From cross to cross in the Monts du Pilat from Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez

Head to Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez and park in the visitor car park near the former Carthusian monastery. The walk starts from this car park.

(S/E) Leave the car park by heading left, walk down for about twenty metres to reach the road below where a cross stands, and take the road on the right. After about forty metres, follow the dirt track on the right and continue uphill along it. Cross a road and continue straight on until you reach a second tarmac road. Cross this too and take the dirt track opposite, heading uphill across the fields. You will arrive at a junction where the Croix du Sud stands.

(1) Turn right onto a dirt track, leaving a farm on your left. Continue along this track until you reach a tarmac road. Follow it to the left for about a hundred metres, then turn right onto the dirt track. Continue straight ahead downhill, ignoring a turn-off on the right. You’ll come to a fork in the road; take the left-hand path until you reach a tarmac road, then follow it straight on. Walk straight through the hamlet of Les Côtes.

(2) After the last houses, continue straight on along a narrow dirt track. Cross a ford and turn right onto the zigzagging path.

(3) When you reach a crossroads, take the left-hand path. Further on, ignore the path on the right and continue straight ahead downhill through the woods until you reach a road.

(4) Head up to the right along this road, which takes a sharp right-hand bend before passing close to a house. Continue for a few metres, then head up to the left along a track until you reach a road. Follow this road downhill to the left, walk for about sixty metres and turn right onto a dirt track. After a very steep section, this track leads to a road which you should follow to the left to reach the Croix du Mazet very quickly.

(5) Cross the junction and the M7 road. At the hiking signpost, take the dirt track uphill towards Croix de Montvieux. Head into the forest and continue straight on along the main track, ignoring the side paths and following the markings until you reach the hamlet of Croix de Montvieux, on the edge of the RD62.

(6) Cross with care and continue opposite the entrance to the Restaurant de la Croix de Montvieux. Walk for about 40 metres and take the first road on the left. At the following right-hand bend, leave the road and take a dirt track on the left which descends parallel to the D62. You will reach a crossroads where you must go up to the left for a few metres to rejoin the D62.

(7) Cross the D62 carefully again and head up the wide path on the right. Once at the top, keep to the left and continue downhill until you reach a fork with a hiking signpost.

(8) Head downhill to the left towards La Grange Rouet. Head towards the restaurant entrance, walk past it and continue downhill to the right. Continue along the road, passing a hiking signpost and the start of a path on the left. About ten metres past this signpost, leave the road and head down a dirt track on the left. Reach a fork in the road and continue to the left. Carry on until you reach a second fork in the road, where you should also keep to the left.

(9) Cross the road and head downhill opposite, slightly to the right, along a dirt track. You’ll come to a road again; follow it to the right to reach Les Maranches. Walk for about twenty metres until you reach a Fork in the road and turn right onto Allée des Maranches. Continue along this road uphill until it becomes a dirt track, passing between houses. You’ll reach a junction and continue straight ahead, ignoring the path that branches off to the right.

(10) Cross the M30 road and continue along the path opposite, towards the village of Pavezin. The path becomes tarmac: go straight on to reach the front of Pavezin town hall. Turn right onto Route de la Chartreuse to cross the village.

(11) On leaving the village, after passing a wayside cross, follow the dirt track on the left towards the sewage treatment plant. Continue down this track until you rejoin the M30 at a hairpin bend.

(12) Cross the road and continue straight ahead on the dirt track that runs alongside the stream. Join the M30 again and follow it to the right. At the next junction, turn left towards Petit Valluy – Moulin Poyet, and head for La Chappey.

(13) At the 90° left-hand bend by a cross, continue along the dirt track that runs horizontally to the right. At the next fork in the road, keep to the right, then about 50 metres further on, turn left and continue straight on to descend and rejoin the tarmac road you took at the start of the walk. Turn right and follow the route back to the car park (S/E).

Former Charterhouse of Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez.