Tour de Planaise

A long, easy walk taking in fountains, bridges and castles...

Details

69443
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.17 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 499 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 522 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,115 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 873 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
    Area: Alps
  • ⚐ City: La Chavanne (73800)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 45.494799° / E 6.074555°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3432OT, 3432OTR, 3433OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at La Chavanne town hall.

(S/E) On leaving the car park, turn left towards the church. At the crossroads by the church, cross the road you have just come along, heading to the right, and take the wide path that descends into the forest. A little way down is the miraculous fountain of St-Méen. Continue down the path until you reach the track running alongside the motorway.

(1) Turn right and continue along the motorway until you reach the bridge crossing it.

(2) Turn left to cross over the motorway and continue to the Isère. Turn right and follow the river.

(3) Pass the wide path at a right angle on the way back and continue to the old metal railway bridge, known as the "Pont des Anglais".

(4) Retrace your steps to the wide path at a right angle

(3) Turn left onto it and continue towards the motorway. After crossing the motorway, take the road that climbs to the right.

(5) At the Y-junction, take the left-hand branch. The road passes through a small hamlet and joins a main road (rubbish bins and bus shelter opposite).

(6) Cross the road and continue straight ahead towards Sous-Venthonex. Walk through this pretty hamlet.

(7) When you reach the exit, at the crossroads, continue straight on. The road becomes a track. Continue between the fields. The track then runs alongside a forest and begins to climb. After two hairpin bends, the track enters the hamlet of Le Touvet.

(8) At a small wayside shrine, take the path climbing to the right. When it joins a small road, take this to the left. It then runs alongside the Château du Touvet (ruins of the old castle chapel) and reaches a crossroads. Turn right (organic fruit grower). After a sharp left-hand bend, the road runs alongside a wire fence on its left.

(9) At the end of the fence, climb up to the left via the narrow path between the fence and the earth bank, to immediately reach the road coming from the right. Continue straight on to a small crossroads in the middle of the hamlet (Molard Genevier). Turn right onto this small street, which becomes a dirt track through meadows.

(10) Cross a road and continue straight on to the church, where you must turn right to return to the starting car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,070 ft - Town hall car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.42 - alt. 876 ft - On the right
  3. 2 : mi 1.28 - alt. 906 ft - Bridge over the motorway
  4. 3 : mi 2.47 - alt. 889 ft - Return
  5. 4 : mi 2.97 - alt. 902 ft - English Bridge
  6. 5 : mi 4.2 - alt. 1,037 ft - On the left
  7. 6 : mi 4.66 - alt. 1,017 ft - Opposite
  8. 7 : mi 5.13 - alt. 892 ft - Straight path
  9. 8 : mi 6.02 - alt. 991 ft - Path on the right
  10. 9 : mi 6.55 - alt. 1,056 ft - To the left
  11. 10 : mi 6.95 - alt. 1,040 ft - Opposite
  12. S/E : mi 7.17 - alt. 1,070 ft - Town hall car park

Notes

The paths are sometimes a little damp but in fairly good condition and do not require heavy hiking boots.

Worth a visit

St Méen’s Fountain, discovered by this Irish monk on his way to Rome.
The Victor Emmanuel Bridge (or English Bridge), built for the railway line leading to Maurienne.
Several castles, including Le Touvet, which belonged to the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem.

Reviews and comments

4 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
3.4 / 5
HélèneRF
HélèneRF

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Although the noise from the motorway is a bit of a nuisance, this walk is still pleasant and presents no difficulty whatsoever.

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730001302-2B5092147000
730001302-2B5092147000

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 09, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Hello, it was a lovely walk, apart from the bit near the motorway; we extended it with a walk around Lake Sainte-Hélène

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xtian74
xtian74

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 20, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

This walk would be pleasant were it not for the traffic noise from the A43 (you walk alongside it for a good 20 minutes, then move away from it but can still hear it for quite a while), which is frankly a nuisance.
It is indeed worth continuing on to Lake Saint Hélène (a further 2 km via the southern shore, making a total of 14 km without doing the round trip to the old railway bridge), and I would recommend it.
On the other hand, I don’t really see the point of going to have a look at the old railway bridge (Pont des Anglais, according to Jean-Pierre73)... A matter of taste, perhaps?

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TIQUET
TIQUET

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

I took a detour on the route, continuing on to Lake St Hélène and then back to La Chavanne via Sainte-Hélène-du-Lac, adding 4 km to the hike.
For a better understanding of the route:
Line 3 of the description could read: on reaching the church, cross the road towards the car park opposite and take the wide path that leads down into the forest.
Line 12: At the Y-junction, take the left-hand branch, then at the hairpin bend, take the road opposite which passes through a small hamlet ...
The walk was done in glorious sunshine at 28°C; the mix of road and forest means you don’t get too hot; along the Isère, there are hazel and blackthorn trees.

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JeanPierre73
JeanPierre73

Sorry about the motorway.
The point of interest is this old railway bridge (known as the Pont des Anglais), which wasn’t in use for very long.
I’ve double-checked the route on the map: it looks correct, but if not, please let me know where it’s wrong. Thanks

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kinoupom
kinoupom

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2014
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

The first part wasn't much to write home about, running alongside the motorway; but it was a nice ride all the same!!!

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