From La Forteresse to the Col de Châtain

Park in one of the small car parks below the church at La Forteresse.

(S/E) Leave the village by taking the small road that climbs behind the church (Route de Saint-Paul, towards Saint-Paul-d’Izeaux). This road takes a 90° right-hand bend. Pass the first path on your right.

(1) Shortly afterwards, take a grassy path that climbs at a 45° angle, also on the right (yellow markings). When you reach a road, continue straight ahead between the houses (Chemin des Jonquilles). You come out onto another small road, which you take to the left. At a fork (postbox no. 535, Route de Chaperon), turn right.
You continue for a good while. You pass a first telecommunications pylon on your right. At a fork, you turn left, then you see a second pylon, painted white and red.

(2) You’ll reach the sign for “Le Faux – 755m”. Turn right towards the Col de Châtain. You’ll come to a crossroads and continue straight ahead.

(3) At the sign for “la Rigolle – Alt. 750m” (take care as it is somewhat hidden by the trees), head firmly down to the right towards the Col de Châtain. You reach a crossroads and take the path on the right (the one opposite is blocked by a Red Cross and Yellow Cross). You pass a path on your right. When you reach a complex crossroads, immediately take the path on the left, which climbs steeply. Follow this path, ignoring the paths to the right or left, until you reach the D154a.

(4) You are at the Col de Châtain (you will see a sign indicating the pass on the road to your right). Cross the road and continue on the path opposite. You will stay on this path for a long time, ignoring the few other paths that may branch off to the right or left (there is no ambiguity). You will pass an archery range on your left.

(5) Your path ends at the fence of a farm (mainly for goats). Head up to the right.
You continue along this path for quite a while, again ignoring any paths coming from the right or left.

(6) You come to a sign for “Les Bruyères – Alt. 755m”. Turn right, towards La Forteresse. At a fork, turn right again.

(7) When the path turns left at a 90° angle, leave it and take a less well-trodden path on the right. Then, immediately, ignore a path leading down to the right and turn left. Continue the descent towards La Forteresse; in places, the going is steep (watch out for loose stones).

(8) You come out onto a small road. Opposite, you’ll find a table and two benches waiting for you (along with an information board about the life of Mandrin). Continue down the slope, opposite, along a grassy path. You’ll come out at the bottom of the valley onto a small road. Turn left to reach another road, where you turn left again. This will take you very quickly back to your starting point (S/E).

The walk starts from the village of La Forteresse, in Isère, halfway between Saint-Étienne-de-Saint-Geoirs and Tullins. Park in one of the small car parks below the church.

The walk begins with a steep climb and ends with a steep descent on slightly unstable ground (loose gravel). Otherwise, there are no difficulties.

Shortly before the end of the walk, there is a picnic table and benches ((7), at the junction with the road).

To my knowledge, there are no shops at La Forteresse. The nearest shops and amenities are in Saint-Étienne-de-Saint-Geoirs and Tullins.

Some views of the surrounding mountain ranges: Vercors, Chartreuse, Monts du Lyonnais.

The coolness of the Châtain woods.

The Chambarans valleys.