Château de Sappel and Montagne de l'Avocat as seen from Vieu-d'Izenave

Park in the car park by the cemetery and the community hall.

(S/E) From the car park, with your back to the road, follow the path marked in yellow, then the track on the left, which descends to the Ruisseau du Borrey.

(1) Cross the footbridge over the Borrey and follow the path back up to the junction at the start of the hamlet of Talipiat.

(2) Turn right, away from the yellow sign for “Talipiat – Corcelette”, onto the path overlooking the Borrey. Follow it (you should see a yellow mark and yellow arrows) along a fairly wide path. At a bend, ignore the path branching off to the right and continue straight on. Ford the Sappel stream.

(3) When you reach the junction with the old Roman road and the Way of St James (blue markings on the right on a tree with the scallop shell symbol), turn left towards Château de Sappel.

(4) Take the path branching off to the left which runs alongside the main building at Sappel ( a church-run lodge, very often unoccupied). Please respect the premises and head back up to the RD57 road. Follow it carefully for about 150 m.

(5) At the first sharp bend on the RD57, take the path leading uphill straight ahead.

(6) At a fairly open crossroads, take the track on the left. Ignore the paths branching off to the right or left to reach an abandoned farm at a place called Chativonne.

(7) Follow the path on the right which passes between the two buildings, then continue along the narrow track on the left (do not take the path on the right which descends around a bend) until you reach the hamlet of Chouin. Once in the hamlet, go round the buildings on the right, passing through the car park of the “Le Grand Dehors” holiday camp to rejoin a small road (please respect the premises).

(8) Take the tarmac road on the left. At the^second bend, turn left onto the steeply ascending path. Continue for about 100 m (you can bypass this short steep section by taking the gentler uphill path on the left).

(9) Continue along an almost invisible path on the right (to help you find it: look for the rock slabs on the path you’re leaving) which runs along the cliff face and then along the left bank of the Ruisseau de Pérolles. Continue up the path as it moves away from the bank.

(10) At the junction, turn left onto a stony path which leads to a large crossroads of forest tracks. Take the track on the right, marked by a barrier.

(11) Leave the track and take a path on the right uphill to Montagne de l'Avocat, the highest point of the hike at 1,015 m (marked by two telecoms and broadcasting masts).

(12) After a short descent, at the junction with the track leading to the wind turbines, turn left onto the track to reach a crossroads.

(13) Head slightly uphill to the left to see a signpost on the wind turbine trail, and make use of the picnic area if required. Head back down the track straight ahead and follow the sign for “Poste de livraison – tranche Nord – Éolienne E3”. Pass in front of the structures then continue along a downhill track marked in yellow. After three hairpin bends, you’ll reach the hamlet of Corcellette (do not follow the signposts).

(14) Walk through the hamlet and, before the last houses, follow the yellow markings to the left. Walk through the hamlet of Talipiat to reach the junction of the outward route.

(2) Turn right and head for the footbridge over the Borrey.

(1) There is a short alternative route for this return section. On the climb, take a grassy path on the right, which runs along the top of the cliff face to reach the cemetery (S/E).

Borrey Footbridge in Vieu-d'Izenave: it was at this spot, known as Laplanche, that Lamartine used to come to rest in the company of his friend Monsieur Bouvet, the French consul.

The various streams have either a steady flow or are dry depending on the time of year.
One, or even two or three, fords that can be crossed, again depending on the time of year (and numerous sections of path in running water after heavy rain).

Château du Sappel: a complex of buildings that looks more like a fortified farm. Currently a lodge run by a church community.

The walk follows part of the Corlier Wind Farm trail (9 wind turbines, whereas 17 had originally been planned!).

History of Vieu d'Izenave

Sappel Castle