The surroundings of Anjou

Discover the mansions and castles of the village of Anjou, enjoy the 360° panoramic views, walk up the bed of a dry stream that has left its traces of erosion in the tuff. Return through the forest to find the clear views of the ridges before descending back to Anjou.
Please note that this hike is not possible during heavy rainfall, as the stream bed used would no longer be dry.

Details

109701
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.89 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 274 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 271 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 380 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 235 m

Photos

Description of the walk

In the centre of the village of Anjou, park in the small car park opposite the church square (photo 1), at the intersection of the Route du Dauphiné (D51) and Chemin de l'Église.

(S/E) Follow the Route du Dauphiné (D51) westbound (Agnin, Salaise) for just 100 metres. Take the first road on the right (Montée du Village). This road winds its way uphill between beautiful stone walls and a few stately homes (photo 2), including the Château de Fondu on the left. After 800 metres of climbing, pass in front of the Chapelle de la Pitié (photo 3).

(1) 50 metres after the chapel, at the crossroads, continue slightly to the left, then slightly to the right, following the same road towards "Tour d'Anjou, table d'orientation". The road continues to climb, makes a hairpin bend to the right and you will then see the Tour d'Anjou at the top of the hill (photo 4). 80 metres after this hairpin bend, take the small road on the right that descends towards the village (Chemin du Seux). 100 metres further on, turn right at the first road (Chemin de l'Hôtel des Touristes), which descends quite steeply towards the chapel. You will come to the crossroads near the church (photo 5).

(1) Walk down Montée du Village for 60 metres. Just after the chapel, take the small staircase on the left that goes up around it (Chemin des Croix). You will arrive at a street called Chemin de la Roche. Turn right and continue uphill, staying on the small street "Chemin de la Roche" for 100 metres. Towards the top, the road runs alongside a tall, beautiful stone wall.

(2) At the cross on the right-hand side of the road (photo 6), take the path (Montée du Château) on the left, signposted "Tour d'Anjou". Continue up the path for about 100 metres, then just after the start of a laurel hedge, turn left into the pedestrian entrance marked by a chicane formed by two wooden barriers. Follow the gravel path that leads to the renovated ruins of the Tour d'Anjou, a must-see (photos 7 and 8). Enjoy the view of the beginning of the Bièvre plain behind you. Continue along the gravel path until you reach the road (Chemin de la Tour), which you take to the left. Pass the water tower and continue for 150 metres. At the first crossroads, turn left and then 30 metres further on, turn right at a large fir tree (marked Sapin de la Victoire).

(3) A good hundred metres after this crossroads, take the path on the right marked in yellow "Ville-sous-Anjou 1.7km". During the descent, enjoy the unobstructed views of the Pilat massif on the left (photo 9) and the village of Ville-sous-Anjou and its Madonna opposite (photo 10). Join a path coming from the left and continue downhill. At the bottom, the path gives way to a small tarmac road that leads to the dry ford of the Ruisseau de la Vesciat.

(4) At the bridge overlooking this ford (photo 11), turn right just after the large white house and walk straight ahead into the dry stream bed (stay in a sort of ditch). The stream bed is paved again for a few dozen metres, then becomes a shallow ditch lined with moraines. Gradually, the ditch becomes deeper, with large moraines, a few rocks and traces of erosion on the tuff (photo 12). Stay in the main bed at the bottom of the valley.

(5) After walking 800 metres along the stream bed, just after a small tuff cliff 2 to 3 metres high (photo 13), take a wide (damaged) path on the right that climbs quite steeply. At the start of the path, you can see a beautiful vertical tuff outcrop on the right (photo 14). The path, which is wide enough for a tractor, continues to climb. It rises gently from the bottom of the valley on the left. A deep central rut makes progress a little difficult for a few dozen metres. Continue climbing along this same path for over 1 km.

At the end of the path, take the road (Chemin de la Feyta) on the left for 100 metres, then take the first road on the right (Chemin de la Tour). After 100 metres, the road turns right (large house with a pink façade on the right), then left.

(6) Before the road turns right again (Dauphiné house under renovation), at the last large fir tree on the left of the road, take the small path on the left (be careful, it is not very visible). Follow the main path which descends gently into the woods. At a small sign marked "sentier pédestre" (footpath), continue straight on along the small path (do not take the mountain bike route).

You will come to a wider path. Take it to the left and climb up to the road (Chemin de la Feyta). Take this road to the right for about 2 km, passing two road junctions (always straight ahead). Enjoy the unobstructed views of the Alps opposite, the valley and the Drôme hills to the south (photo 15), and the Pilat massif behind. Part of this road is unpaved.

(7) At the crossroads, 250m after this unpaved section, at a large agricultural shed, turn right (Chemin des Tours).

200m after this junction, just after passing a farm, take the path on the right just after a farm shed. Continue along this path until you reach a small road (Chemin de Ravassieux), which you should take completely to the left.

The road descends for a little over 100 metres. At the bottom (before the road climbs again), take the wide path on the right. When the path reaches a small, poorly paved road (Chemin de Bresson), go straight ahead. At the next two crossroads (20 metres and 100 metres away), bear slightly left to stay on the main road (Chemin des Aubergeons), which runs alongside (on the left) a beautiful stone wall belonging to a large property, then a pebble wall. Continue downhill for several hundred metres.

