Fontaine Ardente - the flaming fountain

A short hike to enjoy this geological feature: a flaming fountain.

Technical sheet

n°192266

Creation:
3 Jan 2016

Last update:
19 Jan 2024

Last review:
22 Apr 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 1.78 km
Average duration: 1h 00
Difficulty: Moderate
Return to departure point: Yes
Vertical gain: + 181 m
Vertical drop: - 174 m
Highest point: 612 m
Lowest point: 441 m

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Chartreuse, Dauphiné
District: Meylan (38240)
Start/End: N 45.227724° / E 5.778692°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3334OT, 3334OTR, 3335OT, 3335OTR
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Description of the walk

Start at Rochasson Castle (in the town of Meylan).

(S/F) Follow the direction of Bois d'Avril.

(1) Turn left uphill. At the crossroads of Bois d'Avril, turn right towards the Corbeau Castle. Then pass overs a first stream.

Arrive at a rustically furnished space (wooden fences), where there is a flaming fountain on your right (2).

Take the road towards Corbeau Castle. Do not cross the bed of a second stream but follow the hillside on the right. Continue along this hillside, cross the first stream, then start your descent.

Find the path from the way in and then continue down to Rochasson Castle and return to starting point (S/F).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 441 m - Château de Rochasson
1 : km 0.31 - alt. 524 m - Go left
2 : km 0.96 - alt. 566 m - Fontaine ardente de Rochasson
S/E : km 1.78 - alt. 441 m - Château de Rochasson

Practical information

This route is very slippery and should be avoided in wet weather. Walking sticks are a necessity. There is also a chance of rocks falling.

In the nearby area

(2) Fontaine Ardente: at the flaming fountain, you can smell the sulphur. In a recess in the wall, depending on the season, you can see glowing embers or a small spark.

Reviews and comments

3.2 / 5

Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.1 / 5

Clarity of route map
3 / 5

Route interest
3.5 / 5

Rando...neur

Apr 22, 2025 at 02:01 EDT

Hike to the fountain of fire, not yet done because of mud and the risk of slipping...

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Moscaries

Jan 16, 2022 at 10:30 EST

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

Poorly signposted, we made quite a few mistakes and didn't find the fiery fountain. The description is not at all clear.

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poloche55

Dec 09, 2019 at 03:03 EST

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 08, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : N/A
Route interest : N/A

I went up to the crossroads at Bois Leduc and turned right, but after that the torrent was dry and there was no signpost, so I decided to turn back.

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Cheyd

Oct 23, 2018 at 13:19 EDT

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 22, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Fontaine ardente impossible to find with the explanations.... we think we found it (without certainty) after a much longer hike to the water reservoirs and a steep descent! A 0:55 minute hike that took almost 2 hours to complete ... nevertheless, the weather was magnificent and the hike enjoyable.

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bibi

Jul 04, 2018 at 13:46 EDT

Thank you for your feedback. Could you please help us to complete the description so that we can help others on their tour.
Sincerely

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Musty1963

Jul 02, 2018 at 11:15 EDT

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 29, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing

Not very clear. We hesitated to turn right as soon as we climbed the hill, as it was badly marked on the map and the route.
We couldn't find the fountain.
The path around the stream is not very clear. Luckily someone told us how to find our way back.

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gazok54

May 01, 2018 at 11:12 EDT

Thank you aetius for this information.
Let's let the author take a look at it and adapt his description if necessary.

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aetius

May 01, 2018 at 03:31 EDT • Last modified: May 01, 2018 at 03:34 EDT

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 31, 2017
Reliability of the description : N/A
Clarity of route map : N/A
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Following a landslide, the "fiery fountain" is no longer accessible (but could be revived if reinforcement work is carried out).
The path still offers a pretty route.
A diversion by AR could be envisaged for the memory of the "Corbeau" castle (nearby ruins).

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Schop

Mar 26, 2018 at 06:05 EDT

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 25, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

I passed through the heights of Meylan one evening last week.
I guided myself by memory (without having printed out the description) and ... didn't find the fountain of fire.
The walk was not bad though...
but I'll go back and try harder (and follow the description better)...
To be continued!

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AALEX

Oct 16, 2017 at 03:04 EDT

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 15, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

The signposting leaves much to be desired. We hesitated a great deal on what was a very short circuit. Fortunately, other hikers were able to guide us, so we turned right too soon and wandered badly. the fountain site has been abandoned and is of no interest if it is indeed this small, filled-in niche that is difficult to access.

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agnesburg

Sep 11, 2017 at 04:54 EDT

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 09, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

we took the wrong path and turned right too early but we managed to find the fountain the walk is very pretty

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delirand

Feb 22, 2016 at 13:57 EST

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 21, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Thanks to you, we have discovered this little wonder of nature.

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