The Rochefort to Rontalon loop

A beautiful circular walk through the varied and undulating landscapes of this part of the Monts du Lyonnais, taking you through the pretty, shady valley of the Bâtie stream and along the Rontalon botanical trail. The route follows an old railroad track from the early twentieth century, before climbing up through a Mediterranean style forest and past some market gardens. End by visiting the medieval village of Rochefort where you can visit the remains of the keep and the chapel.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.27 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 550 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 542 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 767 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 418 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S) Leave the car park on the D311 along the small road down to the right. Follow this tarmacked road as far as the houses at La Bléniere, which the path skirts around to the left. The tarmacked road turns into a dirt track, which runs along the edge of the forest.

(1) After taking a 90° turn to the right, ignore the path down to the river and keep going along the pleasant shaded path that runs along the Artilla valley. When you reach the small stream, cross over the first bridge and then the second. After the second bridge, climb up to the right. Keep going along the path until you reach a small tarmacked road, which you then take to the right as far as Niguet farm.

(2) Take the path to the left (northeast) between a shed and a cross. Keep going along this path for about 1km, ignoring any paths off to either side.

(3) At the T-junction, turn right (south) uphill. After the stone barn at Le Combet, take the path off to the left. As you go past a farm, the track becomes tarmacked. Keep going as far as the road (4) which you then take to the left towards the farms you can see on the hill top.

(5) Shortly after the hamlet of Tiremanteau, take the path to the left. Stay on this stone path until you reach a small tarmacked road (ignore the path off to the left).
Keep going for about one hundred metres until you reach the junction at point 549, where there is a cross. Take the dirt track opposite you.

Ignore the two paths off to the right and (6) continue into the undergrowth of Rontalon botanical trail. There are fact sheets at the start of the trail and information boards.

(7) When you reach the orchards, take the path to the left. Walk along the ballast of an old railway track (early twentieth century), and keep following the bends until you reach the main road.

(8). Cross the D311 and take the road that bears off to the right opposite you. Before reaching the hamlet of La Burlière (you'll recognize the typical architecture of the small stations of the early twentieth century), take the small path up to the left through the woods. When you reach a tarmacked road, turn right. After about two hundred metres, take the path up to the left. Continue on this path which winds up through a beautiful forest, ignoring the marked path on your left which leads down to la Martinière.

(9) Come out of the forest and continue straight on, ignoring all the paths off to the right. The path widens and then reaches the hamlet of Le Bayard.

(10) Continue along the road opposite you (west) along the hillside. As you come out of the bend, you will be able to see the farms of Gazanchon up ahead of you. You don’t need to keep going as far as the crossroads.

(11) Take the grassy path that cuts through the fields. Then continue along the road to the left, which takes you past a farm.
A sign indicates that you are leaving France and entering La Poipe (!) Don’t go down towards the farm, but instead go straight on down the red and white marked GR trail (Grande Randonnée – Long Hike). Follow this path past some livestock buildings on your left and keep going until you reach the road. Continue straight over the road towards the village of Rochefort ahead of you.

(12) Keep going as far as the village along the path that climbs up ahead of you. When you reach the village, you can visit the remains of the keep and the pretty chapel. Take the stairs down to the right at the entrance of the chapel. A small path runs between the walls. Cut across to a small path which you take to the left. This path leads onto a small tarmacked road shortly afterwards, which you take to the right to get back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 630 m - Parking on the D311
  2. 1 : km 0.84 - alt. 509 m - Right turn
  3. 2 : km 1.83 - alt. 611 m - Le Niguet
  4. 3 : km 2.86 - alt. 560 m - Right at the crossroads
  5. 4 : km 3.72 - alt. 630 m - Left on the road
  6. 5 : km 4.44 - alt. 631 m - Path on the left
  7. 6 : km 5.53 - alt. 539 m - Start of the botanical trail
  8. 7 : km 6.22 - alt. 476 m - Beginning of the old railway line
  9. 8 : km 8.15 - alt. 418 m - Departmental road
  10. 9 : km 9.93 - alt. 669 m - Botanical trail
  11. 10 : km 10.61 - alt. 699 m - Le Bayard
  12. 11 : km 11.39 - alt. 751 m - Take the path on the left
  13. 12 : km 13.57 - alt. 721 m - Rochefort
  14. S/E : km 14.27 - alt. 631 m - Parking on the D311

Practical information

Departure point: the large well signposted car park on the right of the D311 (as you drive up to Saint-Martin-en-Haut).

