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Parking: Place Notre-Dame in Poligny around the beautiful old church. Markings: White, red and yellow.
(S/E) Walk past the church and go around it, turning left up Rue Mouthier-le-Vieillard. At the intersection with Rue du Clos, turn right to join Rue de Verdun, which you follow to the left. Then turn right onto Avenue Foch towards Croix du Dan.
(1) Continue straight ahead along the road and, on leaving Poligny, climb left up the stony path through the wooded hillside (towards Mont Pavé - Croix du Dan). At the intersection of nearby hiking trails marked by a signpost labelled "La Pierre qui vire", continue straight up the hill (towards Ménétrux-le-Vignoble). You will soon cross a small rocky passage with traces of ancient carts engraved in the stone. When the path turns to the left, you will find a bench and a view of Saint-Lothain.
(2) You will reach a departmental road, which you will climb to the left for about twenty metres, then turn left again for a few steps until you reach the Stop sign. Turn left onto the path, which quickly becomes a grassy track. Turn left again until you reach the Croix de Saint-Savin. Continue along a small path that turns left to arrive safely at an unprotected viewpoint. Return to the cross and continue straight ahead along the grassy path. You will reach the small road at a viewpoint. It becomes stony at a barrier and leads you to the superb belvedere of the Croix du Dan overlooking Poligny, the cliffs of the reculée and the Trou de la Lune cave.
(3) Walk about 30 metres to the left to discover the picturesque stony path descending along the Dan rock.Be very careful, as the steep path is very slippery and difficult in wet weather. At the "Sous le Dan" signpost, which marks an intersection, turn left to rejoin the path you started on and follow it down to the first crossroads.
(1) Turn right onto Rue de la Faïencerie, passing in front of the sports hall, then the nursing home. Turn left onto Rue Pasteur and, opposite the hospital, turn right onto Rue de L'Hôpital, which is a no-entry road, offering a lovely view of the cliffs and ramparts topped with a turret. Cross Route de Genève at the pedestrian crossing and head left towards Place des Déportés, passing beneath the statue of the brave General Travot.
(4) Turn right onto Rue Hyacinthe Friant. At the fountain (signpost "Les Jacobins"), turn right onto Rue Grévy (towards Roche du Pénitent). Then turn right again, passing behind the old Jacobins church to climb a stony path through charming vegetable gardens. Turn around for a view of the old rooftops.Carefully cross the main road and continue along the stony path opposite. Back on the main road, climb about 20 metres to the right and turn left onto the path. You will come back to the main road. Turn left towards the first hairpin bend and the Trou de la Lune.
(5) Only climb up to the cave if you are sure-footed and not prone to vertigo.
As is often the case, the climb up is easier than the descent!
Head towards the rocks. You will soon come to a fork in the path. Stay close to the cliff and climb very carefully up to the cave via the iron ladder, then continue carefully to a viewpoint a few steps to the left of the cave.
Return to the main road.
(5) Climb about 50 metres (stay to the right of the road so that you can be seen by cars coming downhill). Climb back into the woods via the path on the left (signposted Crête de Chamole). You will immediately come to a fork. Continue straight ahead.
(6) At the intersection, follow the signpost for "Grande Corniche" and turn left (towards Buvilly).
You will walk along the superb Grande Corniche with numerous viewpoints over old Poligny, the Croix du Dan, the valley and the vineyards.
A sign warns "Prudence, les falaises sont dangereuses" (Caution, the cliffs are dangerous).
At the next intersection, marked by the sign "Sur la roche du Midi", continue straight ahead towards La Roche du Pénitent. When the path turns slightly to the left and forks, continue on the right (red mountain bike sign).
(7) At the Pénitent signpost, continue for another hundred metres or so to a viewpoint overlooking the vineyards (unsecured). Return to the signpost and carefully descend to the right towards the Grotte du Pénitent. After the rock, the path descends, forming several hairpin bends, and joins a wider stony path which you take on the left.
(8) Be careful! When you reach the foot of the beautiful rocks, look for the yellow marker on the right inviting you to descend a path.
Further down, at a corner of the wall on the left, the path widens and turns to the right. Descend about ten metres to the intersection and continue downhill to the left.
Walk along the old ramparts and, at the small street, go up a few metres to the right and take the small path on the left (towards the town centre). At Rue Sainte-Colette, turn left until you reach the calvary. Then turn right and walk along the side of the Saint-Hippolyte Collegiate Church.
(9) Be sure to visit it for its magnificent statuary. Turn left as you leave the building, then take the first alley on the right (towards the observation and orientation centre). Look up to see a statue of the Virgin Mary.
On Grande Rue, turn left, passing in front of the beautiful town hall, a former private mansion.
Go down Rue Voltaire on the right and quickly turn left into the Ursulines cloister. When you come out, turn right into Rue Victor Hugo. Then turn right again at the bottom of the street, returning to the bottom of Rue Voltaire. Turn left.
At the next fork, at a no-entry sign, continue straight ahead until you reach the fountain with intertwined fish.
Turn left, continue straight ahead and cross the Route de Lons at the pedestrian crossing, then take Rue Notre-Dame to return to the Place Notre-Dame car park (S/E).
The route includes cliffside paths and unsecured viewpoints. Rocky and slippery paths in places. Do not attempt during the wet season or after rain. There is a ladder of about 3 metres to climb. Good footwear is essential and walking sticks are recommended.
Visorando member
Difficult 
Easy 