(8) When the road (Chemin des Aubergeons) turns left, take the first road on the right (stop sign) called Chemin des Chambonnières. Continue along this road until you reach the top junction (several roads). Take the road opposite called Montée du Bruchet. After 200 metres, you will reach the first junction at the school.

(9) Turn left onto the road that goes downhill (Chemin de l'Église). During this descent, you can admire the Château d'Anjou on the right (photos 16 and 17), as well as numerous properties. At the bottom of the road, you will find the small car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 255 m - Small car park in front of the church
  2. 1 : km 0.74 - alt. 315 m - Crossroads between Montée du Village and Chemin de la Roche
  3. 2 : km 1.36 - alt. 339 m - Calvary on the Chemin de la Roche climb
  4. 3 : km 1.87 - alt. 348 m - Turn right onto the path
  5. 4 : km 3.1 - alt. 235 m - Dry ford of the Vesciat stream
  6. 5 : km 3.93 - alt. 260 m - Small tuff cliff, stream outlet
  7. 6 : km 5.32 - alt. 362 m - Large conifer marking the entrance to the trail
  8. 7 : km 7.14 - alt. 367 m - Chemin de la Feyta-Chemin des Tours crossroads
  9. 8 : km 8.74 - alt. 270 m - X - Chemin des Aubergeons-Chemin des Charbonnières
  10. 9 : km 9.26 - alt. 310 m - On the left, Chemin de l'Église
  11. S/E : km 9.89 - alt. 255 m - Small car park in front of the church

Notes

Water points: a few fountains in the village
No special equipment is required, just good walking shoes or even a good pair of running shoes. Only the passage through the stony stream bed is a little more "challenging".

Worth a visit

The start and end of this walk deliberately use the small roads of Anjou, allowing you to discover much of the village's rich heritage. We suggest taking the time to explore all the historic buildings you encounter along the way.
The central part of this hike focuses on unobstructed 360° views and nature (dry drainage ditches and erosion in the tufa).

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 14 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
MJC Bellegarde Poussieu
MJC Bellegarde Poussieu

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful village and pleasant trails; worth revisiting in summer

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Chantal MEUNIER
Chantal MEUNIER

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Hello, a very pleasant, enjoyable route with no particular difficulties. Magnificent views of the Rhône Valley, Mont Pilat and Vercors. The old village of Anjou is very quiet and peaceful. Remember to bring water with you, as the village fountains do not supply drinking water.
one small comment: paragraph 3: the phrase "take the path" coming from the left made us think for a long time: should we take it? Whereas in the description (2746964): castle route, it says: "leave the path that branches off to the left"

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pamme
pamme

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful route where you can see stunning residences, the Pilat and the Alps

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dougere
dougere

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Slight difficulty in finding the exit from the dry stream bed.

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ramatuelle83
ramatuelle83

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 13, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

very beautiful view of the Alps and Pilât. Very pleasant hike, especially in beautiful sunshine. Very well explained, thank you

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enzo1611
enzo1611

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Best done on a clear day to enjoy the beautiful views, which are the main attraction of this walk

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BECT
BECT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A magnificent hike when the sky is clear (views of Pilat, Vercors and the Alps).
Lovely hiking trails. You can also explore the town of Anjou...
Also suitable for families.
I loved this hike.
I'll be back...

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Khristyann
Khristyann

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 30, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful, very varied hike. The old village of Anjou with its beautiful old houses, magnificent panoramic views alternating with sunken paths in the forest. No particular difficulties.
Hike completed with children (aged 9 to 13, fairly good walkers)

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eneumann
eneumann

hello,
this information is new to me, so I will change my itinerary.
Thank you for this useful information.
eric

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cathyferrer
cathyferrer

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

I explored the Anjou area again with my Tuesday group in freezing cold weather.
This time, we followed the entire route described, and there was still plenty to see.
NOTE: After point 8, the passage on the left through the cherry orchard is blocked by wire fencing and signs saying "Private property" and "Building site". So we continued along Chemin des Chambonières until we reached Montée du Bruchet.

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Thank you, Cathy

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cathyferrer
cathyferrer

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 24, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very interesting tour with slightly chilly temperatures at the start and a great atmosphere!
There was plenty to see along this beautiful route.
As I had time, at La Feytas I set off through the forest towards Claie, Mont Félix, Bois de Surieu to the château and Carmel de Surieu, returning by the same route to rejoin the route described at Les Bruyères.
Thanks to the author

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Nahimana498890
Nahimana498890

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Everything has already been said: beautiful stone houses, magnificent landscapes when you emerge from the woods or from the Tower of Anjou, even under a slightly overcast sky...

For your information, we bypassed part of the route towards stage 8 (10 metres before a bamboo-lined fence, according to the description) so as not to violate the access prohibition indicated by a barrier and a "Private Property" sign.

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Nahimana498890
Nahimana498890

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Everything has already been said: beautiful stone houses, magnificent landscapes when you emerge from the woods or from the Tower of Anjou, even under a slightly overcast sky...

For your information, we bypassed part of the route towards stage 8 (10 metres before a fence lined with bamboo, according to the description) so as not to violate the access prohibition indicated by a barrier and a "Private Property" sign.

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rit43
rit43

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful walk under the blazing sun; the coolness of the dry riverbed did us good, and an added bonus at this time of year... cherries! Very beautiful panoramic views. I highly recommend it.

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