Charancieu walks

A very pleasant walk, with no difficulties. Throughout the route, there are lovely views of the Chartreuse, the Bugey and the Vercors. Not too many tarmac roads, and mostly very pleasant paths.

Family walk along the edge of the woods and through the fields above Lake Paladru.

This route alternates between paths and small roads, winding along the ridges and offering views of the Bourbre valley, the Dauphiné, and the Chartreuse and Vercors mountains.

This route first winds through woods and hillsides, then returns via the 'flat' part, avoiding tarmac roads where possible.

This is an easy family hike, accessible to all, in a varied setting where you can discover pheasant aviaries and landscapes near Saint-André-le Gaz.

This is a pleasant walk with varied scenery. You will pass Notre-Dame des Vignes in Valencogne, Lake Paladru in Paladru and, on the heights, the charming Chapelle des Trois Croix in the Dauphinois style. There are no difficulties to be expected, apart from the distance. Halfway through the walk, if the weather is clear, you will have beautiful views of the mountains.

A lovely walk with beautiful views of the Jura, the Bauges and Mont du Chat.

A pleasant little walk with some lovely views of the Chartreuse Mountains.

A lovely, easy hike.Varied paths, with a little road but no heavy traffic.

Starting from Saint-André-le-Gaz station, this is an easy hike that winds its way around several ponds in the surrounding area.

This is an easy walk that still offers some beautiful views.

A lovely little hike with beautiful, unobstructed views of the Chartreuse, Mont du Chat and Les Bauges.

This walk offers a route starting from Bilieu town hall, taking in the village and La Véronnière (Montferrat). It is not at all difficult and offers a variety of landscapes (views of Lake Paladru as well as some of the Chartreuse massifs: La Grande Sure and Le Grand Som) and terrain (mainly forest paths, a walk through the Marais de la Véronnière, but also, unfortunately, a bit of tarmac).

This walk allows you to discover the village of Saint-Genix and climb to its heights to cross a rural area offering beautiful views of the Chartreuse, then follow a section of the Way of St James leading back to the village after crossing a forest.

An easy hike around the village of Bilieu with lovely views of Lake Paladru and the surrounding countryside.

This walk allows you to discover the castles of Pupetière and Virieu. You first walk along the Bourbre valley on the hillside, then through the forest, passing the Croix du Moine Mort, and finally return to the hill towards Virieu.

An easy walk around Lake Paladru, allowing you to discover some fascinating Carthusian buildings. The Grange Dimière is a listed building and, higher up, the former Carthusian monastery, which is now privately owned and not open to visitors.

A magnificent circular route that follows theGR®65, better known as the Way of St James, on the way there and the paths above Lake Paladru on the way back.

A walk starting from the village of Le Pin, now part of the commune of Villages du Lac de Paladru, passing through the hamlets of La Montagne and Brézin. Country lanes, forest tracks, woods and undergrowth. Views of the Chartreuse and the Vercors in the distance.

A circular route mainly through woods and undergrowth, passing a number of historic and religious buildings: Sylve Bénite (a Carthusian monk), the Croix de Moine Mort and the Croix d’Homnézy. Views of Lake Paladru and Mont Blanc (on a clear day).

A countryside walk starting from Le Pin, a village within the “Villages de Lac de Paladru” municipality. Passing through Les Marais, Chubins and Charpenne. A easy route along wide farm tracks and a few small tarmac roads.

The Avressieux Marshes: an easy route to discover peace and nature along the water’s edge.

A pleasant, easy walk that alternates between spruce forest and open stretches with views of the Dauphiné hills or the Chartreuse mountains.

A lovely country walk around the hamlet of Saint-Sixte. This circular route offers beautiful views of the lake of the same name and the Étang des Chartreux.

It was a pleasant walk, mostly through the woods, looking for chestnuts in season. However, the return journey involved a fairly long stretch of tarmac road.

This walk, which presents no particular difficulties, follows the pedestrian routes that have been successfully developed to facilitate walking around the lake, thereby minimising the elevation gain. In particular, the route takes the Voie Verte and the Chemin du Marais before joining the GR®65, the Geneva Way of St James – Le Puy-en-Velay, on the heights of Paladru and Le Pin. It passes through many pleasant spots where you can stop for a break. Enjoy the various views of the lake and the surrounding mountains, and the tranquillity of the walk, with a very low proportion of shared paths. You can also walk it in the opposite direction for a different perspective.

A lovely loop if you fancy an easy, not too long, shady walk, starting from the Chapelle-de-la-Tour car park, with no special equipment required. You could potentially spot ponies, horses, cattle, etc. We went in May, so we recommend going in the morning for the shade and milder temperatures in summer.

This route will allow you to discover Lake Paladru in all its glory. A long hike (nearly 22 km) but without any technical difficulty. Best suited to experienced walkers or for tackling over two days. Choose your starting point; the lake circuit can be started from four villages: Charavines, Bilieu, Le Pin or Paladru. This large “Blue Lake”, exceptional for the beauty of its surroundings and its crystal-clear waters, was shaped by the mighty Rhône Glacier during the Ice Age. Situated at an altitude of 500 metres, nestled amongst wooded and agricultural hills, it is the fifth-largest natural lake in France. Its shores were home to one of the first human communities in Isère, dating back to 2700 BC (the Neolithic village of Les Baigneurs). Several sites are designated as “protected natural areas”.

A day's walk, quite lovely and varied. You start by going through the Grand Platon Forest, then going along the south-east bank of the lake with beautiful views over the lake. You change banks and go along the Feydelière and Véronnière marshes ('Marais' - protected sites). The return is via the north-west bank of the lake with beautiful views over Chartreuse and, if the weather is clear, Mont Blanc.

The circular takes you around Lake Paladru via the greenway from Charavines.

This loop starting from the village of Grésin allows you to discover the site where the Italian engineer Galetti installed his harp antenna. Today, the site on the edge of a cliff offers a beautiful view of the Rhône canalised between the departments of Savoie and Ain. It then follows a section of the Way of St James. The route is dotted with shells, of course, but also with stone and metal crosses.

A modest peak in the Savoyard foothills, Mont Tournier offers the opportunity for a pleasant hike to discover the vestiges of the past and the history of the Italian engineer Galetti.

A circular loop mainly through woodland, venturing slightly off the beaten track and suitable for all seasons.

This circular route, suitable for all seasons, takes you along the ridge of the Montagne du Tournier, which runs from the Col de la Lattaz to Mont Tournier (877m), passing through various characteristic spots in the area, with unobstructed views of the surrounding mountain ranges.

The Mont Tournier hike is described several times on the site, and this circular route differs from previous descriptions in a few ways. Part of this route is on tarmac roads, but there is very little traffic.

The Mont Tournier area offers numerous combinations of forest trails, which are often signposted and relatively well-used. This circular path deviates from these paths in part to reveal an ancient passage between two levels of the cliff overlooking the Rhône, leading to the Trou de la Mule and the Grotte de Jean Gonet, known only to a select few and a handful of hunters. Please note: the route is in poor condition and difficult to follow in places: see Practical Information

This circular forest route, dotted with natural attractions and historic buildings, also offers, after a short round trip, a lovely view of the Grande Sure. A booklet dedicated to the heritage along this route is available.

This circular forest loop is accessible in all seasons, even in snow, and takes you through several areas of the Miribel, Saint-Aupre and Rocharey forests, crossing two medium-altitude passes, the Mille Martyrs and the Pilori. You can also enjoy some unobstructed views along the route.