The two tunnels of Thorrenc and Lac de Vert

Set off to explore Thorrenc, a tiny picturesque village with a medieval feel, as well as the tunnel of an old regional railway line and, finally, the beautiful Lac de Vert!

Details

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Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.95 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 304 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 294 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 387 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 231 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the small car park in Thorrenc near the town hall.

(S/E) Take Rue du Pont, heading north-east, until you reach a three-way junction. Take the left-hand lane called Route des Vieux Chênes, then turn onto the steeply ascending path on your left. There are barriers in the middle of the path to prevent motor vehicles from passing. Continue along this path until you reach a small road.

(1) Once on the road, turn left and look for the first slightly downhill path on your left a few metres further on. From there, continue along this path, ignoring all the paths on the right and left. You will pass through two viaducts and two tunnels.
(The first tunnel is 262 metres long and the second is 780 metres long).

(2) At the exit of the second tunnel, continue for about 400 metres and take a small path on your left (marked by a red sign saying "réserve de chasse" [hunting reserve]).
Continue along this small path until you reach another slightly wider path with a small house nearby. Then turn left and continue straight ahead until you reach a group of houses.

(3) When you reach the group of houses, turn left and then right until you reach a three-way junction. Follow the left-hand path until you reach a road, then turn left and continue to Lac de Vert. At this point, turn left to follow the shore. The lake should always be on your left.

(4) Take the path uphill on your right and continue until you reach some farmland. Further on, you will cross a bridge with the exit of the second tunnel you crossed earlier underneath. Continue over this small bridge to leave the forest and reach the farmland.

(5) Turn right and follow the path. Cross the D370 and follow the small path directly opposite. Continue until you reach the first vineyards on your left.

(6) Look for the path on the left near the vineyards and follow it. After 200 metres, you will cross another small bridge, which also passes over the old railway line.
Cross this small bridge and continue until you reach a group of houses. Then follow the main tarmac road.

(7) At the first crossroads, turn right. Stay on the main road and, when you reach a three-way junction, turn left. Further on, cross the viaduct and stay on the path until you reach the cemetery in the village of Thorrenc: be careful, the path is quite stony!

(8) Once at the cemetery, turn left and head down towards the village centre. Pass in front of the town hall and continue to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 232 m - Parking - Château de Thorrenc
  2. 1 : km 0.45 - alt. 304 m - Road junction
  3. 2 : km 3.15 - alt. 349 m - Tunnel exit
  4. 3 : km 4.43 - alt. 365 m - Junction
  5. 4 : km 5.84 - alt. 340 m - Lac de Vert
  6. 5 : km 6.73 - alt. 387 m - Crossroads
  7. 6 : km 7.58 - alt. 364 m - Vineyards
  8. 7 : km 8.52 - alt. 354 m - Révèrlardon
  9. 8 : km 9.78 - alt. 252 m - Cemetery
  10. S/E : km 9.95 - alt. 233 m - Parking - Château de Thorrenc

Notes

A torch is essential for passing through the tunnel (almost 800 metres of total darkness).

I recommend good shoes as the few climbs are quite strenuous and rocky, especially between points (6) and (8).

Worth a visit

(S/E) Thorrenc castle and village.
(1) to (2): two tunnels on an old railway line, two magnificent viaducts.
Lac de Vert.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 13 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
yayavanille
yayavanille

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

great route with viaducts, tunnels (including a long one), lake and countryside. A few climbs but not very long, sometimes just a small path with vegetation, and yes, the end of the route has a sloping and very stony path, with the option of returning via the tunnels. There is a section before the second tunnel where you walk through water (we thought we might be on the bed of a stream, but no, it was part of the route). Make sure you wear good shoes and bring torches. It's a superb hike with the option of a picnic by the lake.
Thank you very much

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Jojo4304
Jojo4304
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I drove for an hour to get there and, honestly, I was not disappointed. It's magnificent, especially at the beginning with the tunnels and narrow paths. Thank you very much for this discovery (don't forget your torch)

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lionel3938
lionel3938

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A walk that's out of the ordinary record

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valygo
valygo
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We couldn't go through thesecond tunnel because it had rained too much and the river had flooded the path.

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jojo2631
jojo2631

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy, varied and very interesting route in every respect: scenery, history of the old railway line between Firminy and Saint-Rambert d'Albon.
Be careful, however, of tree trunks blocking the paths, which can be dangerous! Also be careful on the last path, which is very steep and rocky!
Don't forget to bring torches to get through the tunnels!

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nana75
nana75

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Lovely hike 😍
Bring a torch for the two tunnels, it's really nice
The stream section in the middle of August is full of insects, but it's over quickly
We loved the whole hike

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sisco07
sisco07

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike starting from a small medieval village that is well worth a visit (Thorrenc). As mentioned in other posts, torches or torches are necessary to navigate the tunnels.
Some parts of the route are busier (around Lake Vert), while others are more unspoilt.
A beautiful walk that comes highly recommended.

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Azirom
Azirom

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant walk, the tunnels are very cool in summer! Please note: lamps are compulsory.

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Laurent P5
Laurent P5

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The village of Thorrenc is magnificent. A very beautiful hike with my children and grandchildren. The Lac Vert was empty that day. They really enjoyed going through the tunnels.

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BK626
BK626

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, varied route. The village of Thorrenc is well worth exploring. The originality of this circular lies in particular in the two tunnels, the second of which seems endless...torches are essential! the only minor difficulty, which is actually quite brief, is the descent back to the village on a steep, very stony path. Plan to stop for a snack on the shores of Lac de Vert.

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jesuisenrandonné07
jesuisenrandonné07

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The only thing missing is an explanation regarding the railway line:
Date of construction, which towns it connected, what it was used for, and how long it was in service

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fafarouge
fafarouge

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We had a wonderful time, as the start and finish are in the village of Thorrenc, which is very beautiful with its towering viaduct. Passing through the longest tunnel was very refreshing

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J03
J03

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

well done, very nice hike

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