Old wall circuit

A beautiful, easy walk on either side of the Bozançon River, where this section of the valley is a succession of ancient terraces structured by low stone walls. A taste of Provence...
Old description, see reviews if you are not using the app.

Details

289481
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.31 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 245 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 240 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 455 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 293 m

Description of the walk

Access: In Saint-Maurice-sur-Dargoire, park near the pétanque court, close to the old fire station on Route de Villette.

Please note! This route is not signposted.

(S/E) On foot, walk down Rue du 8 Mai 1945, cross it and continue opposite on Route des Aqueducs. Turn onto the first road on the left. Continue along the path that extends this lane to reach another road. Turn left to arrive immediately afterwards at a crossroads.
(1) Continue straight ahead on a path. Immediately after, at the intersection, continue straight ahead. Further on, the path descends more steeply, turns left and then right (at this point, you can go up the path on the left for a few metres to see the remains of the Roman aqueduct) to reach the Bozançon at an intersection.

(2) Continue to the left. Further on, ignore a path on the right that crosses the river and continue straight ahead. At the next intersection, continue straight ahead again. The path branches off to the left, away from the river, and joins a small road near a vineyard.

(3) Turn right and then immediately left onto a path to reach the Place du Hameau de la Roussillière. Turn right onto the path and then, when it veers left at the poultry farm, continue straight ahead on the path that winds down towards the Bozançon. Cross the river via a bridge and climb up the other side through the undergrowth. The slope becomes less steep as you come out onto a large field after a hairpin bend. Continue along this path, which turns left to join a road.

(4) Take the road on the right. The road turns left and leads to another road. Head right until you reach a crossroads marked with a cross. Turn right and follow this road, which soon turns into a path. Continue, ignoring the paths that branch off to the left and right, until you reach an intersection with a wide path marked with a cross.

(5) Continue straight ahead to pass below Crêt-Châgneux with its small chapel. Below the ridge, at the intersection, continue straight ahead. Further on, the path turns right and then left. Ignore a path on the right to reach a small road at Hameau de Bissieux.

(6) Turn right and, when the road turns right, continue straight ahead on a path. Further on, ignore a path on the right and continue straight ahead to descend towards the Bozançon.

(7) At the fork, facing a bridge crossing another branch of the Bozançon, turn right to cross the Bozançon. On the other side, follow the path on the right and then take the first path on the left. Go up this winding path.

(8) At the crossroads, turn left to cross a field and come out onto the Route des Aqueducs. Take this road on the right to return to the crossroads you took on the way there.

(1) Turn left onto the same path as on the way there to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 450 m - Car park near the pétanque court
  2. 1 : km 0.59 - alt. 424 m - Opposite on the path
  3. 2 : km 1.49 - alt. 319 m - On the left, along the - Le Bozançon
  4. 3 : km 2.96 - alt. 357 m - Turn right onto the road.
  5. 4 : km 4.44 - alt. 336 m - Turn right onto the road.
  6. 5 : km 5.71 - alt. 377 m - Straight ahead near Crêt-Chagneux
  7. 6 : km 6.57 - alt. 387 m - Turn right onto the Route de la Mine d'Or.
  8. 7 : km 7.45 - alt. 343 m - Right towards Bozançon
  9. 8 : km 8.06 - alt. 388 m - Turn left across the fields.
  10. S/E : km 9.31 - alt. 450 m - Car park near the pétanque court

Worth a visit

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here

Shortly before (2), you will see the remains of the Roman aqueduct. The Gier Aqueduct is one of the ancient aqueducts of Lyon that served the ancient city of Lugdunum. It is the longest of the four aqueducts that supplied the city with water, and the one whose structures are best preserved. It owes its name to the fact that it draws water from the sources of the Gier, a tributary of the Rhône.

Shortly afterwards (2), near the bridge, the very pleasant site invites you to take a break. You can reach this site further on by taking the path on the right at the point (5).

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 38 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
maurice.ogier
maurice.ogier

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Pleasant route

Machine-translated

User 3500085

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 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 hike with my son. We enjoyed the view of Pilat, but also the abundant wheat fields. Also ideal for trail running!

