Bigues trail

A little path that smells of hazelnuts... This pleasant, easy trail takes you through the charming little village of Parmilieu, a land of stone, quarries and traditional stone houses.

Details

1305126
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.77 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 106 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 113 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 357 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 273 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the town hall and post office.

(S/E) At the start, opposite the town hall, turn right and then right again at the stop sign. After 100 metres, leave the main road on the left and pass between the old stone houses. Follow a dirt track where old stone quarries are still visible on the left and right. The track leads to a road in Senin.

(1) At this crossroads, note an old wash house fed by water from the Jacob Well, located a little higher up on the right-hand side of the road.
Take the road on the right and turn left with it. Jacob's Well is on the right-hand side of the road. Then turn left onto the path that leads downhill.

(2) Take the path through the woods on the right, then continue to Chanoz. Take the small road on the left. Continue through the hamlet of old houses.

(3) At the crossroads, turn left onto a road and then turn right 200 metres further on. You will then pass close to a quarry that is still in operation.

(4) When you reach a path on the right, you can take a pleasant break at a chapi, a typical quarryman's shelter. Then continue along the path that leads to the hamlet of Pressieu.

(5) In Pressieu, turn right then left for 150 metres, towards the Côtes de Vaud.

(6) Turn right onto Chemin du Bertier, towards Chonou. On your left, you will see the suet (rock outcrop) with traces left by glaciers and, 600 metres further on, the old Chonou quarry on your left. After the quarry, take the road on the left for 220 metres.

(7) There is a picnic table available before turning right onto a small bucolic path. Cross the road and continue straight ahead until you reach the chapi on your left, then turn right.

(8) At Rochechin, take a short detour from the marked path by taking the path on the right, which will take you into the hamlet where you can see the houses on the hillside. You will naturally return to the path at the crossroads with the main road. Cross over and continue straight ahead for about 150 metres.

(9) At the crossroads, turn right and walk past the wash house. Continue straight ahead, passing several quarries.

(10) After entering a wooded area and passing the Lecazat quarry , don't miss the path on the right-hand side of the road. Join the D52J. Take this road on the right, which will take you back to the town hall in Parmilieu (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 327 m - Parking at the Town Hall and Post Office
  2. 1 : km 0.7 - alt. 304 m - Senin wash house
  3. 2 : km 1.39 - alt. 298 m - Fork in the path, turn right into the undergrowth
  4. 3 : km 2.5 - alt. 287 m - The Charnoz Cross
  5. 4 : km 3.37 - alt. 273 m - The quarry chapi
  6. 5 : km 4.66 - alt. 318 m - Pressieu
  7. 6 : km 4.89 - alt. 321 m - Turn right at the fork
  8. 7 : km 5.97 - alt. 344 m - Picnic table
  9. 8 : km 6.81 - alt. 349 m - Rochechin - start of the alternative route
  10. 9 : km 7.09 - alt. 346 m - Lavoir de la Montagne
  11. 10 : km 8.07 - alt. 341 m - Path on the right
  12. S/E : km 9.77 - alt. 327 m - Parking at the Town Hall and Post Office

Notes

Please note that all water sources you encounter (fountains, wash houses) are unmonitored and it is best not to drink from them.
No heavy equipment is required for this hike. However, please ensure you wear suitable footwear.

The bigues trail is featured in the short guidebook "Discover Parmilieu", available at the town hall and on the website: Sentier des bigues.

Worth a visit

The trail is marked with blue signs clearly indicating "Sentier des bigues". Bigues (stone posts used to support the wires in the vineyards) have been placed along the trail in notable locations.
Along the route, you will find many "old stones" that refer to the history of Parmilieu. Old tools such as winches and anchors often remain in the abandoned quarries. Each hamlet you pass through offers a glimpse into life in days gone by. You will often see what I call "suets", a term I used in Parmilieu when I was young. These limestone outcrops were often used as supports for houses or even for threshing wheat.
This long walk takes about 2½ hours. The day can be rounded off with a visit to the Grottes de La Balme caves, a few kilometres from Parmilieu.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 22 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
JP Bourjon
JP Bourjon

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 30, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A short, pleasant and easy walk.

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User 24480530

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant and varied route, clearly signposted.

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User 28552752

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 22, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Apart from at the start, where we set off in the wrong direction, the route was fairly well marked with lots of paths and very little tarmac. There were quite a few historical sites to see, such as wash houses and quarries.

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Traceur D .et C.
Traceur D .et C.

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Easy hike with excellent signage.
Interesting for seeing local curiosities (bigues, palis, chapit)
And also to see the quarries (old and still active) and the work of the stonemasons.

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phinic
phinic

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful trails and some lovely surprises with the quarries, but the proportion of road is a bit high

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Norbert38
Norbert38

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A pleasant, well-marked hike with no particular difficulties. The last kilometre is on a country road, so caution is advised.

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ajipe51
ajipe51

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route that is easy to follow. The only change needed would be to the end, to avoid a rather long stretch on a road with no kerb and relatively heavy traffic.

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Aperrenot
Aperrenot

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A fairly short and easy route. Allow two hours if you want to take the time to look at the sights. The detour through the fields after Chanoz (clockwise direction) is of moderate interest, except for the view of the Bugey.

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andomir
andomir

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, peaceful, relaxing and varied walk with no difficulties. Pretty villages to pass through and views of old quarries

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0889936X
0889936X

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short walk that can be done easily, with no difficulties on the paths and very easy-to-follow signposting.
It's interesting to see the huge quarries and the bigues, Tallis, and beautiful stone houses.
A lovely walk.

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Dussauze
Dussauze

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The trail has just been re-marked, so there's no chance of getting lost. It's mainly on dirt tracks, with a few sections on roads as you pass through some very pretty stone villages. I recommend this 2½-hour walk, which is flat and therefore accessible to all.

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Franckycky68
Franckycky68

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed without any problems

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Waitukubuli
Waitukubuli

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike with pretty trails and typical villages. Heritage and history, old quarries, it's enjoyable and original. Thank you for this discovery.

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papou26200
papou26200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Do this early in the morning because even though most of the hike is shaded, the end is in full sun. A wonderful discovery of the history of this area. Thank you for the hike.

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Pascal01500
Pascal01500

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A few remarks:
- the circuit markings are mostly a very light sea-green colour, while the blue markings tend to fade significantly. However, both should be used.
- The blue signs have sometimes disappeared or are in poor condition, or even lying in the ditch.
nevertheless, with good guidance, a map or GPS, it is very difficult to get lost.

But what distant views of the Alps and their snow-capped peaks! A return to basics in terms of how the inhabitants use the resources available to them for their habitat.

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