Castle, viewpoint and chasms at Montrond

Park in the car park behind the church.

(S/E) When leaving the car park, take Rue de l'Église on the right. At the crossroads, turn left onto the dead-end road and then follow the path on the left that runs alongside No. 13. At the three-way junction that follows, keep left and climb up to the next fork, towards the top of the hill, before the reservoir.

(1) Follow the path on the left, signposted "Route du Patrimoine". Go around the castle hill and you will come to a fork.

(2) Take the path that descends to the left. This path has a few log steps and handrails, which are useful when it has rained as this fairly steep path can be slippery.

(3) At the crossroads (information board on the right), continue to the left, go through a chicane and descend to the right to the Puits de la Lave.

(4) Admire it from the platform. Continue along the tarmac road on the right to the Puits de la Belle Louise and its two platforms with information panels.

(5) Retrace your steps along the same path until you reach the fork at the bottom of the steep path.

(3) Continue straight ahead on this horizontal path until you find a narrow path that climbs to the right.

(6) Take this path and climb up to a good path. Note this arrival point, as it will be useful for the return journey.

(7) Follow the path that climbs to the right, to the Esplanade de la Vierge with its information panels and orientation table. Admire the view.

(8) Turn around and head back to the fork you passed earlier.

(7) Continue straight ahead until you quickly reach a new path on the left, indicated by a sign on a tree saying "No mountain bikes".

(9) Follow it and descend to the cross path.

(10) At the bottom, first turn right then left and follow the path to a road. Turn right and continue straight ahead to the end of Chemin du Puits.

(11) Opposite No. 12, continue to the right (Route de Malbrans), at the next crossroads, turn right (Grande Rue), then left, Rue de la Mairie. Pass in front of the town hall and, at the crossroads with Rue de la Mairie, note the old Gare du Tacot railway station, with its explanatory sign on the right. Turn left and, at No. 12, turn right into the street, which becomes a path. Keep right at the following junctions and you will arrive at a horse farm.

(12) Follow the road to the right, enter the village and continue straight on to the church (S/E).

Parking is also available opposite the town hall.

There are QR codes to scan on some of the signs.

(6) Alternative route to avoid an uphill climb: continue straight ahead until you reach (10). In this case, walk to the Esplanade de la Vierge from (1) and back.

(9) There is no marker at this starting point. The Sentier du Triton is marked only in the uphill direction. There are explanatory signs for young and old along the trail, with riddles.

Things to see along the route: castle ruins, view of Mont Poupet, Puits de la Lave, Puits de la Belle Louise (the entire area is a paradise for caver), old railway station.