Francheville (Rhône) walks

Woods and river in the city! It's difficult to find an area entirely covered in trees that is both close to Lyon and large enough for several hours of walking.The paved sections are very limited; you mainly walk in a steep-sided valley, along the water's edge, namely the Yzeron stream, and under the constant canopy of trees. This makes it ideal during hot weather.The route is mostly flat, except for the loop on Findez hill.For those who dislike tarmac and don't want to go too far, this valley nestled between Craponne and Francheville is a good choice.

A pleasant walk through the streets, along the Étang du Boulard and the countryside near Chaponost. Starting near the aqueduct, you can discover these superb Gallo-Roman remains.

Sainte-Foy is a commune with rugged terrain. To see this for yourself, simply walk up and down the many staircases. So I've put together a short route with six staircases to climb. What could be better? To be done at a leisurely pace or as a trail run.

Route to be followed using GPS, semi-urban route, not practical with explanations. Starting from the Fort de Lyon Saint-Just, 500 metres from the Saint Just funicular, this is a half-nature, half-city walk. It passes through several parks and the pretty little Razes valley, followed by a nature trail along the Thiện Minh Pagoda. There is a beautiful view of Lyon and the Alps from the Esplanade Lichfield in Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon.

I will take you on a route between Chaponost and Brignais to see some ancient remains of the Gier Aqueduct, built almost 2,000 years ago. The main difficulty of the route is its relative length.

For several years now, Lyon's Confluence district, in the wake of the construction of the museum, has been undergoing a major transformation. Here, it is invited to discover its new face, where modernity meets history, in the exceptional setting of the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers.

Starting from the Basilica of Fourvière (or Place Bellecour), the route allows you to enjoy the most beautiful views of the city. You will pass by many of Lyon's must-see churches, monuments and theatres. You will climb up to Croix-Rousse through almost all of the traboules (covered passageways) on the hill. A truly peaceful route with virtually no cars.

A varied hike (wide path, trail, partly in the woods, partly in the middle of fields), fairly short but with some elevation gain.

This route allows you to walk along the banks of the Saône on the way there and the Rhône on the way back. Along the way, we will enjoy the sights of the peninsula (the writers' wall, the Lyonnais wall, Place des Terreaux, the town hall, the opera house). Halfway through, we will walk around the Parc de la Tête d'Or.

The aim of the route is to stroll through a few streets in the city of Lyon, between the north of the Presqu'île (Place des Terreaux) and the plateau of the Colline de la Croix-Rousse, while enjoying beautiful views (on the Rhône and Saône sides) at times.

Less than 10 km from Lyon, this easy family hike will allow you to discover the wooded valleys of Charbonnières-les-Bains, Dardilly and La Tour-de-Salvagny.

In addition to being a nice hike, this circuit is interesting because throughout the trail signs provide educational information on the fauna and flora, tree species etc. It also helps hikers discover the local agricultural heritage that is everywhere so close to Lyon.

The Bois de Serre loop in Dardilly is an easy, shaded hike. The trail runs alongside a stream and winds through cool, pleasant woodland.

Stroll through the Tony Garnier open-air museum. The beautiful buildings of the Cité des États-Unis serve as a backdrop for the architect's plans for his ideal city of Lyon. Other street arts, colorful and symbolist, extrapolate this concept to other countries.

An exotic hike near Lyon in the foothills of the Monts du Lyonnais. A little elevation gain but not too much, meadows, woods, panoramic views (weather permitting!) and lots of horses. In short, an ideal walk to stretch your legs in all seasons.

A tour of the village accessible to all, allowing you to appreciate the streams, hillsides and valleys of Sainte-Consorce and beautiful views of the Alps and Mont Blanc, Lyon, Mont Pilat and the Coteaux du Lyonnais. Tour suggested by the municipality of Sainte-Consorce

The Coteaux du Lyonnais: from meadows and streams to the forest on the ridges. An opportunity to discover Sainte-Consorce from the ridges in its natural setting with beautiful views of the Alps and Mont Blanc, Lyon, Pilat, etc. Circuit proposed by the municipality of Sainte-Consorce.

The charm of the Coteaux du Lyonnais from the Ratier stream to the highest point of Sainte-Consorce: Pipora. A moderate elevation gain allows you to enjoy streams, hillsides, meadows and some beautiful views of Lyon, the Alps and Mont Blanc. Circuit proposed by the municipality of Sainte-Consorce.

Short hike in the Coteaux du Lyonnais to discover hamlets, streams and panoramic views of Saint-Consorce, just a stone's throw from Lyon.

The northern plateau of the Lyonnais hills offers beautiful views, but its hillsides and unpredictable streams are not without charm!

A hike of around 20km, starting and ending at the church in Sainte-Consorce. A varied route through woods, meadows and suburban areas.

A half-day walk with very little elevation gain on the plateau west of Irigny between the Forts de Champvillard and Montcorin, passing through Charly and Vourles.

This circuit crosses the meadows and woods of the first foothills of the Monts du Lyonnais. It leads to the Piragoy viewpoint, which offers a view of Messimy and the villages and crops of the Piémont des Monts du Lyonnais, and on a clear day, a beautiful panorama of the Alps and the Pilat Massif.