Machine-translated

User 25685735
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

Good quality route map
Writing sometimes difficult to follow

Machine-translated

Mamiyoda
Mamiyoda

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

At a crossroads, it is difficult to find your way. Follow the path towards the vineyard, but there are vineyards on both sides.

Machine-translated

anne-claire durand
anne-claire durand

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely, easy walk among stone walls or along the stream with a small bridge and waterfall. The time is significantly overestimated; 2.5 hours is more than enough if you take your time, rather than the 3 hours and 20 minutes indicated on the app.

Machine-translated

ameliejumper
ameliejumper

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this lovely walk!

Machine-translated

AMISUR
AMISUR

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant stroll for the entire family

Machine-translated

ginjoj
ginjoj

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very nice hike, amazing landscapes. We parked at point 8 and started the hike at point 1. We walked 8 km in the sunshine. I recommend it

Machine-translated

charpenel
charpenel

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

the departure point is at point 1, where there is space to park four cars.
Just before point 6, at the water treatment plant, we went straight ahead; I prefer dirt roads to asphalt.
A very pleasant and varied ride.

Machine-translated

Bernardoo
Bernardoo

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike, Roman aqueducts and chapel, beautiful views and very pleasant woodland. Thank you very much.

Machine-translated

Seni
Seni

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Confusing directions for departure.
Nothing to report after that.

Machine-translated

grandin
grandin ★

1216ALEXcol//

Sorry, this is a hike I wrote a long time ago, and I no longer live in the Lyon area. When the reviews get too bad, I'll take it down, but with the app, I think it's still doable. I'll add a warning

Machine-translated

1216ALEXcol//
1216ALEXcol//

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Problem with directions at the start. We then found the road to the aqueducts, but there was no indication that we had to turn off. We did something different, but for once the directions were unreliable. It should also be noted that some street names have been changed (according to a local resident).

Machine-translated

Fabrice0869
Fabrice0869

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello
I went hiking today, visiting all the points of interest, i.e. the two aqueduct ruins and the chapel. The distance was 11.4 km, which took about four hours.
I'm going to repost what I wrote previously because the details are very clear

  • access to the aqueduct ruins: just before point 2 in the hairpin bend, take the path that climbs to the left for a few dozen metres

- On the descent between points 3 and 4, just before crossing the river, you will see a waterfall on your right. A small path on the right will take you there. It's a nice spot for photos if there is water, of course
- if you want to go to the pretty chapel at Crêt de Chagneux, take the path on the left at point 5, then turn right when you reach the D30, as this is the only access point, the surrounding land being private property
- at point 8, go down the path on the right for 100 metres (there is a small sign) towards the Jurieux aqueduct
- Then, on the climb just after the aqueduct, admire the magnificent oak tree that overlooks the path.

Some parts of the hike can be quite busy as many paths cross and many locals were out for their Sunday stroll

In any case, it's a great hike

Machine-translated

spockdodo
spockdodo
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We completed the hike under bright sunshine, which warmed us up nicely in the afternoon despite the freezing temperatures of the previous night. It was a very pleasant route with no particular difficulties, and the low walls added to the charm of the trail. As for the description, I just read it at the start to note any potential hazards or points of interest along the way. Then I follow the route on my mobile GPS and have never had any problems (except when I look too much at the scenery and not enough at my phone ;-).
A few points about the route:
- picnic on rocks overlooking the river on the descent between points 3 and 4.
- access to the remains of the aqueduct: just before point 2 in the hairpin bend, take the path that climbs to the left for a few dozen metres, and at point 8, go down the path on the right for 100 metres (there is a small sign).
- just before point 8, on the climb, admire the magnificent oak tree (I hope I'm not mistaken) that overlooks the trail.
- if you want to go to the pretty chapel on the Crêt de Chagneux, take the path on the left at point 5, then turn right when you reach the D30, as this is the only access point. The land around it is private. Note that today there was a flock of white herons, probably cattle egrets (I thought there weren't any in France, but I checked and they are).
Thank you to the author for a great day :-)

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.