The Saint-Sabin chapel from Saint-Appolinard

Another original way to get to this beautiful viewpoint that is the Saint-Sabin chapel on a small bluff in the heart of the Pilat Park, pouring into the Rhône Valley, with some of the best views of the Alps and pre-Alps (especially across the south). At the chapel, many signs and indications tell the story of the place and its flora.

Technical sheet

195751
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.25 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 665 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 665 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,124 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 464 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Access:
Saint-Appolinard is located between Maclas (42) and Annonay (07). The starting point is the hamlet of Pourzin, located in the north-east of this county. From the D503, just before arriving in Pourzin, park in the tennis courts’ car park (one passes under a wooden portico limiting access height), plenty of spaces.

(S) Head north and climb a hundred metres towards the hamlet.

(1) At the intersection, cross the road and go straight between the new houses to the left and a stone wall on the right. Do not follow the ATV or GR markings. Climb about 200 m to the new houses.

(2) Above, pass between the last two houses turning left on the path becomes quite hard going (especially in winter) to turn into a "single" (narrow track) for mountain bikes heading west. This lovely trail becomes flat and joins a path that comes from the left.

(3) Turn right. From there, the route only takes you up to St. Sabin. So if the descent is steep, then there has been a mistake.

(4) 200 m further on up, at the fork, take the trail to the left on the most clearly marked path. After an intermittently sustained rise, you reach a more open area and a crossroads.

(5) At that crossroads (signposted for the Park - Maison Sabot, hill 655) turn left and then, after 50 metres, turn left again towards Le Verdier (6). The path (narrower) continues between the hedges and meets once the D34 which is to be crossed. Continue through the woods to get back on the road that we follow to the right for 100 m, before taking the wide path to the right. Leave a higher road on the right and reach a more open ledge (new park sign - hill 830).

(7) Continue opposite in the direction of Buet, and turn right at the following junction. A sign with information about to the hamlet of Le Buet which is crossed by heading due north. Continue up and leave Le Buet to arrive on a small plateau with chapel slightly to the left.

(8) At hill 935, at an intersection of roads lined with stone walls, turn left towards Saint-Sabin (sign for the Park). The trail continues to climb and sometimes takes quite a steep climb. Go through a fir forest to reach a ledge and a wide track. Follow this track to the right for 200 m to a fork.

(9) Turn right at a final sign pointing to the chapel. Last lovely passages on a narrow path alternating between deciduous underwood and views leading the Saint-Sabin chapel. This arrival is always magical.

(10) Down from the chapel by the north side of the stone is a path that walkers use from the car park.

(11) Down the road, turn right to the two houses of Saint-Sabin. Go behind the Vert Ane inn and begin the descent by the path (signpost indicating Veranne Park by Nordet). The trail is nice and quietly descends through the Michodon and Ligue farms to lead to a track (hill 790) just after a nice hairpin bend to the right.

(12) Cross the path to across the south-east oriented path that goes down steeply (do not stay on the flat track).

(13) 300 m lower down, where La Selle branches out, do not go left but continue down a few metres and then turn sharply to the right to find the slightly hidden path to Plode crossing a thalweg. If you missed the trail down to the asphalt road and then turn right to go up Plode (you will have barely lost 5 minutes).

Cross the hamlet of Plode and, at the intersection, continue due south towards two hangars on the left of the path heading gently uphill. Pass by two paths on the right and the access road to the hamlet of Varizière also on the right and cross the road (D34). Pass along a house on the left of the path and find the path to ascend hill 654 (6).

From here follow the signs for Pourzin and go along the outbound path in the opposite direction to get back to the car 10 minutes later (S/F).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 464 m - Pourzin, tennis car park
  2. 1 : km 0.13 - alt. 475 m - Intersection, take opposite
  3. 2 : km 0.28 - alt. 487 m - T-junction, turn left
  4. 3 : km 0.61 - alt. 513 m - Crossroads, turn right
  5. 4 : km 0.82 - alt. 536 m - Three-way junction, turn left
  6. 5 : km 1.74 - alt. 649 m - At the crossroads, turn left
  7. 6 : km 1.83 - alt. 655 m - T-crossing
  8. 7 : km 3.16 - alt. 831 m - Separation of roads, turn right
  9. 8 : km 4.37 - alt. 939 m - Junction: turn left
  10. 9 : km 5.44 - alt. 1,075 m - At the junction, turn right
  11. 10 : km 6.19 - alt. 1,120 m - Arrival at the Chapel
  12. 11 : km 6.66 - alt. 1,050 m - Behind the inn, turn right
  13. 12 : km 8.41 - alt. 791 m - Junction with a wide track, cross opposite
  14. 13 : km 8.76 - alt. 742 m - Junction of tracks, turn right towards Plode
  15. S/E : km 12.25 - alt. 464 m - Pourzin, tennis car park

Practical information

At the first signs of spring, this hike allows a good recovery with the altitude, in a nice setting, typical of the Rhone’s Pilat: small streams, hamlets, stony paths, flowering meadows. Southern exposure (warmer than the northern slopes).

This route is not marked as such, the departure is not "obvious" and it is good to have a map with the route and the description with you. The travel time of course depends on age, fitness, aims (the site time calculator give margin for error)

Possible variants:
(10) Back to Pourzin by the same route.
(11) Climb up to the antenna, due north by the Odouard trail. This should take about an hour.

