The Chalais Monastery and the Rocher de Bellevue from Le Chevalon

Park in the Chevalon car park, near the old cement works.

(S/E) Set off along the road heading south (Chemin du Sautaret), which runs alongside the factory on the right, towards Mont-Saint-Martin and Le Cuchet. After a short unpaved section, walk along the left-hand side of a wasteland (an old burnt-out house that has been demolished). Turn left onto the path leading into the woods (yellow signpost for Mont-Saint-Martin and Le Cuchet)

(1) Continue along this path, which climbs gradually through the forest, ignoring the small tracks that occasionally appear to the right or left; follow the yellow markings. You can stop at the Belvédère (indicated by a sign), which offers a beautiful view of the valley, and take a break on the small bench. Then continue the gradual climb through the woods.
You will reach a road (D105D, leading from Fontanil-Cornillon to Mont-Saint-Martin), which you must follow downhill for a few dozen metres before rejoining the path that branches off to the left and climbs. When you reach the road again, follow it downhill for a few dozen metres until you come to a hairpin bend to the left.

(2) There, at a spot called ‘Le Cuchet’, at an altitude of 590 m, take the path signposted for Chalais, 3.4 km away.
The path continues to climb gradually through the woods. Follow this path, ignoring the paths branching off to the right towards the Cheminée de Mont-Saint-Martin or to the left towards the Chevalon; a few gaps in the trees along this path offer glimpses of the monastery. Continue to the hikers’ car park at the Monastery of Chalais.

(3) At the car park, continue straight on along the road that runs alongside the monastery, leading to the various car parks and the junction marking the start of the Chemin du Belvédère.
Take the Chemin du Belvédère, signposted by a sign. A few hundred metres further on, you’ll reach a Fork in the road. The Chemin du Belvédère continues straight ahead.

(5) Take the path that veers slightly to the right and climbs towards the Aiguille de Chalais. Follow the yellow trail markings which lead uphill to the summit. Just before reaching the Aiguille, you’ll see a junction with a sign pointing to the Rocher de Bellevue on the left (this is the path you’ll take on the way back). Continue along the main path to the Aiguille.

(6) You have reached the highest point of the hike. The view is magnificent and a sign explains the geological features of the area.
After learning a bit and taking in the views, head back the way you came to the junction mentioned above. There, turn right towards Rocher de Bellevue along a lovely little path with a few sections secured by cables. Take care in wet weather, as the rock can be slippery. The path descends all the way to the viewpoint, which is just to the right as you emerge from the path onto the main track.

(7) Arrive at the Rocher de Bellevue viewpoint, where you can once again enjoy a magnificent view of Grenoble, Voreppe, the Vercors, Voiron, and orientation boards helping you to identify the main peaks. Then continue on level ground along the main path back to the monastery. This trail features several ‘sensory stations’ to liven up the walk a little and allow you to discover the beauty of the surrounding nature through your five senses.

(4) Arrive back at the junction with the Chemin du Belvédère. See section during the hike.
Take the road that climbs alongside car park P2, continuing along a short path that heads straight on at the bend until you reach a signpost (a spot called “Chalais” where there is a statue on the right).

Turn left at the signpost towards Voreppe and begin the descent. After a few metres, cross the road and continue along the path that descends, with a small wooden ramp at the start. When you reach the road again, cross it and continue straight ahead along the path, which continues to descend but on a gentler slope. Follow a power line. Continue to the point known as “Bouzonnière”, at an altitude of 616 m. Continue straight ahead.

(8) When you reach the road, turn right and walk down for a few dozen metres until you reach the path branching off to the left, which is initially flat before climbing slightly through the woods after turning right. Follow the yellow markings. When you reach a flat area, continue straight ahead, ignoring the path that climbs steeply to the left towards La Rajasse. The path then begins a descent which can be muddy in wet weather, so take care! After a few hundred metres, you start to come back to civilisation and hear the sounds of the valley. Pass a water tower on the left. Shortly afterwards, you’ll reach a junction.

(9) See an alternative route in the Practical Information section.
Turn right to reach the small hamlet known as ‘Le Clet’. Continue straight on along the road for about ten metres and take the path leading down opposite (small wooden steps), which cuts across the large circular loop made by the road. Caution: the path is a bit steep. When you reach the road, turn right. Join the road that climbs from Voreppe to Chalais and continue straight on downhill. Take care! Walk right at the edge. After a few hundred metres, take the small path on the left, marked by a Corepha sign (direction 1,4,5, Voreppe), which again cuts across the bend in the road.

(10) You rejoin the road at the cemetery. When you reach the signpost, follow the direction of Le Chevalon: take the road branching off to the left (Rue des Tupinières). Cross the old village of Voreppe. On the left, you can see the old Saint-Didier church. Continue along this road, passing an old wash house on the left and walking uphill for a few metres, ignoring the roads branching off to the right and left. Continue along Rue Porte des Pallaches. Then follow a stone wall along the small road leading to a house. Just before the entrance gate to the property, turn right onto the small path leading downhill, at a fire hydrant, which is closed off by two barriers to prevent access to two-wheeled vehicles. This small path runs alongside the castle walls and then the media library grounds.

(11) Once you reach the road after a slightly steep descent and some log steps, turn left onto the road that climbs slightly, leaving Parc Stravinski—home to the Voreppe media library—on your right. Continue along the main road, which runs alongside the IME de Gachetière on the right. Continue along Rue de Gachetière. Pass through the middle of a residential neighbourhood with pretty houses.

(12) The road then bends to the right and descends. At this point, continue straight on along Rue de Gachetière into a cul-de-sac which continues as a path. The path descends and runs alongside the Bourg-Vieux neighbourhood. At the bottom of the descent, join a road. Follow it straight on; shortly afterwards, it turns into a wide path which you follow slightly uphill to reach the Chevalon car park (S/E).

Water point and toilets at the Monastère de Chalais.

Picnic table at the hikers’ car park and numerous benches along the Chemin du Belvédère.

Yellow markings throughout the route; numerous signposts at key points along the way.

This hike can be done in any season. In wet weather, take care on the rocky sections, which can be slippery, particularly between the Aiguille de Chalais and the Rocher de Bellevue.

Alternative route at the (9): to avoid the section of road passing through the old village of Voreppe.
Instead of turning right at the crossroads to reach Le Clet, take the wide path that climbs gently to the left. Follow it for a few hundred metres. You will then reach a junction with a small path leading off to the right, marked by a Corepha sign numbered “5”. Take this path, which descends into the woods. Cross the Pissote stream via a small bridge and, a little further on, the Gachetière stream. After a few hairpin bends through the woods, you’ll reach a fairly steep descent (take care). To the left, you can climb up to the small Crochet viewpoint to admire the view. Then continue down the slope. You’ll reach a road that continues to descend. You’ll come to a junction (known as Gachetière) and should then turn left onto Rue de Gachetière; you’ll then have joined the classic hiking route between points (11) and (12).

Near the (4), at the Monastère de Chalais, the shop is open daily from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm. Here you can buy the famous little biscuits as well as many other specialities and religious books.
There is also a water point and toilets.

The Romanesque church is open to visitors.

The Chalais Monastery is home to nuns of the Order of Saint Dominic.

You can drive up to it; it is the starting point for numerous walks.