge car park after our picnic (4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 2, 3, 4). The walk was very stony almost all the way. The stream bed was quite pleasant, except that at one point there was far too much water to cross, so we turned off before point 9 onto a small, very steep uphill path to reach that point and discover the pretty drystone shelter, which is unfortunately starting to crumble. Then, caught in the rain, we took the GR 42 straight back, but it was too monotonous. We got back soaked but happy.

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Rodger0è
Rodger0è

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Good evening
I went to have a look yesterday. You can park three cars at La Croix de Liby and two 30 metres further down by the D4.
If there are more of you, head towards Point 11 and you’ll find space on the forest track.
Thanks for your comment
Roger

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MAMAROT J-L
MAMAROT J-L

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with no particular difficulties. Done using GPS.
(The car park at the start is too small for several vehicles)
Thanks for this route.

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