Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regional Centre Trail

A walk that takes you around Cellieu via the geographical centre of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, whilst discovering magnificent landscapes, and even Mont Blanc on a very clear day.
Please note: there is a significant elevation gain, making this route unsuitable for pushchairs.

Details

2879077
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.18 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,211 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,198 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,533 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,506 ft

Description of the walk

Start from the public school car park: Chemin de la Picote - 42320 Cellieu (not from the village centre).

Follow the yellow markings

(S/E) Head west towards Les Boissonnanches. Turn left onto Chemin de la Picotte. At Les Boissonnanches, take a small path on the right leading to the geographical centre of the region.

(1) At the bottom of the path, turn right and walk up alongside the field (take care not to damage the crops; stay on the edge). After a steep climb through the trees, follow the wide path to the right towards Crêt Até.

(2) At the crossroads, at elevation 536, veer slightly left, then, further on, turn due south towards Crêt Joyeaux, then continue to the right, towards Peyrieux.

(3) Cross this hamlet and follow the path to the left of the wash house, towards Chalière. At the White Cross fork, head straight ahead up a long climb and reach the White Cross (beautiful viewpoint).

(4) Head down to the right, passing the relay mast, towards Crêt Poncin.

(5) At the crest, head down the path straight ahead to reach the old stadium and a road.

(6) Continue along this road towards the village. At the wayside cross, leave the road and take a path on the left, then cross the centre of Cellieu village via Rue des Réservoirs and then Rue des Vergers. Pass to the right of Saint-Philippe Church and reach Rue des Amandiers. Follow it to the right for about twenty metres.

(7) Then follow the footpath to the left. Cross the D106. Then walk along Rue du Grand Chemin, on the left. Turn into the first street on the right to return to the public school car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,690 ft - Alphonse Daudet State School car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.42 - alt. 1,624 ft - Centre de la Région
  3. 2 : mi 0.9 - alt. 1,762 ft - Crossroads, at an elevation of 536 metres
  4. 3 : mi 2.03 - alt. 1,959 ft - Peyrieux
  5. 4 : mi 3.42 - alt. 2,480 ft - White Cross
  6. 5 : mi 4.05 - alt. 2,428 ft - Crêt Poncin
  7. 6 : mi 5.13 - alt. 1,969 ft - Old Stadium
  8. 7 : mi 5.84 - alt. 1,696 ft - Rue des Amandiers x footpath
  9. S/E : mi 6.18 - alt. 1,690 ft - Alphonse Daudet State School car park

Notes

The end of the walk takes you through the village, where there is a bistro and a mini-market.

Worth a visit

Cross the Centre de la Région.
Enjoy the various views: Le Pilat, the Gier Valley, Valfleury, the Monts du Lyonnais, Mont Blanc and the Alps.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
manuel.fonseca
manuel.fonseca

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This walk takes us around Cellieu, passing through the geographical centre of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. All along the route, you can admire magnificent panoramic views, such as Saint-Chamond, the Pilat, Valfleury, etc. The first part of the walk is fairly easy, but it does include a few steep (though short) slopes. After the White Cross, the path is flat, then downhill. A perfect route for nature-loving walkers.
Easy to park.

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visarodo
visarodo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk, a varied route, with stunning views and a magnificent 360° panorama from the White Cross.
This route is marked in yellow.
I would do this route again with other people.

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renaudier
renaudier

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very well-marked walk. A brilliant walk with stunning scenery, especially at the highest point, White Cross, which offers a 360° panorama.

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cacounet42
cacounet42

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We couldn't find some of the paths on the suggested route. We had to take different ones in the middle and at the end. Impassable

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Daniel Brignon
Daniel Brignon

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I tweaked the route a little. But overall, it was a lovely walk.

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