Short walk on the edge of the Monts du Lyonnais with a slight climb at the start. This route can be shortened by a good third (and thus avoid a return trip on the same path) by parking at the Hameau de la Basse Bruyère (1)

Hike to discover the balmes (caves) of the Saône, cross the valleys and hills of the rich properties of the Mont-d'Or communes and return via Ile Barbe before climbing back up to the Jean Moulin Museum.

Starting from Messimy, on the outskirts of Lyon, this long loop takes you to the small Yzeron waterfall, passing through the hilltop village of Chateauvieux, the Py-Froid viewpoint and the dolmen in the Faix woods.

A lovely ten-kilometre loop starting from Grézieu-la-Varenne. Mainly in the forest, it takes you up the legendary Col de la Luère.

A large loop, close to Lyon, through fields and forests and across the vast grounds of the Château de Saint-Bonnet. The Visorando app may be useful on certain sections that have been modified from the original route.

This hike alternates between forests, meadows and beautiful views of the Rhône valley and the Alps, mainly on paths and small roads. There are no technical difficulties, just a few steep slopes.

A refreshing hike between Pollionnay, La Croix du Ban, Col de la Luère and the Château de Saint-Bonnet le Froid. Much of this route is through woodland.

A short hike to soak up the gentle tranquillity of the Monts du Lyonnais, just 15 km as the crow flies from Place Bellecour (Lyon). This circuit is also very close to the neighbouring towns of Tassin, Craponne, Saint-Genis-les-Ollières and Charbonnières-les-Bains. You will discover the calm of the forest with its remarkable trees, the tranquillity of small streams and breathtaking views of Lyon. As a bonus, depending on the conditions, you can enjoy views of the Alps and Mont Blanc.

An easy loop starting from Saint-Cyr-au-Mont-d'Or to reach the heights of the Monts d'Or towards Mont Thou. The return route passes via Mont Cindre. There are some lovely views and several drystone shelters to discover along the way.

This is a very pleasant country walk where you can admire the magnificent Priory of Taluyers and stroll past some beautiful villas in Orlienas.

A pleasant half-day walk along paths and through woods with beautiful views of the region.

An easy hike to discover the drystone shelters of Mont-d'Or. The cabornes are huts built of dry stone, which were used as shelters and for storing tools by farmers. They were also sometimes used as dwellings.

Parking: 4 spaces for cars a few metres from the start of the path.It's rare to find a quiet walk that barely touches tarmac in the Monts d'Or. This one does just that. You get to spend two hours in the forest near Lyon without any physical challenge. Ideal for families.

Warm up in the Bois des Plasses in the municipalities of Dommartin and Dardilly.

This walk will take you through the agricultural plateau and then along the banks of the old Rhône. The restored Jaricot and Ciselande floodplains are home to beavers.

Gentle climb up the Limonest corniche, which offers beautiful views of Fourvière. Chemin de Narcel in the woods, towards Mont Verdun. Then another beautiful view on the descent towards Limonest. Pass near the Château de la Barollière.

A tour of Limonest that allows you to discover its many wash houses, secret paths and other treasures.

Family walk leading to the Ferme du Loup via various observation points overlooking the surrounding nature: river, pond, meadow...

A short walk that takes you to the most beautiful viewpoint of the Mont d'Or massif and allows you to discover some 'drystone shelters', stone shepherds' huts. Great for families!

A stroll through the small village of Taluyers. Between paths through fields and vineyards and a detour to the Combe Gibert pond, come and discover one of the many villages of the COPAMO.

This loop follows the Grand Tour and Tour intérieur des Monts d'Or trails. We start at the Saint-Romain cemetery and head towards Mont Cindre via the Sentier des Rapaces trail. Towards Limonest, we walk alongside Château de la Barollière before climbing up to Mont Verdun. It's worth making a detour to visit the Glande lime kiln. This route offers beautiful panoramic views around Mont Cindre and Mont Verdun, towards Poleymieux and the heights of Saint-Romain.

This double loop of around fifteen kilometres with a significant elevation gain will take you through some beautiful panoramas and places in the Monts d'Or. Starting from the pretty village of Saint-Romain, it will take you to the summit of Mont Thou with its magnificent panorama, then to the village of Poleymieux with its church and some beautiful drystone shelters. You will cross the grounds of Château de Curis and then walk through the woods to return to your starting point, passing by the enigmatic Demeure du Chaos.

A hike suitable for all, offering different viewpoints and remarkable landscapes, and an opportunity to discover nature and heritage.

This is a short hike to the Fouillet Chapel (Sourcieux-les-Mines) from the centre of Lentilly. Orientation table at the chapel, beautiful view in all directions in good weather. Exceptional panorama at an altitude of 500 m over the Monts du Lyonnais and Beaujolais, the Lyon metropolitan area and the Alps. You can enjoy this view for a long time from the heights of Mosouvre, where you can see the valley towards Arbresle.

Starting from the Saint-Vincent Chapel in the commune of Saint-Laurent-d'Agny, this hike allows you to discover the landscapes of the Monts du Lyonnais foothills, market gardens, orchards, meadows and woods. On a clear day, it also offers beautiful views of the Jura and the Alps.

A scenic route through the forest with no difficulty, 95% of which is on paths.