The two chapels of Vermelle and Meyrié

A pleasant hike, mostly on paths and trails, with a good part in the woods.
The route is hilly and shaded, with a variety of points of interest: horses at the equestrian centre, the Gouille pond and hut, the Agny valley, the charming little 12th-century church of Vermelle and the Chapel of La Petite Salette in Meyrié.

Details

3449512
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.54 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 203 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 199 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 420 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 303 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Depart from the car park behind Meyrié Town Hall.

(S/E) Head towards the church, continue straight ahead on a steep downhill road, cross a road and pass the school. At the crossroads (cross), continue straight ahead towards the equestrian centre on the left and you will come to another crossroads.

(1) At the crossroads known as "des cinq chemins" (five roads), take the path that climbs southwards and runs alongside a stream. When you reach the crossroads near the Gouille pond, ignore the path that climbs to the right and continue for about 80 metres to the Gouille hut, a hunters' hut and hunting lodge.
.
(2) Opposite this hut, leave the stony path and take the path on the left that leads back above the pond. Continue along this pleasant, shaded path, ignoring the paths branching off to the right. After passing a pedestrian barrier, you will reach a small road, Impasse des Colonges.

(3) After about 100 metres, leave the road and turn right onto a path that is quite grassy at first, then leads into the undergrowth. You will reach Chemin des Bottes and an isolated house on the left.

(4) On a fairly steep descent, a few dozen metres after the isolated house, at the signpost for "les Bottes", leave the tarmac road and take the path on the far right towards Fichaillon, Verneicu.

(5) On a stony descent, leave the path and take the path on the left towards a barrier, which winds down through the woods to the bridge over the river. Without crossing the bridge, continue left along the Agny. After passing a barrier, you will reach a very steep road.

(6) Take it to the left for about ten metres, then turn right onto the path that leads to a fairly steep climb with steps. At the top of the steps, near a farm, turn right and continue along this road to the crossroads below the church of Vermelle.

(7) At this crossroads, near a cross, take the road on the right.

(8) After 200 metres, when the road makes a 90° turn behind a house, leave the road, go through a gate and take the path on the left that climbs into a small wood. Continue straight ahead, ignoring the paths on the right and left. At the edge of the wood, take the road on the right for about 20 metres, then take the path on the left along the ridge. Join a tarmac road and follow it downhill to the right.

(9) After about 200 metres, in a slight left-hand bend, before a hut on the right-hand side of the road, take the path on the left, then at a crossroads, take the wider path to the left. Continue straight ahead until you reach the tarmac road and follow it to the left for about 100 metres.
Leave the road and turn left towards a "no entry" sign, taking the steeply ascending path.

(10) You will pass close to the Chapel of La Salette de Meyrié. Continue uphill until you reach the road near the cemetery. Continue left towards the village centre to reach the town hall car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 369 m - Parking behind Meyrié Town Hall.
  2. 1 : km 0.91 - alt. 362 m - Crossroads of the Five Roads
  3. 2 : km 2.19 - alt. 420 m - Étang de la Gouille
  4. 3 : km 3.39 - alt. 367 m - Impasse de Colonges
  5. 4 : km 3.99 - alt. 367 m - Chemin des Bottes
  6. 5 : km 4.51 - alt. 347 m - Barrière, Chemin des Bottes. Towards the - Agny (rivière)
  7. 6 : km 5.23 - alt. 316 m - Steep road
  8. 7 : km 5.55 - alt. 351 m - Vermelle Church
  9. 8 : km 5.76 - alt. 350 m - Entrance to the Sapinière woods
  10. 9 : km 7.19 - alt. 331 m - Route "Vers Ruffieu"
  11. 10 : km 8.82 - alt. 345 m - Chapel of La Salette in Meyrié
  12. S/E : km 9.54 - alt. 369 m - Parking behind Meyrié Town Hall.

Worth a visit

The Chapel of Our Lady of Vermelle, former Saint Blaise Church
Formerly a parish church, this chapel, partially rebuilt in the 19th century in the shape of a Latin cross, retains interesting features that bear witness to centuries past, such as its 12th-century sanctuary and its chapel of the Virgin Mary, dating from the late Middle Ages.
Numerous exhibitions are held there throughout the year.

