Via Mont Ministre

A very pleasant walk in the Pilat Massif.
Some beautiful panoramic views of the Rhône valley, Crêt de l'Oeillon and Trois Dents.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.64 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 669 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 663 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 875 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 451 m

Photos

Description of the walk

From the centre of Condrieu, head towards La Chapelle-Villars.
At the village church, turn right and head towards La Vieille Chapelle.
At the edge of the hamlet, you will find a large car park on your right.

(S/E) Walk to the chapel and enjoy the scenery and tranquillity. Return to the road below and head north.
Further on, a path climbs up on your left. Take it and follow it to the Col de Grenouze.

(1) Turn left towards the Col de Pavezin. After a few hundred metres, take the first path that climbs up on your left.
Continue straight up, ignoring the paths on either side.
You will soon reach the summit, marked by a cairn.
Follow the path. You will walk alongside the paragliding launch pad, where you can enjoy a beautiful view.

(2) From there, descend.
Walk for about 1 km until you reach a crossroads.
Turn left and continue to the Pavezin pass.

(3) Descend to the road and, just opposite the restaurant, a path leads down to the village. Follow it to the centre of Pavezin.

(4) Opposite the cross, turn left and then follow the street on the left that passes in front of the church.
At the next cross, turn left again. Pass between the two houses and climb the path to the road.
Cross it and continue along the path that climbs up opposite. After 70 metres, do not enter the field but turn right.
At the first house, you will find yourself back on a road. You will soon reach Les Maranches.

(5) At the crossroads, turn left.
Opposite the last house, take the path that climbs to the left. Join the road.
From here, take the path opposite. Cross a stream and climb up to Grange Rouet.

(6) Pass in front of the restaurant, then climb to the right.
Ignore the path on your left (see practical information: detour via this path to8) towards the Col de Pavezin.
After another 150 metres, you will come to a crossroads.

(7) Turn left at the hairpin bend towards the Château de Bélize. You will not see anything of the château, only a few ruins. Continue to the next crossroads.

(8) From there, follow the black and white markings.
The path descends, crosses a gravel road and continues to a farm.

(9) Cross the road and take the fairly wide path that descends.
At a sharp right-hand bend, take the path on the left and, 50 metres further on, turn left again. Join the road.

(10) Follow the road to the right until you reach the Croix de Pilherbe.

(11) Cross the road and go down the path on the left towards Chuyer.
At the first house, in a place called Les Ferranches, you will find yourself on a tarmac road. At the cross, continue straight on to the church.

(12) Go around the church and continue along the road heading north-west.
Pass the first street on the right and continue to the crossroads.
Turn right and follow this street to the second house.
From there, go up the path on the left until you reach a crossroads.

(13) Turn right until you reach the road.
Then turn left. The road climbs up to the hamlet of Bonne Bouche.

(14) At the crossroads, turn right.
At the next junction, cross the road and take the path that descends to your car park 50 metres away (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 535 m - Car park near the hamlet of La Vieille Chapelle.
  2. 1 : km 1.4 - alt. 625 m - Col de Grenouze
  3. 2 : km 2.44 - alt. 766 m - Mont Ministre
  4. 3 : km 4.55 - alt. 652 m - Col de Pavezin
  5. 4 : km 5.27 - alt. 583 m - Pavezin
  6. 5 : km 6.5 - alt. 619 m - Les Maranches
  7. 6 : km 7.85 - alt. 778 m - Grange Rouet
  8. 7 : km 8.32 - alt. 840 m - Hairpin bend
  9. 8 : km 9.26 - alt. 855 m - Bélize Castle
  10. 9 : km 10.78 - alt. 607 m - Les Chirattes
  11. 10 : km 11.83 - alt. 569 m - Turn right at the road.
  12. 11 : km 12.3 - alt. 532 m - Croix de Pilherbe
  13. 12 : km 13.45 - alt. 458 m - Chuyer
  14. 13 : km 14.21 - alt. 502 m - Trail junction
  15. 14 : km 14.97 - alt. 522 m - Bonne Bouche
  16. S/E : km 15.64 - alt. 536 m - Car park near the hamlet of La Vieille Chapelle.

Notes

Moderator update on 20/05/2020: Please note! The passage between (7) and (8) via Crêt de Quatregrains is now prohibited (private property). You must therefore reach (8) via the path marked in pink on the IGN map, passing through Les Farges and point 756, which lengthens the route.

