Meulières à Vachat

A pleasant, easy walk on Mont de Vouan. You will come across a marsh and an old millstone quarry, a curiosity that is well worth a detour, all in the middle of a pleasant mid-mountain forest.

Details

4141026
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.43 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 359 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 353 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 957 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 611 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the crossroads of the D292 road and a track between the hamlet of Les Bourguignons and the village of Boisinges (two or three spaces).

(S/E) Start on the track, heading north, then turn right towards Les Meulières à Vachat. Stay on the main track, ignoring the four paths coming from the right. After a slight descent, walk along the Marais de la Pierre du Mort; then the track climbs a little and descends slightly to a small clearing (La Pierre au Mort).

(1) Turn right onto a wide wooded path.
Note: see the Practical Information section for details on accessing Les Meulières.

(2) Turn right to reach the old Meulières quarry in Vachat, then turn around and continue climbing to a large plateau called Place des Danses.

(3) Turn right for a few metres, then left towards Crête de Chauffemerande. The path climbs up to the "Cri du Chardieu" sign. At this point, turn right onto a beautiful horizontal track.
Further on, ignore the wide path coming from the right and then from the left and immediately after the crossroads, join the Crête de Chauffemerande.

(4). Leave the track and take the small path on the right that leads into the woods towards Crêtes de Vouan. You will come to a crossroads with five paths.

(5) Please note: there are several trailheads that do not appear on the various maps; in addition, the orientation of the signpost is confusing. Continue straight ahead on the ridge. The trail quickly splits in two: take the one on the right, which is easier. Both lead to the ridge and continue to a wide track.

(6) Here you have two options: either stay on the track or continue along the ridge, following the sign for the path on a tree, and join this track a little further on.

Reach the Crête de Vouan. Stay on the track and ignore the path on the right, turning sharply left towards Trin Trin. You will reach a Y-shaped crossroads.

(7) Turn right along the ridge (option shown on the map) or continue along the track towards Trin-Trin, Sardagne and Sevraz. Join the tarmac road and follow it downhill, ignoring the two paths on the right until you reach the end of the bend.

(8) Leave the road by turning right at letterbox 447, cross the road further down and continue to the crossroads. Turn right onto the D190 for a few hundred metres, passing a wash house on the right, then a chapel on the left.

(9) At the three-way junction, turn right. Continue along this dead-end road, then along the path to rejoin the road and continue to the right.

(10) At the hairpin bend to the left, take the road opposite and immediately ignore the small road climbing up to the right. Return to the junction of the D292 and the track (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 632 m - Bourguignons car park
  2. 1 : km 2.72 - alt. 664 m - La Pierre au Mort. Near the - Menoge (rivière)
  3. 2 : km 3.28 - alt. 719 m - Meulières à Vachat
  4. 3 : km 4.41 - alt. 891 m - Place des Danses
  5. 4 : km 4.94 - alt. 922 m - Crête de Chauffemerande
  6. 5 : km 5.4 - alt. 911 m - Crossroads of five roads
  7. 6 : km 5.67 - alt. 929 m - Crossroads track
  8. 7 : km 6.13 - alt. 954 m - Vouan Sevraz ridge
  9. 8 : km 7.5 - alt. 768 m - Sardagne, PO Box 447
  10. 9 : km 7.93 - alt. 731 m - Sevraz
  11. 10 : km 8.81 - alt. 667 m - Carrefour D190
  12. S/E : km 9.43 - alt. 632 m - Bourguignons car park

Notes

(2) A municipal by-law prohibits access to the Meulières site in Vachat, which shows clear signs of rock falls. However, it is possible to get a glimpse of it, at least up to the barrier that prevents visitors from going any further.

Worth a visit

An exceptional site, Mont Vouan is notable for having been home to several quarries producing high-quality millstones, which made the site famous far beyond the borders of Savoie. In the Middle Ages, the development of water mills led to a boom in the production of millstones (flat millstones for this less resistant rock). Harder rotating millstones were brought in from Chablais. The millstones from Vouan initially met local needs and supplied the village of Bonne.

The largest quarries, still in operation during the 19th century, bear the names of the last families who worked them, such as the millstone quarry in Vachat. In the middle of the century, however, the industry began to decline, faced with competition from the arrival on the market of more resistant millstones. After the annexation of Savoy by France, the well-known millstones from La Ferté-sous-Jouarre replaced local production.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
Sarudalf
Sarudalf

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The start (a wide 4x4 track) and the end (a road) are less interesting.
But the ridge is lovely and very peaceful.
Low altitude, so no snow at the start of the season.

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User 3166150

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 11, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Route best undertaken in winter; check access conditions due to snow and steep slopes. A difficult and dangerous route for children: a ridge path. Stunning views. A very interesting visit to the millstones.

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kristinne
kristinne

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A magnificent hike, lots of forests, so plenty of shade.
The millstone is impressive.
We continue along a ridge with superb views.
The end of the hike (about 10% is on the road, which doesn't bother me, as there are beautiful panoramas and a few interesting sights in the village we pass through to enjoy.
I really enjoyed it
Thank you to the person who, by sharing, allowed me to experience these beautiful moments.

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Astrid3842
Astrid3842

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

After a bit of confusion finding the car park (I entered the coordinates for the start of the hike into my satnav and it didn't take me to the car park mentioned in the description), I ended up doing the hike in the opposite direction (completely unintentionally) and so I didn't follow the directions in the description, just the route in real time on the app.
After two mistakes that cost me quite a bit of extra elevation gain, I found the right path and was able to continue after hesitating for a while to turn back and give up. I usually have a good sense of direction, but it failed me on this occasion.
I'm a little disappointed with this hike because there aren't many viewpoints, but the millstone site is really worth seeing. These millstones carved into the rock, which have left rounded cavities in the rock, are truly incredible.
The small marsh is a nice place to stop for a picnic.
It's a little-used route; I only came across three groups of hikers, including a family with children who certainly didn't do the whole circular loop.
In short, it's worth doing for the millstone site, but don't expect an extraordinary panorama.

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Kayess
Kayess

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A peaceful hike, mostly through forest. Beautiful view at the summit. It's a shame there are no information boards about the millstones.

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Giorgio
Giorgio

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We particularly enjoyed this trail, which features historical curiosities such as the famous millstones, a lake and a pretty ridge path offering views over part of the Geneva basin. The area is very quiet during the week, with peaceful hamlets dotted along the way. A lovely surprise! Thank you to those who created this pleasant route.

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pascalpedrak
pascalpedrak

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy walk, a bit muddy in winter as lorries pass through at certain points.

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Didier B3.
Didier B3.

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

An original site to discover. Unfortunately, access is prohibited and you have to content yourself with staying at the entrance to the millstones, and there are no information boards about the activity.
The second part of the hike is of little interest (just a few views of the valley) and the final descent, churned up by lorries and/or construction machinery, is difficult.
It is better to turn back and go and see the large millstones.

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Normann74
Normann74

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An interesting route for millstones (it's a shame there aren't more explanations). Beautiful view from the summit over Les Voirons and the green valley, as well as Le Môle and other mountains.
Ascent through the forest in the shade.

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