The circular route of the Three Steeples in the Monts du Lyonnais

Introduction: As this walk, starting from Saint-Clément-les-Places, does not appear in any guidebook, the signposting on the ground may coincidentally correspond to a section of the route, but that is all.
Important: all places of interest listed in “quotation marks” are signposted on the ground.

Park in the car park at Place des Tilleuls, on the corner by the bar ‘Chez Joëlle’.

(S/E) From the Place des Tilleuls, take the street between the inn and the church which leads down to the “foyer rural” via the “Chemin du Lavoir”, after passing the town hall and the school.

(1) Turn right onto “Chemin des Primevères”, which is tarmac at first and then stony, heading towards “Vers le Grand Vial”.

(2) At the hamlet of Laprat, turn left immediately onto the “Chemin du Grand Robert”, which is slightly undulating. Leave the hamlet and continue, ignoring the road that branches off to the right at the “Grand Robert” farm, and follow the correct path leading to the junction with^{the GRP®} “Le Tour des Monts du Lyonnais”.

(3) Turn right and follow the^GRP® marked in yellow and red, which runs alongside the “Grand Vial” farm and continues along a barely visible grassy track that passes between a vegetable patch and a pond. The track then joins the D4, which you should follow along the verge. Cross the junction at the hamlet known as “Chevaleron”.

(4) A little further on, the^GRP® branches off to the right onto a dirt track. Follow it for a good distance:
Please note that it is a little confusing at the junction by the “Chapelle Saint-Bonnet”; follow the VTT 109 signpost on the left.

(5) At the Croix Grand-Borne, cross the D81 and continue straight ahead, still following the^GRP® due south. Cross a first road (crossroads) then a second, and you’ll arrive at a horse farm.

(6) Leave the^GRP®, which turns left at the junction with a road right next to a horse farm. Carry on straight ahead along a good farm track until you reach a quiet road. Follow it to the right for about a hundred metres.

(7) Turn right onto ‘Impasse Jambost’ and, almost immediately, turn right again onto a grassy track which heads due north at first and then west before crossing a stream to reach ‘Le Noyer’.

(8) Follow the road to the left, which ends in a cul-de-sac at a house. The path then passes to the right and above the house. Follow it to the Tourville manor house (guesthouse).

(9) Turn left onto the path that descends gently alongside Tourville Manor. Continue to “Les Halles”, entering via the “Chemin des Vergers”. Cross the village via the “Route de Saint-Laurent” and the “Rue des Enfants”, then join the D89 via the “Place de l’Étang”. Follow the D89 for a few dozen metres.

(10) Cross it and turn left onto the barely visible “Chemin des Rapaces”, which winds down through the meadows. Follow it to the tarmac track “Chemin des Pierres Blanches”, which you should follow to the right before turning left onto the “Chemin des Mayères” as far as the Christ de la Croix Mayon.

(11) Turn off onto the path on the right, the “Chemin des Caillets”.

(12) Leave this path and take a track that branches off to the right at the bend. Pass through Le Caillet and then La Toranche.

(13) Follow the VTT 111 signposting to Haute-Rivoire. Cross the village, turning immediately right onto “Rue des Grands Jardins”, then onto “Place du Foirail”, and continue along “Grande Rue”, which leads to a crossroads. Turn right onto the Route de Feurs and pass in front of the school.

(14) Leave the Route de Feurs shortly afterwards by turning right onto “Chemin de la Bourrie”, which you should leave by turning left onto “Place de la Bourrie”. Continue along “Chemin de la Garenne”, which leads to the hamlet of “Brondeau” and the D489.

(15) Follow the D489 for a few metres on the left before crossing it and taking the “Chemin des Vernes”, which leads to a small road and the^GR®89.

(16) Follow it to the right, heading north-east, until you reach the junction with “Chemin Henry” on the left.

(17) Then follow the very faint yellow markings and local signposts to climb up to Saint-Clément-les-Places.

(18) Turn right before a ford and follow the path (not shown on the IGN map). Join a road near the hamlet of Chez Batton and continue to the hamlet of “Blanc Parron”.

(19) Turn left and follow the path which climbs gently and ends at the hamlet of “Chez Presle”, where you’ll join a small road which you should follow.
Head down to the right along the “Montée du Charron” to reach the car park at “Place des Tilleuls” (S/E).

The route is described starting from Saint-Clément-les-Places, but the circular route can be completed equally easily starting from either of the other two villages. Food is available in all three villages, and there are public toilets open all year round.
Please note: the elevation gain is calculated automatically by the Visorando software; whilst in mountainous terrain the contour lines are sufficient to estimate it accurately, I am much more cautious when it comes to flat land or hilly terrain. Allow for an increase of 20% to 30% on the elevation gains indicated.
Map No. 12, ‘Les sentiers du Rhône’, based on IGN data and published by the Department, is the ideal guide for this walk as it includes all the signposting found on the ground and in this description.

Close to the route: the Saint-Bonnet Chapel, where Montaigne is said to have stopped. Panoramic views of the Monts du Lyonnais and the Forez ridges.