Please note that there are virtually no markings, so don't forget your maps, compass, GPS and/or Visorando app.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Mercou
Mercou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route with many scenic viewpoints. We did it in fairly warm weather (30°C) for May, but as the route is often shaded, this didn't bother us.
The change in route (points 7 to 8) is simple, you just have to tackle the steep but short climb.
Just one suggestion:
the directions for joining the route at Condrieu could be clearer. Do not try to go through the centre, as indicated, because if you happen to be there on market day, it's a nightmare.
Simply follow the RN 86 almost to the southern exit of Condrieu and turn right onto the well-marked road to La Chapelle de Villars.
To be repeated in autumn.

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Jipaskini
Jipaskini

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Point 8 very poorly marked
No signage.

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Basile Grimault
Basile Grimault

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Great hike, varied landscapes. A bit of tarmac road at the end, which was less interesting, but overall a very good hike.
Completed in 5 hours.

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promenades
promenades

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We really enjoyed this hike, starting from the Pavezin Pass. The climb up Mont Ministre is quite steep. As indicated, we went directly from point 6 to point 8. Beautiful views. Worth doing again.

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cathyferrer
cathyferrer

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very interesting hike in very hot weather, but with some welcome stretches through the forest.
Despite the dry weather, we picked a few porcini mushrooms north of Château Bélize.
From the Col de Grenouze, we extended our hike by going around Mont Monnet.
The views are remarkable.
Thanks to the author.

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Guy de St Martin
Guy de St Martin

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Coming from the Gier Valley, I started at Col de Grenouze (1); there is a large car park and, for the more adventurous, the option to climb Mont Monnet (superb viewpoint!). It is also possible to start from Chuyer (car park in front of the church) but this does not change the route. I did this hike on a beautiful sunny day in September. The route is often through woodland. Beautiful views of the Gier Valley to the north and the Rhône Valley to the south.
Two or three anecdotal remarks:
- After point 2, the trail follows the ridge for a long time before descending to the Pavezin pass. Allow for 1.5 km (instead of 1 km) before reaching the crossroads.
- I agree with the comments about the detour (points 7 to 8). Since it seems to be permanent, why not change the route on the map? Allow for extra distance and elevation gain: the climb from the road to the Château de Bélize is quite steep. At this point, just before the ridge, leave the path and turn right onto another path that is not very well marked in the woods (clearing) to rejoin the route at point 8. The park markers indicated in the description are white and brown (very dark!).
Otherwise, nothing to report, enjoy your hike!

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Francisque
Francisque

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Three quarters of the route is magnificent, through the woods.
We saw the warnings about the route between points 7 and 8 too late: it's the most beautiful part!
It would be desirable for the owner to give free access to this part, which borders land that is unsuitable for cultivation.
Tarmac at the end of the route.

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grandin
grandin ★

Thank you for your feedback. I mentioned the deviation between (7) and (8) in the description.

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mr_arno_O
mr_arno_O

The route between points 7 and 8 is now on private property (marked by barbed wire and prohibition signs), and the route is made difficult by numerous trees and broom bushes that have been cut down in the middle of the path. This section is strongly discouraged.

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mr_arno_O
mr_arno_O

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I did this hike on the Sunday after lockdown restrictions were lifted. It's a relatively busy route, especially at the passes, which are often starting points for hikers.

The two climbs are a real treat. The route is relatively shaded, with a few sections in full sun once you reach the ridges.

It is now (theoretically) impossible to reach point 8 from point 7. Two rows of barbed wire await you there, as well as signs saying "Private property, no trespassing". And if, like me, you decide to brave the prohibition, good luck, because the owner has cut down gorse and other trees along the entire route and left them in the middle of the path, making it very difficult to progress, unless you go through the undergrowth. More barbed wire awaits you at the end of the path. This is a shame, especially as reaching point 9 without taking this now forbidden path considerably lengthens the walk.

The GPX route is flawless.

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glouby25
glouby25

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

PLEASE NOTE: the section between points 7 and 8 is now "private property". The path is completely blocked and unfortunately there is no easy way to reach point 9
Otherwise, the walk is very pleasant, although perhaps a little too much road on the last section.
Very reliable route, thank you!

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ALLRANDOF
ALLRANDOF

I didn't go on the hike.

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maxelio42
maxelio42

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Thanks to gbacherot for this lovely hike!
The section between the start and point 6 is almost 100% shaded, as is the section between 8 and 9.
The section between 9 and 13 has little shade, which on a hot day might make it advisable to reverse the direction of the circular in order to follow the south-east slope in the "cool" morning and save the north-west slope for the hottest part of the day.

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patm69
patm69
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hike on Tuesday, 30 July 2019, despite temperatures approaching 30°C in the early afternoon. Impeccable, well detailed and, with the help of a smartphone, no worries about the route. A beautiful hike with lots of shaded trails, except for one spot where you're in full sun from the Grange Rouet inn to the Château de Bélize trail through the broom bushes. In my case, it wasn't a problem as I had a slight north wind and a few clouds at the time.

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