The Aiguille de Chalais

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A family-friendly circuit starting from Chalais Monastery and ending at the eponymous Aiguille.

Details

n°55925
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 2.87 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 172 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 164 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,087 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 927 m
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Photos

Chalais Monastery
View from the belvedere
View from the Aiguille
Challenging section

Description of the walk

Park in the car parks at Chalais Monastery.

(S/E) Return to the hairpin bend and take the wide tree-lined lane. You will come to a fork in the road.

(1) Follow the signs for the botanical trail on the left to reach the Rocher de Bellevue.

(2) Go back a few steps and take the small path on the left (sign: Aiguille de Chalais). Stay on the path to the right of the barriers, pass the small ledge before a new crossroads.
Turn left (sign) and follow three hairpin bends to reach the mast on the Aiguille.

(3) Return along the same path to the previous sign, then turn left and return to the initial crossroads of the wide lane.

(1) Turn left onto this lane to return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 927 m - Chalais Abbey car park
  2. 1 : km 0.27 - alt. 935 m - Crossroads of the loop
  3. 2 : km 1.26 - alt. 974 m - Bellevue Rock
  4. 3 : km 1.77 - alt. 1,087 m - Aiguille de Chalais
  5. S/E : km 2.87 - alt. 928 m - Chalais Abbey car park

Notes

Benches provide a place to rest throughout the hike.

Worth a visit

Chalais Monastery, its shop selling monastic products and its church.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 30 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Carine et Michel
Carine et Michel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk. After reading the comments, we decided to do the route in reverse, and we were glad we did.
This direction allows you to admire the scenery without having to turn around, and the views are magnificent.

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JPB73
JPB73

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Pleasant hike, not too crowded.
We did the route in the opposite direction to the one described (Aiguille first, then Belvédère), which seemed easier to us as the climb from Belvédère is quite steep.

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Sacav
Sacav

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Great hike, the scenery is magnificent, and the little amenities are very nice. Truly a perfect environment. However, be careful on the climb, as it is not for everyone, despite the ropes and handrails....
Long live the biscuits at the end!

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Patrick M. Grenoble
Patrick M. Grenoble

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A perfect short hike with beautiful views enhanced by the town hall and Chalais monastery. You can do a simple round trip suitable for all ages or a loop as indicated to climb up to the Aiguille de Chalais.

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SEDERONNAI
SEDERONNAI

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It wasn't my first time, but the route is always very enjoyable. The views are worth stopping for a while.

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Charlie 38
Charlie 38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk for the whole family
Easy route, nothing complicated and well marked.

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Manu.1984
Manu.1984

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very good explanation.

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la gazelle
la gazelle

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

hello,

The route is very well signposted and safe (especially the path towards the Aiguille de Chalais).
Very busy.

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philippegautier1958
philippegautier1958

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The climb after the viewpoint is quite difficult but enjoyable

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Edenath
Edenath

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We came at the end of January 2020 to do this hike, but it was so cold that the rocks were frozen on the way to the Aiguille, so we turned back
This time, we decided to do the hike in reverse, starting with the Aiguille de Chalais
I recommend wearing good shoes because the path is uphill and very rocky. The climb to the Aiguille is also very challenging.
The view from the lookout point is magnificent

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Edenath
Edenath

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very beautiful hike. Easy to access. Clear view this morning, which allowed us to see beautiful landscapes

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blueberry38
blueberry38

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

nice view from the lookout point. The monastery biscuits (shop) are delicious

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Eric5
Eric5

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant short walk with a beautiful view from the lookout point.

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Naina 38
Naina 38

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 25, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

It's a great walk, a fairly challenging hike and a cultural trail for children on the path that leads directly to the platform.

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kara.marie@gmail.com
kara.marie@gmail.com

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Very pleasant walk in September

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