Chapelle de Leyrieu

This shaded trail leads to the top of the cliff at the Leyrieu Chapel and offers superb views of the Lyon plains and the Pilat massif. On a clear day, you can see the Alps and the Vercors massif.

Details

418698
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.34 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 222 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 226 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 422 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 214 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from the Leyrieu school car park

(S/E) Take the Bunet path at the top of the car park. When you reach a small road, turn left (yellowPR® sign). After the 90° left turn, you will come to a path: follow this to elevation 265.

(1) At the Chôgne signpost (elevation 265), follow the signs for Mollard des Barres.

(2) Take the first path on the right, marked PR®. At the first signpost (altitude 342), continue towards Mollard des Barres on the right. 100m further on, at the Mollard des Barres signpost (altitude 342), follow the signs for Le Putier.

(3) At the Le Putier signpost (altitude 395), follow the signs for Annoisin. 50 m further on, keep right and follow the road to the next crossroads (altitude 409).

(4) Leave the yellow markings, which continue straight ahead, and turn right. Follow the path to the entrance to the hamlet of Michalieu, passing under a power line. Take the road on the left. As you cross the village, turn left down Montée de la Bergerie and follow it to the right until you reach Chemin de Verna.

(5) Go up Chemin de Verna on the right, then take Chemin du Mont on the left. Pass under the power line again. At the end of the paved road, take a wide path on the right and follow it to the Chapelle de Leyrieu. After 100 metres, leave a grassy path on your right and continue straight ahead.

(6) Turn 90° to the right, continue and then take the first path on the left until you reach the chapel.

(7) Pass behind the chapel and take the path downhill to the Les Aviateurs signpost (altitude 390 m). Follow the signs for Leyrieu. At the bottom of the descent, turn left and, after 10 m, leave the path on your right and continue straight ahead.

(8) At the first house, take the path on the right behind a wooden barrier, which continues onto the road. At the crossroads, go down Rue de l'Ancienne Mairie. At the junction with a road coming from the left, take the path with steps leading down to the left. At the end of the path, take the road on the right until you reach the wash house.

(9) Pass between the wash house and the trough. Go up Allée des Acacias. Pass to the right of the bread oven and follow Rue du Four Banal. Take Rue de la Combe on the left, which leads back to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 235 m - School and stadium car park
  2. 1 : km 1.63 - alt. 265 m - Signpost for Chôgne
  3. 2 : km 2.1 - alt. 313 m - Fork in the road
  4. 3 : km 3.21 - alt. 396 m - Signpost for Le Putier
  5. 4 : km 3.56 - alt. 409 m - Entrance to Michalieu
  6. 5 : km 4.38 - alt. 368 m - Michalieu bread oven
  7. 6 : km 5.15 - alt. 417 m - 360° viewpoint
  8. 7 : km 5.83 - alt. 408 m - Chapelle de Leyrieu American Memorial
  9. 8 : km 7.01 - alt. 274 m - Fork in the road on the left
  10. 9 : km 7.88 - alt. 217 m - Leyrieu wash house
  11. S/E : km 8.33 - alt. 235 m - Return to the school and stadium car park

Notes

Michalieu wash house and bread oven. Picnic area available.
This route can be difficult in wet weather; the rocks and stones on the paths going up and down are slippery.

Worth a visit

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

4.4 / 5
Based on 49 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
comi
comi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 13, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy walk combining nature with visits to villages and heritage sites

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jeannotbi
jeannotbi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

An easy walk, mostly through forest. One of the main attractions is the story of the aeroplane that crashed below the chapel. Everything is well explained and the beautiful panorama allows you to visualise what happened.
We followed the advice of a previous hiker and took the route in the opposite direction to avoid the steep climb.

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Patrixdemex
Patrixdemex

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 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 : No

We did as FBe69 did and followed the trail backwards to have the steep part on the way up. So I only used the GPS to follow the trail. Overall, it was a nice little hike that didn't take too much effort and took 2.5 hours. The trail is well maintained and pleasant to walk on. We'll be back.
Thanks for the route

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JPEQ
JPEQ

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant Sunday stroll

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andomir
andomir
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A varied and enjoyable walk. No difficulties. Best done with GPS as there are few landmarks.

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AngNag
AngNag

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Nice walk. Be careful in wet weather, as the slopes are slippery

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FBe69
FBe69

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Do it counterclockwise, preferring to climb steeply and descend less steeply.
It's a nice, not too difficult walk with different views, first of the valley below, then, once you've passed the ridge, of the little valley where the old stone village of Michalieu is located.
the whole walk takes about 1 hour 45 minutes.

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paccoud isabelle
paccoud isabelle

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk overall. We avoided it after a rain shower because the route (especially at the beginning and end) is mainly stone with runoff. Suitable for families, except for those with reduced mobility. Dogs are allowed off the leash almost everywhere. I remember a pretty village, a beautiful view and a small, unusual chapel.

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teitoku427
teitoku427

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Enjoy your hike, which takes you through forests, countryside and villages.
Moderate slope on the way up but steep on the way down.
Great views from the chapel.

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gfx68
gfx68

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful view from the summit

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Pascal01500
Pascal01500

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with views of Mont Blanc and the Belledonne massif.
A stony descent between the chapel and Leyrieux, which can be difficult in wet or very damp conditions.

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Dupons
Dupons

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike but some junctions are poorly signposted
Distances between signposts would be useful in the description
You shouldn't get lost with the VISORANDO GPS hiking app on your phone, right?
Thanks for this hike

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Lulucie
Lulucie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant trail, explored on ponies, which the children enjoyed.
Thank you, alexcremieu

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randonneur38
randonneur38

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

nice

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monsieur météo
monsieur météo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

pleasant hike, steep climb at the end (just after the chapel), slippery in wet weather.
however, it's worth trying in an anti-clockwise direction, which I'll be sure to do soon.
thanks for this hike

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