The Montagne de Dun and the Mussy Viaduct

Discover the Clayettois region, heading for one of its most beautiful viewpoints: the Montagne de Dun. Beautiful views of the surrounding countryside and the Mussy Viaduct, listed as a historic monument.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 17.08 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 502 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 493 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 716 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 365 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Warning: as there are no hiking trails, this walk mainly follows small, quiet roads and paths.

From Varennes-sous-Dun, head towards Lyon via the Col des Echarmeaux. About 1 km after leaving the village, turn right at the bend, cross the small bridge and park in the spinning mill car park. This car park is private but parking for a few vehicles is permitted. You can visit the museum and sheep park on your way back from your hike.

(S/E) Cross the spinning mill premises, then turn left when you reach the road (Côte 433) and follow it to the next intersection (calvary). Take the road on the right towards "Les Gachers" and continue until you reach "Trémont".

(1) Stay on this road to reach the hamlet of "La Faux". When you reach the hamlet of La Faux, turn right towards the south, pass the calvary (erected by P. Verchère in 1879), then take the path on the left (signposted "Liaison route Saint Racho") and follow it to the hamlet of Les Corneloups.

(2) Turn right twice and follow the road that climbs through the woods towards Montagne de Dun. At the top of the climb, take the small path that leads to the chapel to enjoy the magnificent panorama of the region (two orientation tables).

(3) After walking around the chapel and admiring the view of the Mussy Viaduct, descend via the path on the right to Dun, then continue along the road southwards to the next crossroads (elevation 597). Turn left and follow the road towards Mussy. At the next crossroads (elevation 543), take the road on the right towards "L'Aye", where you can enjoy a magnificent view of Mussy and its viaduct.

(4) In the hamlet, turn left onto the small ridge path that descends towards Mussy. At the next fork, take the left-hand path and descend towards the small wood and its statue of the Virgin Mary. Then take either of the two paths that descend towards the village.

(5) When you reach the top of the village, turn right onto the road that climbs northwards towards the hamlet of Les Trouillets (beautiful view of the west side of the viaduct). Pass the hamlet, then turn left at the next intersection, then right twice towards Dreuillien (beautiful view of the Loire Valley to the west).

(6) At Dreuillien (elevation 571), continue north through the woods for about 1,200 metres. Ignore the logging tracks, then when you reach a crossroads with several well-marked paths, take the path furthest to the right heading east (this is not shown on the topographical map), which leads through the woods to the road connecting Beauvernay and Les Avaises.

(7) When you reach the road, turn left, then after the first houses, take the road on the right, then at the next crossroads, turn left onto the road that goes north. Pass La Segaude farm, then about 400m after, take the small path on the right that goes east towards Vaux.

(8) In Vaux (elevation 401), take the road on the left towards Montgesson. Before reaching the large Montgesson farm, take the grassy path that heads north and joins the path coming from the farm 200 metres further on. Continue along the path towards "Les Brûlés" and your starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 365 m - Spinning mill car park
  2. 1 : km 1.65 - alt. 461 m - Trémont
  3. 2 : km 3.7 - alt. 594 m - Les Corneloups
  4. 3 : km 4.84 - alt. 714 m - Dun Mountain
  5. 4 : km 7.4 - alt. 542 m - L'Aye
  6. 5 : km 8.53 - alt. 439 m - Mussy-sous-Dun
  7. 6 : km 11.15 - alt. 569 m - Dreuillien
  8. 7 : km 12.85 - alt. 505 m - Les Avaises
  9. 8 : km 14.52 - alt. 402 m - Vaux
  10. S/E : km 17.08 - alt. 365 m - Spinning mill car park

Notes

Compass and altimeter recommended.

Worth a visit

Filature des Laines Plassard: guided tour of the museum and grounds at 3.30pm on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1 April to 30 June and from 1 September to 6 November, and every day during the school holidays (closed during the Christmas and February holidays). From 1 July to 30 August: guided tours at 3pm and 4.30pm every day.

The Mussy Viaduct, 561 metres long, was built between 1892 and 1895 on the Lozanne to Paray-le-Monial railway line at the request of the Paris Lyon Méditerranée (PLM) railway company. It has 18 arches with a maximum height of 60 metres. The cost of construction was three million gold francs.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
User 27738444

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk

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User 1360077

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Well, there isn't enough information about the hike. Did you check the route on foot? Because there are lots of gaps in the information, especially at point 6. There are lots of paths in the woods, and I ended up going off the Visiorando map!
when I go for a walk, it's to get away from civilisation, so I'm not interested in being connected to the internet!
i still had to get out my phone to find my way back... It's a shame, and it's not the first time. Even if I prepare my walk well, there's always a snag. For example, the marked paths are not always used and are therefore impassable. I repeat my question: does anyone check your walks on foot?

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Kaymotte
Kaymotte
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike despite the rain. Long drive but no traffic. Beautiful scenery, no difficulties.

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SE VE RI NE
SE VE RI NE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very peaceful circular hike in a quiet environment. I can confirm that even though 70% of the route is on small roads, I didn't meet a single person! The circular hike took 4 hours and 50 minutes to complete. Beautiful view of Dun Mountain.

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Jakakouille
Jakakouille
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route, albeit with quite a few small tarmac roads.

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RASHEMAJE
RASHEMAJE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route, even though we cut it in half due to our limited time and the fact that night falls early in winter. But the route to Dun Mountain is great, with beautiful views that make you feel like you're in the mountains. Good elevation gain. I recommend visiting in spring or autumn, when it must be superb. Pleasant in the forest of fir and chestnut trees.

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monile
monile

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We chose this hike precisely because there wasn't too much undergrowth and there were lots of local roads.
We wanted to avoid hunters, and with a temperature of 12 degrees, walking along quiet little roads in the sunshine was perfect.
Otherwise, it was a beautiful hike, without any difficulty, and with lovely views.
We preferred to park in the village of Varennes-sous-Dun.
This slightly lengthened the hike (18.7 km), which took 6 hours including a snack break and a good chestnut harvest.
Thanks to the author for this walk.

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gefru75capou
gefru75capou

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Too much tarmac, especially in the heat. You can avoid some of it by taking the path through the woods on the right before taking the steep tarmac path up to the chapel. However, this adds an extra 800 metres.

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geramatu
geramatu

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Too much tarmac, which is a shame because the route is beautiful.

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