Monthieux walks

An easy walk leading to the Vernange Sensitive Natural Area with its observatory. Don't forget your binoculars.

An easy family walk that starts at Mionnay Station, crosses the Bois des Pommes and leads to Étang Dimanche.

A pleasant walk typical of the Dombes. Mainly on tarmac but with very little traffic; you are on secondary roads. Along the route there is a high concentration of ponds, which are full of water in 2020. The view of the ponds is unobstructed and you will encounter many different birds. The walk is punctuated by a variety of landscapes: ponds, fields, copses and even a view of the Beaujolais region.

Most of the walk is in the forest. The paths are pleasant, with quite a few small stones on the ground. In rainy weather or after heavy rain, the path may be muddy or even impassable in places (not sure, to be checked). The end of the walk is not in the shade, so it can get hot in the sun. Moderator's warning: a section of the route is now closed. Please wait for a detour to be put in place.

This hike in the Monts d'Or mountains, starting from Curis-au-Mont-d'Or, will allow you to enjoy the panoramic view of Mont Thou and Mont Verdun and discover the drystone shelters that are part of the region's heritage. It follows the inner route of the Monts d'Or with a variant to shorten the circuit.

This walk, after giving you a beautiful view of the Château de Curis, will take you close to three mountains: Mont Narcel, Mont Verdun and Mont Py before returning to Saint-Germain. You will discover several wash houses and small chapels along the way.

This hike will take you to the Croix Rampeau (viewpoint over the Alps and the Saône plain), the Tour Risler (Poleymieux-au-Mont-d'Or), the ruins of a hermitage, the remains of a tannery and several old wash houses. Depending on the season, you will see daffodils, orchids, wild asparagus (edible), martagon lilies or fields of colchicum.

This loop, starting from Curis-au-Mont-d'Or, will take you to Mont Thou with its magnificent view of the region, then to Mont Verdun and Mont Py, and finally to Croix Rampeau before descending back to Curis. During this hike, you will see two old wash houses and, depending on the season, orchids, martagon lilies, wild asparagus and many other flowers

This route crosses the natural and agricultural site of the Vallon des Échets and the wetland area of the Ruisseau des Vosges. Once you arrive at the Madone site, at an altitude of 266 metres, you can enjoy an exceptional panorama of the Monts d'Or, the Saône valley, the cliffs of Couzon-au-Mont-d'Or, the Monts du Beaujolais and the Fourvière hill.

This short, easy loop starting from Saint-Germain-au-Mont-d'Or will take you to the ruins of a retting pit and a hermitage. In September, you can see colchicum flowers and, if you feel like it, extend the circuit to the Croix Rampaux: a viewpoint over the Saône plain and the Alps.

Family walk above Montluel, along the Cotey stream, between woods and farmland.

This circular starting from Couzon-au-Mont-d'Or will take you to the remains of the Monts d'Or Aqueduct, a charming little wash house and a few other ruins. The first and last thirds of the route follow marked trails, while the central part follows small unmarked paths.

This loop starting from Poleymieux will take you to discover the drystone shelters, traditional huts built from dry stones in the Monts d'Or. The route passes through the forests on the northern slopes of the Monts d'Or and beautiful meadows. You will follow part of the geological discovery trail with its excellent information panels. The paths are easy for the most part, but the forest trails can be steep and tricky in wet weather.

A Short yet tough hike through the Monts d'Or. Very nice in good weather and on dry ground.

I had wanted to walk through this flat countryside with its multitude of ponds for a long time. I suggest this route, which starts at Notre-Dame des Dombes Abbey. It will take you past some beautiful ponds and local farms. Depending on the season, you will be accompanied by the songs of a multitude of birds. Frogs will jump out of the water as you pass by and curious cows will come to meet you.

A hike suitable for all, offering different viewpoints and remarkable landscapes, and an opportunity to discover nature and heritage.

This short loop of around ten kilometres from Poleymieux church will take you on a journey through time. Go back 200 million years with the Monts d'Or geological trail. Then travel to the 19th century with the surprising drystone shelters, the Carrière battery, the magnificent lime kiln at Polyemieux and finally the Ampère Museum. And finally, return to the 21st century with the Air Base 942 site and its secret installations.

This is an easy, shaded walk where you can see many orchids in April and a few restored drystone shelters. Mont Thou offers beautiful views of the Saône valley and the Ain plain, and even further depending on the weather. Drystone shelters are dry stone structures found in the Monts d'Or.

A pleasant hike with a few steep climbs, good for your heart rate, best done in dry weather as some sections are muddy and slippery in wet weather.

This circular starting from Chasselay will take you to the Batterie des Carrières (a fortification dating from 1874) through vineyards and forests. You will see the perfectly restored Poleymieux lime kiln, surrounded by numerous panels describing how it worked. On the way back, depending on the season, you may see various orchids and martagon lilies.

This is an easy route, best undertaken with good walking shoes. However, be careful in wet weather as the clay soil can be slippery and muddy in places. Along the route, there are information panels explaining the formation of the Monts d'Or massif.

This double loop of around fifteen kilometres with a significant elevation gain will take you through some beautiful panoramas and places in the Monts d'Or. Starting from the pretty village of Saint-Romain, it will take you to the summit of Mont Thou with its magnificent panorama, then to the village of Poleymieux with its church and some beautiful drystone shelters. You will cross the grounds of Château de Curis and then walk through the woods to return to your starting point, passing by the enigmatic Demeure du Chaos.

This loop follows the Grand Tour and Tour intérieur des Monts d'Or trails. We start at the Saint-Romain cemetery and head towards Mont Cindre via the Sentier des Rapaces trail. Towards Limonest, we walk alongside Château de la Barollière before climbing up to Mont Verdun. It's worth making a detour to visit the Glande lime kiln. This route offers beautiful panoramic views around Mont Cindre and Mont Verdun, towards Poleymieux and the heights of Saint-Romain.

A short walk that takes you to the most beautiful viewpoint of the Mont d'Or massif and allows you to discover some 'drystone shelters', stone shepherds' huts. Great for families!

Between Lissieu and Chasselay, the Chemin de Machy walk is a quick round trip that allows you to discover Machy Castle and the surrounding countryside. The walk alternates between wooded and sunny areas.

An easy hike to discover the drystone shelters of Mont-d'Or. The cabornes are huts built of dry stone, which were used as shelters and for storing tools by farmers. They were also sometimes used as dwellings.

An easy loop starting from Saint-Cyr-au-Mont-d'Or to reach the heights of the Monts d'Or towards Mont Thou. The return route passes via Mont Cindre. There are some lovely views and several drystone shelters to discover along the way.

Parking: 4 spaces for cars a few metres from the start of the path.It's rare to find a quiet walk that barely touches tarmac in the Monts d'Or. This one does just that. You get to spend two hours in the forest near Lyon without any physical challenge. Ideal for families.

A tour of Limonest that allows you to discover its many wash houses, secret paths and other treasures.

Gentle climb up the Limonest corniche, which offers beautiful views of Fourvière. Chemin de Narcel in the woods, towards Mont Verdun. Then another beautiful view on the descent towards Limonest. Pass near the Château de la Barollière.