From Montfalcon to the chapel of Serrein

Hike from Montfalcon to the Chapel of Serein in Saint-Clair-sur-Galaure through countryside and woods.
This hike is a longer version of the hike from the Chapel of Serrein to Montfalcon Castle, with different routes.

Details

993874
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.74 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 261 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 266 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 543 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 430 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the public square in Montfalcon (large car park).

(S/E) Follow the D20 north-northeast. Cross the Galaure and continue to the intersection. Cross and follow the departmental road to the Trignard crossroads just after.

(1) Leave the road and continue along the tarmac path, with a large farm on your right. At the end of the stone path, turn left and continue to the top of the hill.

(2) Turn right and follow the road for 400 metres to the next crossroads, marked by a visible hiking post.

(3) Follow the path down to the left. Cross the D156 and continue along the same path. Cross the Galaveyson to quickly find a new crossroads.

(4) Turn right to follow the path through the woods towards the north-east.
At the top of the hill, follow the wide, large path to the left for 500 metres through the undergrowth.

(5) Turn right and stay on the path through the woods, which is narrower in places and sometimes cluttered with woodcutting debris. Continue straight ahead to reach another crossroads at the edge of a clearing.

(6) Turn left and head west. Be careful, as the path is less visible. You will reach a road serving a group of buildings.

(7) Continue right on the road and then on the path towards the west. Pass in front of a farm (baker). Continue straight ahead at the crossroads, walk along the hamlet of Le Fournet before reaching Les Girauds.

(8) Go down the road then back up for about 900 metres, passing the large farm on your left. Turn left and you will arrive at the crossroads of the Serrein chapel.

(9) Turn right to visit this chapel, a beautiful pebble-built structure and a pleasant spot for a picnic.

(10) Return by the same route to the previous crossroads.

(9) Turn right and follow the path for about 350 metres, passing a turn-off on your right.

(11) Turn 90° to the left, enter the woods and continue to the road, then follow it to the right to reach the bridge over the Galaveyson.

(12) Do not cross the bridge, but turn right onto the path and continue eastwards. At the crossroads in the clearing, turn left to stay in the woods. You will reach a place called Haut Serrein. Turn right towards the south and walk up to the Saint-Clair-sur-Galaure pond. This is a pleasant place to take a break, with a water source available.

(13) Head east on the path through the woods. After 500 metres, turn right to reach the main path after 250 metres in the woods.
Turn left and follow this main road for just over 1 km to reach the crossroads before the hamlet of Le Brûlé.

(14) Go down the path on the right. You will come to another crossroads; continue on the road opposite. Pass between the houses, join the departmental road and follow it back to the original crossroads.

(1) Retrace your steps to return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 435 m - Car park in the village. Towards the bridge over the - Galaure (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.39 - alt. 435 m - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 1.18 - alt. 536 m - Road on the right
  4. 3 : km 1.57 - alt. 543 m - Path leading down to the left.
  5. 4 : km 2.19 - alt. 504 m - Path heading north-east.
  6. 5 : km 3.05 - alt. 539 m - On the right, path through the woods.
  7. 6 : km 3.5 - alt. 504 m - Path on the left
  8. 7 : km 4.46 - alt. 498 m - Junction with a road.
  9. 8 : km 6.49 - alt. 452 m - Les Girauds
  10. 9 : km 7.61 - alt. 487 m - Chapel crossroads
  11. 10 : km 7.96 - alt. 487 m - Chapel
  12. 11 : km 8.69 - alt. 489 m - Path on the left
  13. 12 : km 9.71 - alt. 457 m - Bridge
  14. 13 : km 11.05 - alt. 513 m - Path to the left towards the east.
  15. 14 : km 13.03 - alt. 534 m - Path on the right leading down to the houses.
  16. S/E : km 14.74 - alt. 435 m - Car park in the village square.

Notes

Water point at the Saint-Clair-sur-Galaure pond.
Toilets and water point in the village of Montfalcon.
During this hike, you may encounter hunting parties during the hunting season.

Worth a visit

Serrein Chapel with an explanation of its layout and an old plaque commemorating those who died in the 1914-1918 war.

- Communal pond in Saint-Clair-sur-Galaure.

Ruins of Montfalcon Castle.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
MC5638
MC5638

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A few muddy patches. Hopefully this will improve once the forestry work is complete.

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JB26
JB26

Thank you
It's been a while since I last did it. I was a bit worried that the path at the start after the river would be overgrown. Apparently not.

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Vahinerii
Vahinerii

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Starting from Montfalcon (town hall car park), once you've completed the first climb, the route is easy.
Picnic at the table at the Chapelle du Serein.
Lovely views of the mountains in the distance, break at the ruins of Montfalcon Castle.
Great! I recommend it.

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JB26
JB26

At the moment, the trails in this area are rather muddy.
Apparently, it hasn't bothered you. That's good.

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sachalouis10
sachalouis10

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, best done on a clear day so you can see our beautiful mountain ranges.

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JB26
JB26

Indeed, it is still very humid.
Thank you for your comment.
JB

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TOULAUD'RANDO
TOULAUD'RANDO
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, little elevation gain, but very wet terrain, lots of ruts.

Lovely little chapel; some ruins of Montfalcon Castle.

A hike to be recommended.

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MIFA46
MIFA46

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant, bucolic hike, where you can explore the delightful Chambarans forest and enjoy beautiful views of the Vercors. Thank you to the author.
Despite the description, I missed point 12 (did not turn left at point 11), but I got back on track by continuing straight ahead on the wide path taken at point 9, just before point 13.
At point 13, take the small path through the heather, at the foot of the "no swimming" sign. A little further along this path, there has been some forestry work (tree felling) and it has been badly damaged...

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cathyferrer
cathyferrer

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A breath of fresh air in the forest and beautiful discoveries with the ruined castle of Montfalcon, the chapel of Serrein and the pond of St Clair.
We had some nice chats with hunters we met along the way.
We appreciated the abundant water source at Montfalcon for washing our shoes!
Thanks to the author.

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minos224
minos224

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 19, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The route is reliable. We started from the large pond in Vienna and joined the trail at
the place called Le Perrot and continued on the advertised route. A peaceful and enjoyable walk.

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Denis Chaboud
Denis Chaboud

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Between the route description and the map, excellent reliability. These hikes allow you to discover beautiful regions or parts of our regions that are sometimes isolated and completely unknown. Thank you for the services of your remarkable site.

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