In the nearby area

At Chapel Saint-Sabin, 180° views: The Alps, the Grandes Rousses, the Ecrins, Belledonne, Vercors... clear weather including a southerly wind (synonymous in the Pilat with the next arrival of rain but also the impression of the closeness of mountains). The antenna in the north seems close (despite being 3/4 of an hour away above) and you can see all the way down the path taken a few minutes ago.

 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

4.5 / 5
Based on 21 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
cedricsandrine
cedricsandrine

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

We can no longer park at the tennis court car park. We parked at the car-sharing area a little further down.
The path between 1 and 2 is private, so we went round by the Chemin de la Garnière further to the right, which joins point 4.
The path between 4 and 5 is flooded when it rains or when there is heavy precipitation, so wear good waterproof footwear.

Automatically translated

patm69
patm69

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Thank you for this beautiful hike, the climb up to the chapel is quite even, just between marks 8 and 9 a little steeper. We also found a lot of water running down the path from marker 1 to marker 5, after which it was normal for the temperature to rise and the snow to melt, which was to be expected. There were a few people arriving towards the chapel, and the return journey went well with good views. And to park for the start enter Saint Appolinard parking tennis court not accessible.

Automatically translated

jagy1958
jagy1958

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant walk.

Automatically translated

michel1941
michel1941

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

On Thursday 11 February the weather was cool (-1°C), we set off from Saint Appolinard at 9am, three of us - Jeanine, Roger and I - on a snow-covered route, full of frost, what a marvel, we arrived at the magnificent chapel of Saint Sabin at 11.30am, had a snack, bad luck, everything was overcast, no view, We took our time on the sometimes rocky descent, arriving at 1.30pm, great walk, better weather down below than up, we're not far off, we'll be back, thanks to Jean Louis, the organiser of this great walk. duration 4h50, difference in altitude from Saint Appolinard +699m - 697, distance 13.63km, parking near the church we went directly to point 3.Michel.

Automatically translated

Hit Soso
Hit Soso

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very pretty walk. The slope is gentle and even, so you don't feel the change in altitude too much. Very pretty forest: old beech and chestnut trees, broom... an enchantment in spring. The path is wide and well maintained. The description and route are very good, and it seems difficult to get lost. There aren't many people on the path, but beware of the crowds waiting for you at the chapel. That's because there's a car park and refreshment bar 2km below the chapel and the view is well worth the diversions.
Thanks to the editor of this walk!

Automatically translated

louis3838
louis3838

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 27, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

indeed it is necessary to change the departure because that modified to park to use the parking area just at the entry of st appolinard while coming from maclas.prenez the departure the parking area then once crossed the panel st appolinard take on the right cross a bridge then direct you slightly on the right with the first turning to take on the left and file straight to find a way while continuing you will arrive at the pt3 of the initial course of visorando with the pt3 you file straight...
have a good walk

Automatically translated

edwz69
edwz69

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Thank you for this report. When we left Poussin, we had trouble parking because the access to the tennis court car park is blocked by large stones. New houses have been built and it's no longer possible to go straight down the Chemin des Peatlands. We crossed the hamlet to find a sign pointing to the chapel of Saint-Sabin par le Guet, but it's a path to the right of the route in the topo. In the end, we managed to get back on the right path, which didn't make our hike any longer.
Superb view of the Alps at the finish 😃😃.

Automatically translated

Lapirouette
Lapirouette

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 14, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant walk with no tarmac sections (except for a few metres at the start).
A breathtaking view from the top near the chapel.

Automatically translated

grandin
grandin ★

Thanks DD 42

Concerning the private property, I've just put an indication in Practical Info because it seems to me that, even with this diversions, you still pass between the two houses in question.

Automatically translated

DD 42
DD 42

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 23, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello
Very nice walk, just for information, the description of the start should be changed because when you go up the rue des Peatlands for 200 m at the top, when you pass between the two houses, you are actually on private property. The owner of the house on the left stopped us and told us that the path was private and that she didn't like it, which is normal because all hikers go that way.

To avoid this, just take the route de Bazin to the right to bypass the houses and take the first road to the left and you're back on the path.
DD 42

Automatically translated

randosolo2018
randosolo2018

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 24, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Lovely walk, great views, but not always well signposted on the descent towards Plode. With the description and map, the hike went off without a hitch. Very pleasant picnic at the chapel.
Marie M.

Automatically translated

hiker38
hiker38

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 11, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

It's a lovely walk among the broom, which is in full bloom and very fragrant.
The 650 m gradient climbs steadily without difficulty.
The entrance to the starting car park has been closed off by a large boulder. You have to park on the side of the road, or in front of this boulder, as there are no other car parks in this hamlet.
The path from the start is not easy to find, and we crossed a property with the kind permission of the owner.
We made a mistake at Plode after point 13. You have to go straight on at the 2nd hairpin bend and not join the road below!
Otherwise, all good memories.

Automatically translated

bmx
bmx

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 17, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very nice route in the pilat only paths very beautiful panorama of the chapel

Automatically translated

thland
thland

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 25, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Super beautiful hike. Very precise explanations. Congratulations to the writer. Very varied scenery and trails

Automatically translated

bibi
bibi ★

In these cases, please do not hesitate to make us a proposal for improving the passages that you find difficult to interpret.
Sincerely

Automatically translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of the author. Do not copy them without permission.