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Red and white GR®59 markings and specific signs bearing the symbol "J"
(S) From the heights of Pérrigny, follow the signs for Perrigny on the paved road. Go down to the fork.
(1) Take the stony path on the right and continue until you reach Rue du Vieux Mont. Continue straight ahead (south-west) until you reach the Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Perrigny. (Refreshments available in a supermarket 500 m west of the village).
Red and white GR®59 and GR®559 markings and specific signs bearing the symbol "J"
(2) Turn left onto Rue du Mont Neuf and walk along the cemetery. (Please note: after the residential building, the markings will take you right onto a forest path). Stay on Rue du Mont Neuf uphill to rejoin the GR® a little further on. Continue uphill until you reach the entrance to the bend on the left.
(3) Turn right to cross the Bois Champ Chambard forest heading east, then south-east. Continue until you reach the signpost for "Camp de Coldre". To reach the Roman camp at Coldre, turn left. Apart from a beautiful view of Lons Le Saunier, there is not much else to see.
(4) Follow the signs for L'Ermitage on the downhill path that takes you to the entrance to the Ermitage site. (Don't hesitate to visit the remarkably renovated site. Very pretty view of the valley.)
(5) In front of the entrance to the Hermitage, head east towards St Roch. Pass the Hermit's fountain, then continue carefully along the steep path on the mountainside. Pass under a high-voltage power line before arriving at a crossroads.
(6) Ignore the side paths and continue along the path on the mountainside until you pass under another high-voltage power line before arriving at the Croix de Charney.
(7) Carefully begin a steep descent to the crossroads overlooking the small paved road connecting Conliège to Briod at the signpost marked "Le chemin du facteur" (the postman's path). (If you descend to the road, you will discover a pretty fountain and the entrance to the Diane tunnel)
(8) Once you see the tunnel entrance, return to the crossroads and continue uphill until you reach the Belvédère des Tilleuls, which offers a superb view of Lons-le-Saunier and the Bresse plain.
(9) Continue south/south-east to descend to the Publy-Conliège road.
(10) At the signpost, turn left towards Publy/Belvédère de la Guillotine. Pass a small forest chalet. Continue to the intersection with a forest path at a place called En Dondon Le Haut. (Caution: risk of error due to lack of signposting).
(11) Turn right onto the forest path, which is closed to motor vehicles. Follow the signs and take the first path on the right. At the signpost for the Tunnel des 100 Marches, ignore this direction and continue south on the summit of the Côte Dondon. Continue to the Belvédère de la Guillotine.
(12) After a break at the Belvédère de la Guillotine, which offers a view of the tunnel exit, the viaduct and the corniche, rejoin the GR® heading north/north-east. Continue to the intersection with a tarmac road at an altitude of 532 metres. (Information sign.
(13) Turn right and stay on the paved road heading south-east until you reach the intersection with a wide gravel path on the left. (Caution: the markings are rather discreet here).
(14) Turn left to the northeast and continue to the intersection with the PLM Greenway.
(15) Turn right towards the northeast and pass under a high-voltage power line before reaching the signpost at the intersection of the GR® and PR® trails.
Red and white markings for the GR®559 and specific signs bearing the symbol "J"
(16) Leave the GR®59 and continue straight ahead on the GR®559, following the signs for La Gare. Arrive at the intersection with the D4 at a place called La Gare
(17) Turn right, then quickly left, following the signs for Lac Chalain/Châtillon. Continue along the greenway. After about 300 metres, you can either stay on the PLM track or follow a forest path as shown on the map. Continue south-east until you reach the intersection with a PR®.
(18) Ignore this PR® and continue straight ahead, following the GR® until you rejoin the greenway.
(19) Here, you can either stay on the greenway or, as shown on the map, stay on the GR®559 on the path that runs along the edge of a wood on the left. Continue to the stop sign at the intersection with the road to Publy.
(20) Turn left and then right and follow the signs for Lac Chalain/Chatillon on the PLM road. At the signpost, continue straight ahead to cross the hamlet of Les Montaigniers. At the signpost for "Gare de Verges", continue straight ahead until you reach the intersection above the 50 km/h speed limit sign. (Please note: the signposting here is discreet or even non-existent).
(21) Turn left (northeast) and continue on the gravel road, which is a no-entry road. Continue along the edge of the woods, then across vast meadows, keeping heading northeast. Pass a cross before arriving at the entrance to the village of Verges (there is a castle to see at the entrance to the village). Continue to the traffic island in the middle of a crossroads near the church.
(22) Pass to the right of the traffic island and, at the signpost, follow the signs for Châtillon on the right. Follow the GR®559 markings and ignore the side paths, starting a steep climb into the Bois de la Côte de Thorne. After a steep descent, continue east/north-east until you reach a clearing with a crossroads.
(23) Turn left and continue to the signpost "Bois de Charmette" at the intersection with a PR®.
(24) Continue right (east) towards Chatillon and proceed to the intersection with a PR® at the edge of the woods.
(25) Enter the Bois du Crêt du Pieutet and continue south-east until you leave the woods at an intersection with a PR® at elevation 511.
(26) Turn left to follow the edge of the woods and continue northeast into the Bois du Crêt du Pieutet until you reach the Belvédère de l'Ain car park on the edge of the D39. (Picnic area).
(27) Continue right on the path along the D39, then turn right after the large rock, following the signs for Belvédère, and continue until you reach the junction with the Belvédère path.
(28) If you want to enjoy the view of the Ain valley, Châtillon and Lake Challain, turn left and climb the stony path to the Belvédère de la statue du Sacré-Cœur (20 mins there and back).
(29) After enjoying the view, head back down to the GR®559.
(28) Continue left to go around the base of the Belvédère to the south-east and arrive at the side of the Saint-Valère Church in Châtillon.
No signposts
(30) Leave the GR®559 temporarily to head towards the campsite. Go down Allée du Château on the right, then cross to the right of the wash house. Go down a grassy path to reach the D39.
(31) Go down the small Rue du Clos Verger on the right. At the stop sign, continue along Rue de l'Épinette. Continue until you reach the exit of Châtillon, where you will find the Voie PLM.
(32) Continue straight ahead until you reach the entrance to the Domaine de l'Épinette campsite (E).
Visorando member
Moderate 
Association / Club / Walk leader