The Chapel of La Petite Salette in Meyrié:
When Mary appeared to Mélanie and Maximin in the mountain pastures of La Salette on 19 September 1846, Abbé Rabilloud was vicar in Corps. He then became the confessor of the two young shepherds. Shortly afterwards, he was appointed parish priest of Meyrié and tutor to Maximin.
In the summer of 1852, the teenager, passing through Meyrié, made a lasting impression on the parishioners with his account of the apparition of the Virgin Mary. So much so that Father Rabilloud decided to build a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of La Salette.
Today, the chapel is maintained and restored by a volunteer association. It is open every Sunday afternoon from spring to autumn.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 14 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
Moustachu
Moustachu

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Two passages under closed woodland due to fallen trees (after the castle on the left and downhill from Nicola)

Machine-translated

Phil 38
Phil 38

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The path leading up from the pond is blocked. Private property. No trespassing. Path between the pond and the Chapel of Vermelle.

Machine-translated

Fred-Jef
Fred-Jef

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, very good description. However, I deliberately took the route in the other direction (clockwise) to enjoy the Gouille pond hunting lodge for lunch. But the problem is that there is a partial ban on crossing the right bank of the Gouille stream through the Bois de la Cure between the lake and the hamlet of La Mengattière. This ban (private property) seems to be very recent and I don't understand the reason for it. I went ahead anyway, walking along the edge of the woods a little further downstream. It's a shame about this inconvenience...

Machine-translated

Noëlle Eymin
Noëlle Eymin

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

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

Please note that point 1 does not mention five paths, but rather a hiking sign indicating that we are at a place called Carcat. At the stone bench, take the dirt path on the right that runs alongside the stream.

Machine-translated

crhistine
crhistine

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful walks in the pleasant woods for a Sunday, thank you.

Machine-translated

cricri38
cricri38

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Finding the starting point wasn't easy. A very pleasant route in hot weather as there is plenty of shade. The Gouille pond was dry. It's a shame that we couldn't visit Vermelle Church or Meyrié Chapel. Otherwise, everything else was perfect. We'll happily do it again. Thank you to the author.

Machine-translated

liliane.clarens
liliane.clarens
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A route where you will find woodland, whose coolness is much appreciated on this day, accompanied by birdsong throughout.
Farming and crops in a beautiful gradient of colours, a magnificent equestrian centre, a pleasant walk along the Agny river, and a visit to the Chapelle de la Petite Salette de Meyrié in a peaceful setting.
At the end of the route, enjoy panoramic views of part of the Alps.
Thanks to the author for this varied country route.

Machine-translated

ggdu38890
ggdu38890

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

No problems finding the route.
A pleasant route with scenic views, passing through valleys and alongside streams. The numerous forest passages sheltered us from the fairly strong wind.
It must also be very pleasant in hot weather.

Machine-translated

evy2369
evy2369

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant stroll

Machine-translated

PATCH56
PATCH56

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

At first, it wasn't easy to find the right route; the total distance didn't match our iPhone app, which showed a 10% difference in our favour.

Machine-translated

Irène38
Irène38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Not very busy yesterday due to health measures (10 km), but a very pleasant route, mostly through the woods.
Ideal for summer walks and at this time of year when nature is coming back to life. I highly recommend it and will gladly do it again.

Machine-translated

Paulinedu38
Paulinedu38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk, with no significant elevation changes and plenty of shade. Meyrié is a very charming village.

Machine-translated

mespompes
mespompes

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike, alternating nicely between woodland and large meadows.
No problem following the route.
No difficulty in dry weather, but some sections could be problematic on a muddy day.
Unfortunately, both chapels were closed.
There is also a public car park near the school in Meyrie, making it very easy to park at the start.

Thanks to Visorando for this lovely walk.

Machine-translated

camino38
camino38

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Indicate that the route is marked with vermilion dots. Add that there is a picnic area after point No. 5 in the hairpin bends. At point 8, indicate that you must go through the gate despite the "private" sign.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.