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The walk starts in the car park of Château Louis XI, an imposing building located at the top of the village.
(S/E) Leave the car park heading east and take a small path that runs alongside a stream (sign: promenade du Biel). Follow the stream upstream to its source. Before that, you will walk alongside gardens (irrigated by the stream).
(1) When you reach a tarmac surface, look carefully: the path continues discreetly on the left (sign prohibiting all vehicles). You will then come to one of the most difficult parts of the walk: crossing the D71. Cars drive fast on this downhill stretch, so cross with caution. There is a pedestrian crossing, but hold your children's hands. The trail continues on the other side of the road. At the end of the trail (and the stream), walk along an archery range on your left until you come to a wider, stony path, which you also take to the left.
(2) You will see a sign saying "Alt 450m - Captage de Poulardière". The path climbs up to the hamlet of the same name. When you reach the houses, turn left twice.
(3) You will cross the D71 again, in a slightly more peaceful setting. Take the small road that climbs up opposite. Ignore a small road coming from the right and, a little further on, turn right onto the Chemin de Corche-Boeuf (signposted). Then turn right again (signposted: Chemin de Pierre Blanche). Then take a stony path that climbs steeply to the left. There is a woodcutter's hut on your right. You will arrive at the ridge and pass a water reservoir (577 m - Réservoir de la Pierre Blanche). Once past the reservoir, you will see the Madonna in the distance. Head towards it.
(4) When you arrive at the Notre-Dame-de-Sciez chapel, you will find an orientation table. Take the time to admire the view. You will see a panorama stretching from the Pilat mountains in the west to the Mont du Chat in the east. Continue on your way and take the first road on the right (Chemin du Pressoir). Then take the first gravel road on your left. You will pass a beautiful building and come to a small road, which you take on the left. Then quickly turn right/left/right to reach the Chemin de Monpicier on the right.
(5) Follow Chemin de Monpicier (tarmac) which climbs slightly. It turns automatically at the top of the hill towards a farmhouse. Go past it. The small road descends quite steeply. When you reach a house, as the small road turns left, go down a fairly steep path on the right, which turns left/right/left. It comes out alongside a field, which you follow. At the bottom of the field, the path turns left. When you reach some houses, the tarmac replaces the dirt track.
(6) At the "Stop" sign, on a small road parallel to the hill (Chemin de la Barre), turn right. You will arrive at the D518, which you should cross (carefully, of course). Opposite, take the road that goes downhill (Chemin des Ceps). It comes out onto a small paved road. Continue straight ahead. This road turns left, heading south, and leads to the D518a
(7). Be careful not to cross it and turn left onto the small road that takes you back east. You are now on theGR®65, which runs from Geneva to Santiago de Compostela via Le Puy (white and red markings), which you will follow to Château Louis XI, where you parked.
You will arrive in front of the cemetery. As in almost all cemeteries, there is a drinking water fountain. It is located opposite the entrance. You will pass in front of the villa "Beau Séjour". The painter Jongkind lived there for a few years. A stele commemorates his stay.
(8) You will cross the D518 again and take the alley opposite, to the left of the garage (Rue du Commandant Julhet). This will take you to the church (part of which dates from the 11th century). Admire the bell tower. Continue opposite, along Rue de l'Hôtel de Ville.
(9) At the end of this street, before entering the Place de la Halle, you will see the town hall on your right with an inner courtyard that is open to the public. If it is accessible, take a look at the staircase on the left.
Enter the hall and admire the carpentry work. In the middle of the building, take the staircase on the left, then, opposite, enter under a porch (Passage François de Bocsozel). You will cross a "traboule", a series of staircases that will take you up to the castle.
(10). You will come out onto Rue des Remparts, at the foot of Château Louis XI. Turn right. A little further on, on your right, a window in the wall allows you to see the water wheel of a mill restored by students from the Lycée Professionnel de la Bièvre.
Simply go around the castle to the left to return to the car park and your vehicle (S/E).
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