The three châteaux of Cruet

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An easy, pleasant and varied circular walk through the vineyards and surroundings of Cruet, along the foothills of the Bauges.

Details

n°6970130
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.45 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 495 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 466 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,503 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,132 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
    Areas: Alps, Bauges
  • ⚐ City: Cruet (73800)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 45.525644° / E 6.093083°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3432OT, 3432OTR, 3433OT
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Photos

Chanay Castle
Athypic house of garden gnomes
Verdun Castle
Gate of Verdun Castle

Description of the walk

Park in the Cruet car park between the school and the church.

(S/E) Join and follow the D11 road leading to the cemetery. At thesecond junction, turn right onto the Chemin des Mollières heading east. At the next junction, turn left onto the Chemin du Chanay. You’ll reach the crossroads leading to the Château du Chanay.

(1) Carry on straight ahead, leaving the château on your right, and you’ll soon reach a crossroads of footpaths.

(2) Take the left-hand path, passing the houses at Le Chaffard. Continue uphill until you reach another crossroads at the top of the hill. Start the descent straight ahead to reach the hillock before La Ravière. Carry on to reach the Château de Verdun.

(3) Walk round it and continue down the slope to reach the Baraterie district, where thethird château, the Château de la Rive, is situated.

(4) Walk alongside the Château de la Rive on the D201. Stay on this road until you reach the hamlet of Les Tanes.

(5) Turn right onto the path leading uphill to return to the junction at Château de Chanay, which you passed on the way out.

(2) Follow the route in reverse to return to the Cruet car park (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,132 ft - Car park between the school and the - Église Saint-Laurent (Cruet)
  2. 1 : mi 0.76 - alt. 1,276 ft - Château du Chanay
  3. 2 : mi 0.91 - alt. 1,322 ft - Crossroads
  4. 3 : mi 1.56 - alt. 1,381 ft - Château de Verdun (Cruet)
  5. 4 : mi 1.98 - alt. 1,161 ft - Château de la Rive (Cruet)
  6. 5 : mi 2.25 - alt. 1,184 ft - Les Tanes
  7. S/E : mi 3.45 - alt. 1,132 ft - Car park between the school and the - Église Saint-Laurent (Cruet)

Notes

The paths are wide. Light walking shoes.

Worth a visit

(S/E) At the bottom of the village, you can sample local wines, for example at the Cruet Fine Wines Cellar.
(4) Château de la Rive: private property.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 10 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
xtian74
xtian74

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2026
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant route. 40% of the walk takes place on dirt tracks or paths through the woods. For the rest, apart from a short stretch on the D201, you’ll be following quiet, little-used tarmac roads.
You first pass by Verdun Castle. Further on, at the second castle (La Rive), it’s worth making a short detour there and back to admire it more closely. The same goes for the third (Chanay).
Beautiful views of the Dent d’Arclusaz and the Combe de Savoie.

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ANMATROM
ANMATROM

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Simple and pleasant route.
Lots of small roads with no traffic.
View of the Dent d'Arclusaz with vineyards at its foot and the peaks of Belledonne.

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skyppyy38360
skyppyy38360

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful autumn walk: the vines still had their golden leaves, the trees were turning red... pure bliss!
The path to Verdun Castle is a delight!
Thank you to the hiker for this very pleasant route!

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PasNeau
PasNeau

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The start was not easy to find.
The signposting was very difficult and the information wasn't very clear!
Luckily, the locals are very friendly and gave us more precise directions.
Of the three castles, we saw one that, to the trained eye, would make for some great photos.
The other two can only be seen from a distance. 😪😪
What a shame.
Beautiful views of Montmélian and the Bauges mountains.

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muse_88_
muse_88_

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,
A lovely walk, with lots of shaded sections. However, there is no information about the castles and you can only see them from quite a distance (except for Verdun)! There is a lot of tarmac, which makes it dangerous with cars around.

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Tonton yves
Tonton yves

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Interesting hike

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monique et louis
monique et louis
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant hike for the autumn season

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babethrando
babethrando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A very pleasant, easy walk that allows you to discover the architectural heritage of Le Cruet. The route alternates between woodland, vineyards, hamlets and Mediterranean-style meadows.

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martine à petits pas
martine à petits pas

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant short walk. Suitable for families.

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Guildeluec
Guildeluec

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy hike with young children, with a slight incline but no difficulties.
We enjoyed the changing scenery, with some parts in the woods and others in the open with views over the vineyards. The only slight downside was having to walk along the side of the road to reach the footpaths.
You can shorten the walk slightly by parking near the town hall to avoid walking through the village and get to the path more quickly.

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