Bocsozel trail

This hilly hike will take you past castles and fortified houses (La Chapelle Notre-Dame-du-Mont and the ruins of Bocsozel). The route also offers magnificent views of the Alps.

This hike follows a small section of the Via Gebennensis. The Via Gebennensis connects Geneva to Le Puy-en-Velay. It is the route that Swiss and German pilgrims have always taken to reach the pilgrimage route from Santiago de Compostela to Le Puy.

Details

978264
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.54 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 363 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 367 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 644 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 430 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Car park and departure point in front of the church of Saint-Hilaire-de-la-Côte.

(S/E) Leave the church on your right and walk along Chemin de Cerisière.

(1) At the first crossroads, take Chemin de Bourrachère on the left.

(2) At the next crossroads, turn right onto Chemin de Charrelière. Cross the hamlet of Charlière until you reach Chemin des Grippes.

(3) Take the hairpin turn to the left on this road, then turn right about 200 metres further on, onto the first path between two fields. There is a signpost indicating the direction of Le Mottier 3km. Continue along this path until you reach another road.

(4) Turn right and then immediately left. Pass two paths on the right and follow this road until you reach a fork.

(5) Take the right fork and continue along the edge of the forest, then through the woods until you reach Chemin de Bocsozel.

(6) Continue to the ruins of the medieval castle of Bocsozel. Round tower and ruins of a rectangular tower. Then retrace your steps and take the path on the right. Ignore the various small paths leading off to the right or left and follow the yellow markings.
Arrive in the hamlet via Montée de la Ratissière. Turn right onto Rue des Castilles and follow the signs for Notre-Dame du Mont for 0.3 km. Go down Rue des Castilles.

(7) Turn right to visit the Notre-Dame du Mont Chapel.

(8) Spend a few moments exploring, then retrace your steps. The orientation table will help you find your way.

(7) At the crossroads, turn right. Continue straight on towards Montée du Calvaire (a dead-end road for vehicles). At the end of the road, turn left.

(9) Turn left onto Chemin des Vignes. From this point, follow Via Gebennsis to the finish.

(10) At the end of the road, at a four-way junction, continue straight ahead on Route du Château de Pointières.

(11) When the road makes a 90° right turn, take the path opposite that leads into the trees. This path joins Route de Montgontier. Take this road on the left, cross Château Montgontier and continue along the road.

(12) When the road turns 90° to the left, continue straight ahead on the path.
The path joins the crossroads of Chemin des Sources and Chemin de Gondrine. Continue almost straight ahead on Chemin de Gondrine. Turn left onto Chemin de la Cerisière until you reach the church (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 442 m - Car park near Saint-Hilaire-de-la-Côte
  2. 1 : km 0.32 - alt. 439 m - Chemin de Bourachère
  3. 2 : km 1.05 - alt. 510 m - Chemin de Charrelière
  4. 3 : km 2.1 - alt. 559 m - Chemin des Grippes
  5. 4 : km 3.06 - alt. 580 m - On the right
  6. 5 : km 3.95 - alt. 639 m - Path along the edge of the forest
  7. 6 : km 5.84 - alt. 524 m - Ruins of Bocsozel
  8. 7 : km 8.41 - alt. 544 m - Allée de la Chapelle
  9. 8 : km 8.66 - alt. 548 m - La Chapelle Notre-Dame du Mont
  10. 9 : km 9.53 - alt. 443 m - Chemin des Vignes
  11. 10 : km 9.99 - alt. 448 m - Route du Château de Pointières
  12. 11 : km 10.39 - alt. 430 m - Path towards the Montgotier road
  13. 12 : km 11.18 - alt. 482 m - Towards Chemin de Gondrine
  14. S/E : km 12.54 - alt. 442 m - Car park near Saint-Hilaire-de-la-Côte

Notes

Yellow markings.

There are many places along the hike where you can stop for a picnic break

Worth a visit

Church of Saint-Hilaire-de-la-Côte.
La Côte-Saint-André and the Hector Berlioz Museum

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 19 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Annie6904
Annie6904

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful views throughout the route

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Aurelie38
Aurelie38
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in the hills above Saint-Hilaire-de-la-Côte, with beautiful views over the Bièvre plain with its fields of rapeseed in bloom and the mountains in the background.

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Les Blaireaux de la Rando
Les Blaireaux de la Rando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

superb circuit

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tessor38
tessor38

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

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ventetmarais
ventetmarais

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Despite the cold, this hike did us good. Very beautiful views. We met few other hikers.

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Fratellu69
Fratellu69

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike with superb views of the Bièvre and Vercors mountains.
Beautiful passages through the woods and views of stunning residences.
The area around the Notre Dame du Mont chapel is utterly charming...
Well done for suggesting it.

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730001302-2B5092147000
730001302-2B5092147000

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
Thank you for this lovely, varied walk, a good route, beautiful views, two beautiful sites
and a lovely day despite the cool weather and mist on the hills.

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casillas
casillas
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike under sunny skies with no difficulty in finding your way, as the trail is very well marked. However, the path was very muddy in places, which is normal given the recent rain. Other than that, everything was fine. Thanks to the trail marker. Didn't see anyone else on the trail.Worth doing again

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Jacgauth
Jacgauth

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful and varied hike that I recommend doing as a day trip, with a picnic either at the Bocsozel ruins or after the long, steep climb. The chapel site is also a great place to stop. Definitely worth doing again

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Jean-Marc42
Jean-Marc42

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 13, 2020
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with little road travel and varied landscapes. Thanks to its author

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chopi
chopi

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hello,

It is indeed a beautiful route, but with the group I was leading, we had a problem finding our way after Bocsozel Castle. More specifically, when we were in the Bocsozel valley, we missed the turn-off on the left (which seemed to be poorly signposted) leading back up the hill (La Ratinière) and to the N-D du Mont chapel, with a yellow mark pointing in the opposite direction towards La Dantonnière. We realised in time and took a parallel path further to the left, which allowed us to get back on track.
The weather was magnificent

Best regards

Christian

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to give your opinion.

We are told to leave the church on our left... but no, it's on our right!

It has been corrected, thank you

See you soon

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Nanie1
Nanie1

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The only slight problem is the departure point. We are told to leave the church on our left... but no, it's on our right!
Otherwise, the views are magnificent. I highly recommend it!

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Nousky38
Nousky38

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

This interesting walk offers beautiful views.
You need to be reasonably fit to complete the circuit.

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COMETE38
COMETE38

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk with sections through the woods, which we enjoyed in the warm Sunday weather. The picnic break at the Mont chapel was very pleasant. The setting is superb with a beautiful view and shaded tables to enjoy it all. The best! The only slight downside to this hike: quite a bit of tarmac but no traffic, as it's on small roads.

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