In the nearby area

Old railway line
The remains of an old railway line (with 1 metre spacing) which used to run from Fourvière to Saint-Symphorien-sur-Coise. Built between 1910 and 1914, it ran until 1933.

Medieval village of Rochefort
A medieval 13th century town with some beautiful relics, including an old door, the remains of the keep, and a chapel which houses a beautiful stained glass window from the 15th century.

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 46 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Faÿsse  Jean Claude
Faÿsse Jean Claude

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Nice varied walk, to be done in dry weather

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balladesetrandonnees
balladesetrandonnees
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Nice hike with a steep slope and a slightly perilous descent after Rochefort church, path in poor condition.

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RVBLH
RVBLH

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A fine walk with plenty of undergrowth.
A fine climb up to the beautiful village of Rochefort.

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michel.guinand
michel.guinand

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice hike
some good climbs medium difficulty justified
Large shaded section

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papaMEME
papaMEME

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

The route description is not precise enough. Lack of visual reference points!
Nice walk though.

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yvesdaru
yvesdaru

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : N/A
Clarity of route map : N/A
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

I use the GPS application to follow the route, so I have no opinion on the reliability of the descriptions. I did this walk in lovely autumn sunshine. Quite a few people met on this Sunday: hikers, mountain bikers and quad bikers.
Very pleasant walk in the forest with a moderate amount of tarmac and beautiful scenery.

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Lakshmi
Lakshmi

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

It was impossible to follow the itinerary, which was really poorly explained despite numerous trips back and forth from the start. We used the map as inspiration for some of the stages and enjoyed the walk. The region is magnificent

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THERM38
THERM38

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Nice walk, don't miss the car park before arriving at the village of ST MARTIN EN HAUT, pleasant and shady, with a stream in the first part (and water in that stream!!!) the climb back up is a bit more difficult in the rocks, nice botanical trail with picnic table and to finish off visit the little village of ROCHEFORT, be careful to get to the car park from Rochefort behind the church there are some not so obvious chicanes barriers, we went round a bit further on it's better.

Thank you for this walk.

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marikgrr
marikgrr

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice walk - Beautiful scenery
Paths a little difficult to find at times
For good walkers
Lovely route - thanks to the designer

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brigitte38
brigitte38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

I did this walk from Rontalon. It's a nice route, with 2 slightly long climbs, but no major difficulties.
The village of Rochefort is a nice place to stop and visit the ruins and the church, with a picnic break afterwards...
1/3 tarmac on little-travelled roads, the rest orchards and forests.
It took us 4 hours 45 minutes to complete the tour, including the visit and lunch break.
Thank you for this tour.

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sergio 56
sergio 56

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Interesting walk with a wide variety of landscapes. Very good description of the route.

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BABOUR RANDO
BABOUR RANDO

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Beautiful sunshine between two periods of rain and thunderstorms... We had to make the most of it!
Lovely walk between crops, livestock and undergrowth (which was very welcome in this case).
A few muddy stretches, but it was still raining on Saturday!
No particular difficulty, either in finding your way around or technically!

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tiroune
tiroune

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very nice walk, mostly through undergrowth, which is very pleasant in very hot weather. The description is a bit sketchy, at point 1 the two bridges were a bit difficult to find, you have to go down to the river on a small k signposted path. Thanks again for this hike.

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Fz6anne
Fz6anne

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

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GBOCHE
GBOCHE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Great tour! Beautiful scenery and a majority of pleasant, little-travelled footpaths.
However, be careful at the start: the small road to La Blénière leaves from the car park (you don't have to cross the D311 (yes, we did!).

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