Plat de l'Orme via Bardonnanche

Starting from La Tour-en-Jarez, this is a gentle walk along quiet roads and paths, ideal for families.

Details

414079
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.32 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 79 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 74 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 614 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 540 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Drive up to the village of La Tour-en-Jarez and park in the church car park, below the public toilets, Rue des Armuriers.

(S/E) At the car park exit, turn right and then immediately right again onto Chemin de la Taillée towards Bardonnanche.

(1) At the fork, follow the right-hand branch and stay on the main path until you reach the crossroads at Les Gouttes.

(2) Take the gravel path that climbs up to your left.

(3) At Croix de l'Orme, turn left for about 50 metres, then left again onto the access road to Plat de l'Orme. Then turn right onto the path towards Crêt de Bardonnanche. After rain, this path can be a little muddy in places, but it is still passable without too much difficulty. Once you reach the road, head for the crossroads on the left (cross).

(4) Continue straight on Chemin du Vrai, which descends directly to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 540 m - Parking at the church
  2. 1 : km 0.75 - alt. 569 m - At the fork, turn right
  3. 2 : km 1.76 - alt. 571 m - Les Gouttes
  4. 3 : km 2.49 - alt. 614 m - La Croix de l'Orme
  5. 4 : km 3.75 - alt. 595 m - Crêt de Bardonnanche
  6. S/E : km 4.32 - alt. 540 m - Parking at the church

Notes

Public toilets at the start.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 23 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
DREVET GUY
DREVET GUY
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 02, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

A nice little walk to start in the late afternoon, with no particular sights apart from the view of Pilat. Half road, half path; I think this hike must be quite popular from spring onwards.

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User 6519032

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

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abouamine42
abouamine42

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A nice little hike, I do it regularly starting from the Étivallière stadium.
Rather than taking the road, you can take the paths on your left, which are much more pleasant.

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Gaga42
Gaga42

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A stroll on a sunny winter Sunday with magnificent views.
A short walk from the town centre

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Yvesjacq
Yvesjacq

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk in the countryside just a few minutes from Saint Etienne.

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Gaga42
Gaga42

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful little walk just a stone's throw from the town centre with magnificent views of Pilat on one side and the Plaine du Forez on the other.
We did it in snowy weather (magical) and were glad to find tarmac... (for once)

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SophieFlo
SophieFlo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb scenery. This is the second time I've done this hike. There's a bit of tarmac at the start. You walk past houses, but there's very little traffic (I only passed two cars). The rest is paths. A very easy and enjoyable hike. The route is very easy to follow. The hike takes less than an hour. A breath of fresh air.

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Analalava
Analalava

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This is a very beautiful hike to warm up your legs when you plan to hike every day.
The view is unobstructed and the landscape unfolds harmoniously throughout the hike.

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Yann Frmtx
Yann Frmtx

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

What a lovely walk! Before you reach the car park at the end, there are steps on your right leading up to the viewpoint and the church! It's a wonderful reward!

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Delvina
Delvina

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A good route for a short hike (it took me just over an hour). Suitable for all abilities and ages. You can take the bus from St Étienne and walk up from the bottom of the village of St Jarez (fairly steep steps). On a windy weekday, the paths were deserted... Beautiful scenery and a few places to stop along the way (notably Chambres sur vue).

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GrumGrum
GrumGrum
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful and pleasant walk in good weather, easy and accessible to all, offering a breath of fresh air and countryside just a stone's throw from the city.
Varied route (tarmac then easy path, sometimes in the sun, sometimes in the shade, village and housing estate at the start and end, then very natural for the rest). Some pretty views of the countryside and then the town at the very end of the route.
Highly recommended for those who are not familiar with La Tour-en-Jarez and the surrounding area.
For keen walkers, there seem to be some possible variations (to be planned in advance) as other paths are available along the route.
Thank you for this route and a wonderful discovery in any case.

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Nounette
Nounette

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk that is suitable for people who are not particularly fit. Unobstructed views.
The map is very reliable.
A stone's throw from Saint-Etienne.

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francois4274
francois4274

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A walk "for everyone" with remarkable views, just a stone's throw from the town.
Sporty types will find it too easy (or will run it), but it is suitable for all ages; be careful, however, at the passage between 3 and 4, which can be very muddy.

After point 4, I recommend not going straight ahead but turning right onto the Chemin de la Madone; stop at the foot of the statue (the highest point of the hill) for a beautiful 360° view; then, on the way down the Allée des Buis, stop again at the calvary for another beautiful view and an orientation table. The return to the car park is via the picturesque narrow streets of this hillside village.

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Guilouu
Guilouu

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

pleasant hike with beautiful stretches surrounded by nature

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Didier.Ouillon
Didier.Ouillon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 05, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Lovely Sunday stroll

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