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Park in the car parks for the Grotte de Naïs and the paddle steamer, located at the western entrance to Saint-Nazaire-en-Royans on Rue des Mariniers (there is another car park further down on the banks of the Bourne).
Red-and-yellow markings
(S/E) From the car park, head east to the Place de la Fontaine de Thaïs, where you’ll find the ticket office for the Grotte de Thaïs and the paddle steamer. Head towards the aqueduct and the Tourist Office to take the Passage de la Soie, which begins beneath the aqueduct. Climb the wide steps, then turn right onto Rue Lafayette. Cut across Rue du Poële and continue to the next junction. Turn right onto Rue du Bourg Souverain and follow it to the aqueduct.
(1) Turn left onto Chemin de Cachenoix, which runs alongside the aqueduct and climbs up to its canal at the entrance to the aqueduct (access closed). The path follows the canal for a while, then climbs through the woods to reach a tarmac road (signposted ‘Chemin de la Draye’). Turn right onto the road towards Tire-Vire, then turn left, 30 metres further on, onto an uphill path. You’ll come to a junction just before a gate leading to a wasteland.
(2) Turn right onto the path. After a few hairpin bends and a climb of about 600 metres, you’ll reach a crossroads.
(3) Continue straight on towards Maison de la Luce, following the Chemin de la Calagne (ignore the barely visible path on the left and take the more obvious one on the right). The climb is straight but quite steep in places. When the slope levels off, pass Maison de la Luce near an old chestnut grove and reach the signpost of the same name.
Green-yellow markings
(4) Take the path on the right, which is quite steep in places, and reach the Col des Bois Communaux.
Red-yellow markings
At the pass, turn right towards La Cote/Le Belvédère and you’ll soon reach the ridge line and its sharp limestone pavement. Beautiful views across the whole of the Royans, the Rhône Valley, the Ardèche… Pass under a large pylon and descend into the woods, with a few fairly steep sections here and there. You’ll arrive at the bottom of a valley at the ‘La Cote’ marker.
Green-Yellow Markings
(5) Head right towards Tire-Vire for about 100 metres, then leave the track and turn left onto a path towards the Belvédère. After a short climb, the path continues along the ridge and reaches the small viewpoint. Follow the path which branches off to the left and begins the descent through the woods. You’ll reach the valley at the Carrefour Vanille junction.
Red-Yellow Markings
Turn right and follow the main path down towards La Madelanière. 20m further on, at the signpost, turn right towards Les Massotiers (ignore the path on the left which goes downhill). About 400 metres further down, pass a small cliff and come out behind a house. Go between the house and its gas tank and join a tarmac road; follow it to the right to quickly reach the Les Massotiers signpost.
(6) Turn right towards Saint-Nazaire. The path quickly becomes a track and then runs alongside a canal. Pass a bridge on your left and continue along the track, which climbs slightly. Cross two small walnut groves, then return to the banks of the canal and finally reach a bridge. Cross the canal and join the D532. Cross the road straight away (caution: very busy road!) and turn right to walk along the verge for about 100 metres.
At a small rest area, leave the road and turn left onto a stony path that leads downhill. Head slightly uphill towards a car park at the side of the road and stay on the left-hand lane, which becomes Rue des Mariniers, where the car park is located (S/E).
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Tourism professional
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