The Clairefontaine Waterfall in Virieu-le-Grand

By car: park on Place Honoré d’Urfé, where the walk begins. From the station, follow Avenue de la Gare to reach the starting point.

(S/E) Head towards the historic quarter by following the D53, passing thefountain and the statue of Honoré d’Urfé (writer and Lord of Virieu-le-Grand in ^{the 16th and 17th} centuries).

(1) Follow Rue de Montet to the right and walk through the historic quarter , where you’ll see a large mural, the walking trail marker and an information board. Walk the entire length of Rue de Montet; there are several information boards about this historic quarter to discover.

(2) Take the D53 Route d’Hauteville on the left and continue up to another bridge spanning the Arène.

(3) Turn right, following the banks of the Arène towards the Clairefontaine Waterfall. You have a choice: follow the hairpin bends of this quiet road, or take a shortcut through the bends on slightly steeper sections by crossing the road three times – which is the route suggested here.

(4) At the fourth fork in the road, follow the path uphill, cutting across this tarmac road. A path on the left, a little further up, takes you to the waterfall. A steep, exposed path – reserved for the more agile – allows you to walk alongside it on the right. For everyone else, rejoin the white path and continue the walk.

(5) Cross the Pont de Chanille and head up the path on the right.

(6) Turn right and head up to the Cascade du Niaz, a small waterfall situated upstream of Clairefontaine-sur-l’Arène. As the Cascade du Niaz receives less water from springs than the Cascade de Clairefontaine, it can quickly run dry during the summer months.

(7) When you reach the road, a short round trip along this quiet road will take you to an orientation table offering a view of Mont Blanc, weather permitting.

(8) Then return to the hairpin bend.

(7) Continue to the right along the D53 for about a hundred metres.

(9) At the junction, take a small path on the left which cuts across the hairpin bends on the descent. Cross the road twice and, on the third occasion, turn left.

(10) Leave the Hauteville road by heading down the Rue du Château opposite to retrace your steps. Then turn right and head back to Place Honoré d’Urfé (S/E) via the same route you took on the way there.

Out of respect for this natural area, please leave no trace behind you after your visit; please do not tread on the ground around the Arène and stay on the paths.
Restaurants, bars, cafés and bakeries – the shops in Virieu-le-Grand welcome you at the end of your walk.

By train: Virieu-le-Grand–Belley station is on the Lyon–Geneva railway line and is situated a few hundred metres from the start of the walk. From the station, follow Avenue de la Gare towards the village to reach the square at (S/E).

• The historic quarter of Virieu-le-Grand and its information boards.
• The Clairefontaine Waterfall.
• The Niaz Waterfall.
• The view from the orientation table on the Route d’Hauteville.

Nearby for climbing enthusiasts: Virieu-le-Grand is a renowned climbing destination.
To discover climbing at this exceptional site, the Bugey guides are available all year round by booking.

To find out more about Virieu-le-Grand’s heritage, guided tours are available from the Tourist Office.