The Chapel of Amareins and the Saône from Lurcy

Park in the car park near the church and the cemetery.

(S/E) From the car park, take the footpath up to the D88d, follow it to the right for 200 m before turning left onto the tarmac road known as Chemin de Champ Petit. At the three-way junction, follow the tarmac road of Le Rosier to the right, which bends left, and continue along the track. At the crossroads, turn left so as to pass in front of the pond at Amareins Castle (hidden by a mound). Cross the Appéum.

(1) At the junction, head up to the right to the Amareins Chapel (11th century), then retrace your steps and continue straight ahead. Take the^first road on the left, crossing the Appéum again.

(2) At the next crossroads, continue along the path straight ahead (panoramic view of the Saône valley and the Beaujolais region).

(3) At the road, head down to the right then pass in front of Lurcy Castle before turning left onto the Montée des Grandes Terres. Head down to the right via the Montée des Poyes.

(4) Cross the D933 with care and continue straight ahead to the river.

(5) At the Saône, take the towpath on the left for almost a kilometre

(6) Turn onto the second path on the left, which bends to the right, to reach Messimy-sur-Saône. Turn right onto the pavement running alongside the D933.

(7) Head up the Route d’Ars to the left of the statue of the Virgin Mary until you reach the D28g.

(8) Turn left onto it, then take the first path on the left which leads to the Mâtre. Cross the footbridge over the river and join a road.

(9) On the road, turn right. Cross the D75a and continue along the wide dirt track between the fields. At the road, turn left then right at the next junction. Continue until you reach the centre of the village of Lurcy (S/E).

55% tarmac.

You will find a water point at the Lurcy cemetery, very close to the church. Another water point is located near the Town Hall, on the Route de la Fournière (D88d).
A picnic table (and a table tennis table!) can be found on the small raised square by the church, right next to the village’s large car park with a bus stop.
In Messimy, you will find a water point and public toilets on Place de la Halle, opposite the cemetery.

This walk is organised by the Val de Saône Centre Tourist Office in collaboration with the FF Randonnée de l’Ain.

Alternative route: starting from Messimy-sur-Saône
Head to the church and turn right. At the crossroads, follow the signs from the starting point (7)

The Chapel of Amareins:
This 11th-century stone chapel belonged to the Abbey of La Chaise-Dieu in the early 12th century. It was then known as "Ecclesia marengiis", a name of Burgundian origin which gave rise to the current name of Amareins.
The Romanesque-style church, whose roof structure has retained its original appearance, was restored in 1960 and has been listed in the supplementary register of historic monuments since 1969.

The vineyards of Lurcy:
Whilst, at the start of the 20th century, over 1,200 hectares of vineyards covered the hills of the Val de Saône communes, they have now almost entirely disappeared. As a local curiosity, Lurcy still retains a few vines, a remnant of
this wine-growing past.
White grapes of the Chardonnay variety, grown on vines that are sometimes over a century old, are used to produce the IGP Vins des Coteaux de l’Ain/Val de Saône appellation.