Mont Saint-Romain - Blanot - Étang de Crue starting from Azé

Park at the Azé Caves car park.

(S/E) Take the entrance to the site and cross the footbridge over the Mouge.

(1) Turn left onto the path at the edge of the forest to reach the Chemin de l'Étang. Turn right and continue to the ponds.

(2) Continue straight ahead along the edge of the forest until you reach a star-shaped crossroads at a place called La Montagne.

(3) Continue along the path opposite until you reach the tarmac road (Impasse de la Tour des Bois) and keep going in the same direction. About 50 metres before the junction with Route des Patreux, take the path on the left and then turn right at the first junction.

(4) At the intersection before the hamlet of La Verzée, take Chemin du Milieu on the left, then turn right and continue straight ahead through the Grison national forest.

(5) At this intersection, a woodcutter has blocked the path on the left that used to lead to the Col de la Croix, then to the GR® 76A. Continue along the middle path to reach the D446. Cross the road, then climb up the logging track opposite to join the GR® 76A. Head towards Mont Saint-Romain on the right.

(6) Climb the path towards the car park and go behind the inn to reach the orientation table on the roof: be careful, the ladder is steep. Take the time to admire the 360° panorama.

(7) Descend back to the car park, then head for the junction.

(6) Continue on the right towards the Blanot Caves. Pass the ruins near the Source de la Mangette and continue straight on until you reach a three-way junction.

(8) Keep left to climb up to the entrance to the caves: on the left is a porch where you can picnic in the shelter. Turn left towards the car park, then take the path on the right between the two vineyards. Join the Route de Charentin.

(9) Cut across opposite via the vineyard path, then descend to the right along the field towards the village. You will come out onto Route des Grottes (D446). Follow this road to the right until you reach the crossroads at the town hall.

(10) Go past the town hall, then climb up to the left along Chemin du Couvent to the castle.

(11) Go through the porch to reach the Romanesque church of Saint-Martin de Blanot: look to your left at the Merovingian tombs and take the time to go inside the church. Go back down towards the communal bread oven and the wash house.

(12) Turn around and go back up Chemin Jean de Blanot, then Rue de l'Église Saint-Martin to the pottery car park. Continue straight ahead, ignoring the path that branches off to the left, and climb up to the intersection with the GR®76A (Via Cluny).

(13) Head towards Donzy-le-Perthuis on the right and you will reach a crossroads.

(14) Leave the GR® and continue up the path on the left into the Bois des Brosses. You will reach an intersection below Mont Épinet.

(15) Descend the path opposite towards Étang de Crue and reach this small pond lost in the middle of the forest.

(16) Follow the path, which curves left into the Bois Noblet, then heads northeast to reach the Impasse de la Tour des Bois. Please note that the path has been damaged by logging: situation as of 23 March 2025. After about 250 metres, climb up to the right to reach Chemin des Étangs and follow it to the right for about 100 metres to return to an intersection you passed on the way there.

(3) Take the path that climbs to the left and leads to a wide, straight forest path on the ridge.

(17) Turn right towards the Grottes d'Azé and keep going until you reach the edge of the forest.

(18) At the orientation table, admire the view of the village of Azé and the valley. Descend along the vineyards. Go around the plot on the left to join the discovery trail or Chemin des Ours. Follow it to the right.

(19) At the replanted orchard, descend to the right via the Sentier des Buis, then take the path on the left which descends to the entrance to the caves. Head right towards the footbridge over the Mouge, cross it and return to the car park (S/E).

Azé and Blanot caves.