Serre de Paruel

A short walk through the Marsanne Forest, taking in Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours and the famous miraculous fountain of Fresneau.

Details

n°27879159

Creation:
19 Oct 2022

Last update:
–

Last review:
16 Mar 2026

Activity: Walking
Distance: 2.76 mi
Average duration: 1h 55
Difficulty: Easy
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 787 ft
Descent: - 784 ft
Highest point: 1,624 ft
Lowest point: 856 ft

Country: France
Area: Dauphiné
City: Marsanne (26740)
Start/End: N 44.64369° / E 4.87317°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3037SB, 3038SB
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Description of the walk

Start: Place Émile Loubet, in the village centre.

(S/E) Head towards Mirmande, then, 300 m on, after the school, at the bridge and signpost, turn left uphill towards Fresneau and pass between the ‘miraculous’ fountain and the Chapel of Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Secours.

(1) A few metres further on, turn left before the chapel onto a path under the pine trees.

(2) At the next bend, turn right and then climb steadily up the mountainside.

(3) When you reach a wide cross-country track, take the hairpin bend to the left and continue to a junction of paths.

(4) Further up, on the flat (you have now gone round the mountain), look out for the start of the path on the left at the Paruel signpost and head down through dense woodland. Soon follow the ridge line (boxwood and oak), first on level ground, then downhill. At the junction, continue straight ahead. Further down, the path turns left to reach the village and the starting point near the town hall (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : mi 0 - alt. 856 ft - Place Émile Loubet
1 : mi 0.42 - alt. 1,040 ft - Notre-Dame-de-Fresneau Chapel - Chapelle Notre-Dame de Fresneau (Marsanne)
2 : mi 0.59 - alt. 1,060 ft - Crossroads
3 : mi 1.27 - alt. 1,503 ft - Forest track
4 : mi 1.59 - alt. 1,624 ft - Paruel signpost
S/E : mi 2.76 - alt. 856 ft - Place Émile Loubet

Reviews and comments

3.7 / 5

Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5

Ease of following the route
3.7 / 5

Route interest
3.3 / 5

DOCTOR STRANGE

16 Mar 2026 at 10:38 3600

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 16, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Hello, we went on this walk yesterday – it was fine up to the chapel, but after that it was just stones

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Dst 62

26 May 2025 at 12:14 7200

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

After the chapel (the only point of interest), the path climbs up a rocky track with no shelter from the sun. Boring
At the highest point, the descent back through the scrub is difficult to find, with plenty of dead wood and brambles under the branches.
Quite disappointing

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jlcrcfx

31 Oct 2024 at 10:21 3600

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We went on this walk from Notre-Dame de Fresneau.
The opening or widening of a new forest track has made the route less interesting (a tedious climb, but with a lovely view opening up towards the village).

The route description needs to be updated to reflect this change. Please note that it is difficult to find the way back at point 4.

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d'almeida

05 Aug 2024 at 08:13 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route offering beautiful views of Marsanne

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Armand26

10 Aug 2023 at 20:59 7200

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

I’ve rarely been disappointed by the routes on the app, but this one…
The only highlight of this walk is the chapel at the start; from there, you might as well turn back...
After the chapel, the path climbs partly through the woods with no real views.
Once you reach the top, there’s still nothing on the horizon, and the route doesn’t make it easy to find the path back down.
Once found, the descent is really uninteresting: you have to make your way through dead trees with branches at face height; you really can’t wait to get back down.
Fortunately, in the village there are a few bars and restaurants where you can grab an ice cream.
In short, don’t waste your time on this route; you’ll be disappointed.
Also, under no circumstances should you follow the GPS route from point 4 – it’s wrong. Look for the signpost marked ‘Direction Marsanne’ to make your way back down.

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achettejc

21 Nov 2022 at 08:41 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely short walk through the forest that takes you through the Fresneau nature reserve

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cricri0771

07 Nov 2022 at 14:41 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A delightful walk through the forest, surrounded by the colours of autumn, offering the chance to explore Notre Dame de Bon Secours, the Miraculous Fountain and the Grand Sanctuary

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