Fontanès (Loire) walks

A short walk starting from the village of Fontanès, offering a beautiful view at the highest point of the Sept Pins. The passage through the woods is very pleasant.

Beautiful route along the ridges around the village of Fontanès. Free parking in the castle grounds.

A nature walk in the Monts du Lyonnais, through pastures and small hamlets.

A beautiful walk with views of Pilat and Saint-Etienne. Reviews indicate that a GPS is very useful for following this hike.

Walk on the heights of the Col du Pilon, reaching Fontanés via the footpaths and returning via the small roads, with little elevation gain.

A circuit primarily on small paved and sunny roads.

The route passes through different areas in the countryside around Saint-Christo-en-Jarez (wetlands, forest and meadows). Along the way, themed information boards provide details about the local wildlife. On a clear day, two-thirds of the way along the route, you will be treated to a magnificent view of the Alps.

Family-friendly walk in the hills of Saint-Héand among the horses and cows.

Route starting from Marcenod, a small rural village of 700 inhabitants at an altitude of around 700 m. Very lovely views of the Monts du Forez.

A very varied hike in the Loire, alternating between open landscapes with meadows, valleys, deciduous forests and numerous apple and cherry orchards. The walk also allows you to discover a curious underground aqueduct. In good weather, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Mont Blanc and the entire Alpine range. This hike can be enjoyed in all seasons, but it must be magnificent in spring when the fruit trees are in bloom.

This circuit starts in Valfleury, a charming village nestled at the bottom of a valley, and mainly follows ridges offering numerous views towards Saint-Chamond, Saint-Étienne, Pilat and, further afield, Forez and Auvergne. Don't miss a visit to Valfleury church.

Starting from Châtelus, head towards the Couzon, which you will follow as far as the Moulin du Pas. From there, the route climbs up to the Pin Picard and heads towards the Bruneton, from where you will return to Châtelus via Soleymieux and La Rivoire.

A lovely walk in the countryside with stunning views.

A lovely route – long but not difficult – which takes you on a complete route of the Val d’Onzon, offering beautiful views of the Pilat massif, the Monts du Forez and the Northern Alps (on a clear day!). A wide variety of idyllic landscapes. The route mainly follows the higher parts of the terrain.

A walk in the hills with unobstructed views of the Pilat massif on one side and the Monts du Lyonnais on the other. The route follows good paths and small service roads. There are some steep sections, but they are short-lived.

A lovely, quick walk that is easily accessible from the centre of La Talaudière. Hilly but not difficult. Beautiful views of the Pilat massif and the heights of Sorbiers. Discover the castle and park of Sorbiers at the end of the walk.

Starting from La Tour-en-Jarez, this is a gentle walk along quiet roads and paths, ideal for families.

A walk along wide, easy paths through meadows above Saint-Bonnet-les-Oules.

A walk that takes you around Cellieu via the geographical centre of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, whilst discovering magnificent landscapes, and even Mont Blanc on a very clear day. Please note: there is a significant elevation gain, making this route unsuitable for pushchairs.

This pleasant, rural circular walk, in the little-visited hills of the western Monts du Lyonnais, winds its way through the valleys of the Coise and its tributaries. It starts in the charming village of Aubépin and leads to the imposing Château de Lafay, crossing the village of Larajasse and then wandering through fields and forests to isolated farms and peaceful little hamlets: Vaudragon, La Valletière, Chazette, Les Granges, Le Terron, La Grange Bruyère, Gouttenoire, Moulin Vaudray, La Chèvre, La Lardière, La Rivoire, Les Grandes Bruyères and Croix Galant, before returning to Aubépin after this breath of fresh air.

This route takes you to Samson’s Menhir and the Chapel of La Salette. It is a very pleasant walk as it follows the rivers Coise and Couzon for a while, as well as the Orzon stream, and offers beautiful views of the Monts du Lyonnais.

A route through the Monts du Lyonnais starting from Saint-Symphorien-sur-Coise, inviting you to discover châteaux and dams, taking roads, nature trails and wooded paths offering views of the Monts du Lyonnais and Forez, and ending with a visit to the collegiate church that dominates the town.

An easy and very varied walk (village, paths, woods, fields) with beautiful panoramic views and amenities.

A circular walk from Chazelles-sur-Lyon and the Hat Museum to the Gimond dam, which is the reservoir for Chazelles-sur-Lyon's drinking water supply. Along the way, you will find several viewpoints over the region: Mont du Lyonnais, Pilat, etc. You will cross the Gimond stream, which is always dry, several times via small bridges.

A very pleasant walk, featuring several paths along the river and through the woods, offering a complete change of scenery. As you will be walking along many paths through the woodland, there are few tarmac roads or sections. This walk is easy as there is little elevation gain relative to the distance.

A hike with no major climbs and beautiful views of the Col de l'Oeillon and Saint-Chamond.

Short circular or long circular above Saint-Chamond. A pleasant walk or bike ride for the whole family. This path is quite busy, especially on Sunday mornings when the weather is good. Be careful if there is snow, as there may be snowdrifts near the Col de Trente Sous.