Circuit of the Croix du Moine Mort and Notre-Dame de Milin

A lovely little walk in the Dauphiné countryside. Halfway through, you will climb a little way up into the forest to the Croix du Moine Mort (Dead Monk's Cross), before descending to the charming Notre-Dame de Milin Chapel.

Details

17891848
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.57 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 197 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 192 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 696 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 487 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park of Burcin Town Hall.

(S/E) Leave the town hall car park and head left (east) along Chemin des Combes. You will leave the village almost immediately. Take the first small road on the left (Chemin des Pins). You will pass the cemetery (water point outside). When you reach a T-junction, turn right.

(1) On your left, you will see a sign for "Les Combes - alt. 535 m". Continue along the small road towards the calvary. Soon after, as the road turns right, take a dirt track on the left. Further on, you will come to another dirt track. Turn left. You will soon come to a fork. Take the left-hand branch.

(2) Much further on, you will come to a wide path. Follow it to the left, arrive at a T-junction and turn right.

(3) You will arrive at a small tarmac road. Take it on the left and enter the hamlet of Blaune, which you will cross.

(4) You will come to a stop sign. On your right, you will see a sign for "Blaune - alt. 580 m". Continue straight ahead. Very soon, you will see a small road on your left that climbs up the hill, Chemin de Moine Mort. That's where you want to go. Take this road.

(5) At the fork, you will see a sign for "Combelière - alt. 612 m". Turn left. The tarmac road gives way to a dirt track.

(6) At the pass, you will arrive at the Croix de Moine Mort (signposted "Croix du Moine Mort - alt. 680 m"). Be careful! There are six paths. Make sure you find the one that brought you here. To continue, ignore the first path on your left. It continues to climb, so take thesecond one, which descends (there is a yellow mark on a tree). Descend and leave the woods. Ignore the path on your right.

(7) At a bend, you will see a hunter's hut with tables and benches under a shelter on your right and, further on, a hairpin bend to the right. You will then come to a second hairpin bend, this time to the left. At the end of this bend, go down the very stony path on the right.

(8) You arrive at the Chapel of Notre-Dame de Milin. Take the small road below to the left. Go downhill and you will come to a crossroads. Turn left (yellow markings) and you will soon come to a fork.

(9) Take the Chemin de la Tuilerie (signposted) on the right. At the fork, turn right. Then leave a discreet path on the right and come out onto a wide track, which you take on the right.

(10) Very soon, you will see the sign "Fenu - alt. 535 m" under a beautiful tree. Turn left and you will quickly come to a small road.

(1) You will see the sign for "Les Combes". Turn right, then take the first left towards a long shed. Pass the cemetery and its water source, then turn right to return to the town hall square (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 521 m - Burcin, town hall car park. Source of the - Bourbre (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 1.08 - alt. 532 m - Les Combes sign, altitude 535 m
  3. 2 : km 2.14 - alt. 585 m - Leading onto a wide path
  4. 3 : km 2.83 - alt. 575 m - Entrance to the hamlet of Blaune
  5. 4 : km 3.14 - alt. 583 m - Blaune sign, altitude 580 m
  6. 5 : km 3.8 - alt. 613 m - Combelière sign, altitude 612 m
  7. 6 : km 4.78 - alt. 687 m - Sign at 680 m altitude - Croix du Moine Mort (Oyeu)
  8. 7 : km 5.47 - alt. 593 m - Hunting lodge
  9. 8 : km 6.24 - alt. 515 m - Chapelle Notre-Dame de Milin (Burcin)
  10. 9 : km 7.01 - alt. 492 m - Chemin de la Tuilerie
  11. 10 : km 8.37 - alt. 531 m - Fenu sign, altitude 535 m
  12. S/E : km 9.57 - alt. 521 m - Burcin, town hall car park

Notes

The starting point is in the car park of Burcin town hall, a small town in northern Isère, west of Lake Paladru.
At the start and end of the walk, you will pass by the cemetery and have access to a drinking water fountain (closed in winter).
Two-thirds of the way along the walk, a hunters' hut provides shelter for picnics in case of bad weather.

Worth a visit

During the walk, you can enjoy the peace and quiet of the Dauphiné countryside and the Bois des Montenvers forest.
You can enjoy some beautiful views of the Chartreuse mountains.
You will pass by the Croix du Moine Mort (Dead Monk's Cross). This cross is said to commemorate a Carthusian monk who was killed by soldiers.
You will then descend to the small chapel of Notre-Dame de Milin.
Nearby are the castles of Pupetière and Virieu.
Not far away, you will also find the magnificent Lac de Paladru and its brand new museum (opening in 2022).

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 16 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Luigidevillard
Luigidevillard

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 05, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, easy stroll through rolling countryside.

Machine-translated

Jacques L1.
Jacques L1.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk to discover the surroundings of Burcin and Chabons. We were lucky enough to visit the Notre Dame de Milin chapel on pilgrimage day, when it was very busy and lively. It was great! This route is easy and combines woodland and sunny paths with beautiful scenery.

Machine-translated

liliane.clarens
liliane.clarens

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A hilly walk through fields of corn and barley, crossing a forest with beautiful trees and birdsong throughout.
A beautiful passage at the Croix du Moine Mort (Dead Monk's Cross) marks the start of the descent, with a beautiful view at the edge of the woods leading to the Chapel of Notre-Dame de Milin.
A glimpse of adobe houses, some of which are being renovated.
Thanks to the author for this purely rural route in total tranquillity.

Machine-translated

Sud 8
Sud 8

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Hiking in the Dauphiné region, where a few adobe houses have stood the test of time, beautiful cereal crops and, finally, the chapel in its secluded setting, as well as information panels on the history of the Bourbe.
Thanks to the author.

Machine-translated

romanche
romanche
• Edited:

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

Thank you very much for this very pleasant hike to start the season. Very well described, varied, with beautiful views and lots of sunshine.

Machine-translated

nazonfly
nazonfly

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant and fairly easy hike. Note that the explanations are very clear!

Machine-translated

Mir38
Mir38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The chapel was closed on Pentecost Sunday, and I don't think it's often open. From the outside, it's not very interesting with its plastered walls.

Machine-translated

Mir38
Mir38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant hike with open landscapes. The stony descent is hard on the feet, but otherwise there are no difficulties.

Machine-translated

Turanco
Turanco

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, very easy walk (completed in 2 hours and 15 minutes), peaceful and pleasant, with a variety of paths to choose from!

Machine-translated

thales
thales

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a perfect hike under the winter sun. Beautiful scenery and a bit of culture.
We only met people at the crossroads where six paths intersect.
The Notre Dame de Milin chapel makes you want to return when it is open.

Machine-translated

MIMINE 38
MIMINE 38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Perfect autumn hike on 20 November...
Varied and exactly as described...
Discovery of Notre-Dame de Milin and its beautiful calvary...

Machine-translated

les marcheuses de veurey
les marcheuses de veurey

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful and very interesting route, as it is varied and shaded. Don't hesitate!

Machine-translated

IsoRando
IsoRando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk!

Machine-translated

Deborando
Deborando

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

I did it a month ago and really enjoyed it, the variety of paths and landscapes. I recommend it

Machine-translated

myrtilles
myrtilles

Hello,
We were unable to complete the hike because I think we took a wrong turn at the beginning. It seems to me that there is a path that matches the description but is not the correct one. We didn't have the route map with us that day. It is actually essential...

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.