Route from Bois de Vavres to Montceaux

This hike takes you through the woods around the village of Montceaux. Along the way, discover the ponds, the ruins of an oil mill and the private castle of La Bâtie.

Details

18321115
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.68 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 83 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 88 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 245 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 184 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Montceaux (01090)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 46.09662° / E 4.79726°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3029SB, 3030SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking: Montceaux church car park

(S/E) Go down Chemin de la Poipe below the church entrance. Pass the dovecote. At the crossroads, follow the stream to the right. At the entrance to the woods, take a return trip along a path on the right to the ruins of the oil mill, then continue straight ahead along the wide path, ignoring the paths that branch off to the right and then to the left at the two crossroads. The path climbs above the Bois de la Combe.

(1) At the crossroads, take the path on the right. Turn left onto the road, which becomes a carriageway. Take the path on the right through the fields. You can see the Étang Laly pond on the left.

(2) At the crossroads, turn left into the woods.

(3) At the crossroads (see alternative route in: Practical information), turn right heading south into the Bois de Vavres woods. Ignore the path on the right and continue straight ahead for 1.2 km.

(4) Cross the D17 with caution and continue on the road opposite. At the houses, leave the road and continue on the path opposite. Cross the bridge over the Calonne and join the road, turning right.

(5) At the three-way junction, turn right again towards the Beybleu pond. Pass it, cross the bridge and climb up opposite to the Château de la Bâtie. Cross the D17 with caution and continue on the Milancase path.

(6) At the hamlet of Milancase, ignore the road and then the wide path that branches off to the right and take a path on the right at the bend. Continue straight ahead until you reach the road. Go down it to the left and then turn right onto the road.

(7) Leave the road at the bend and take the track on the left. Follow it, ignoring the path that branches off to the left. After 400 m, turn left towards the fishermen's footbridge. Cross it and continue uphill (view of a dovecote) to reach the village of Montceaux (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 209 m - Car park - Église Saint-Philippe et Saint-Jacques (Montceaux)
  2. 1 : km 1.84 - alt. 225 m - Bois de la Combe
  3. 2 : km 4.31 - alt. 237 m - Étang Laly
  4. 3 : km 5.23 - alt. 244 m - Étang de Vavres
  5. 4 : km 6.5 - alt. 229 m - Cross the D17. Towards the bridge at - Callonne (rivière) - Affluent de la Saône
  6. 5 : km 7.43 - alt. 222 m - Étang de Beybleu
  7. 6 : km 9 - alt. 242 m - Hamlet of Milancase
  8. 7 : km 10.51 - alt. 199 m - Les Gnélettes
  9. S/E : km 11.68 - alt. 209 m - Car park at Montceaux church

Notes

There are two water points in Montceaux along the hike: one at the Town Hall square and one at the leisure area, 124 route de Belleville. Public toilets are located at the town hall square and there are two picnic areas, one at the ruins of the oil mill and the other at the leisure area, 124 route de Belleville.

This hike is offered by the Val de Saône Centre Tourist Office in collaboration with the FF Randonnée de l'Ain.

(3) It is possible to make a 25-minute round trip to the Vavres pond by continuing along the path opposite until you reach the road, then turning left and following it for 350 metres.

31% tarmac.

Worth a visit

The Crozet mill:
This watermill on the Calonne dates from the 10th century and operated until 1969. Restored by the current owners, it has two millstones driven by a bucket wheel.

The oil mill:
Located in the Bois de Verne, near the Crozet Mill, it ceased operating after the First World War and is now in ruins.

The Château de la Bâtie:
This castle, with its typical late 13th-century military architecture, was built around 1250 in Savoyard carrons (red bricks) by the Lords of Francheleins, vassals of the Beaujeu family. It was then an important stronghold containing a garrison of 60 men-at-arms and whose fortifications included 19 towers. The castle, its chapel and its outbuildings have been listed as historic monuments since 2006.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 13 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
nanouchagny
nanouchagny

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a pleasant route
the first lilies of the valley are appearing
a bit of tarmac towards the end

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yvesdaru
yvesdaru

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 22, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant, easy walk. The scenery is varied and the countryside is beautiful at this time of year. There are few tarmac roads, and on the few sections we did encounter, we didn’t see a single car. We had a picnic by a lake with picnic tables.
Used GPS.

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Office de Tourisme VSC
Office de Tourisme VSC

Hello,

Thank you for your comment. We will review the route.
We look forward to seeing you again on our hiking trails.
The Tourist Office team

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jpa69r
jpa69r

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This hike is pleasant and varied, with no technical difficulties. What is less good is the signage (yellow), which is either non-existent or hidden by ivy and brambles in places. Some trailheads are difficult to find, particularly at point 6. Fortunately, we had GPS. The last section after the footbridge was poorly maintained. But apart from these specific issues, it's an ideal hike for getting back into shape

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marchesante
marchesante

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

:pleasant route with lots of paths and few roads.
Must-see: the Château de la Bâtie and its magnificent lake.

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SANDRIANE
SANDRIANE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A pleasant walk with no difficulty and, above all, plenty of shade.
A wonderful discovery.

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TotoB
TotoB

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, pleasant and easy walk.
Beautiful scenery, a few points of interest... interesting, not much tarmac, perfect signposting. In short, one to do again in the spring.

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Floflo01
Floflo01

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk in the sunshine, alternating between woodland and fields. We didn't meet anyone.
We missed a signpost towards the end and had to turn back: a short 1 km detour.

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Quincerote
Quincerote
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A beautiful hike alternating between woodland and fields. No particular difficulty.
At No. 3, the round trip to see the Vayres pond is not very interesting as you remain far from the pond.
The Crozet mill can only be visited by appointment and is not visible from the road.
The signage is excellent.
There is a picnic table just before the Beybleu pond, which is unfortunately closed.
The Château de la Batie is currently being renovated, but there is still a lot of work to be done!

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NeenaHB
NeenaHB

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Well-marked and easy route. I didn't do the circular 5; I went straight to marker 6, which is still over 10 km.

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henri974
henri974

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike through rapeseed fields, detour near the oil mill (in poor condition), the Château de la Batie (also in poor condition) - beautiful, well-maintained trails, muddy in places (it must have rained during the night) - excellent signage.

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Office de Tourisme VSC
Office de Tourisme VSC

Hello,

Thank you for your message and for your interest in our region. We have taken note of your comment about additional yellow signage.
We look forward to seeing you again soon on our hiking trails.
The Tourist Office team

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Lelette39
Lelette39

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk with the option of a picnic about two-thirds of the way along the route.
However, although the description is very well done, it would be nice to paint some yellow markings at certain intersections to better signpost the hike 😉😊

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Office de Tourisme VSC
Office de Tourisme VSC

Hello,

Thank you for your message and for your interest in our region.
We look forward to seeing you again soon on our hiking trails.
The Tourist Office team

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tempico
tempico

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very varied hike, woods, paths, little tarmac, to be repeated in good weather
The paths were a bit muddy due to bad weather.
The ruins of the oil mill are still worth seeing, if only for the history.

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