Tour of Lake Paladru via the Voie Verte

(S/E) From the Charavines Beach car park, head towards Monferrat via the footpath on the right as you face the beach entrance, which then crosses over the Fure. Walk uphill for a few hundred metres.

(1) Leave the pavement by taking the path on the left which goes downhill and becomes the Sentier du Bois d'Amour, running closest to the lake. There are numerous designated rest areas, including wooden platforms and benches, where you can stop and admire the lake.

(2) At the small car park at the end of the Bois d’Amour, join the tarmac Voie Verte on the left-hand side of the road and follow it for as long as possible, all the way to Montferrat. After passing the Le Bord du Lac and then the Sans Souci campsites in Le Verney, high up on the left, carry on. Pass the large Camping Détente and Clapotis campsites.

(3) At the end of the Voie Verte, turn left onto the Chemin des Marais. Take in the various information points along this path.

(4) When you reach the first houses in Paladru, turn left onto Chemin du Petit Port, then, once you reach the harbour, head up to the right towards the town hall and the road. You can then choose from three options for a break: the Paladru Lake Archaeological Museum (MALP), the bar-grocery shop for lunch or a drink, or Paladru beach for a refreshing dip. Continue left towards Le Pin along the road.

(5) At the roundabout by the Calatrin campsite, turn right onto the road that climbs, following the red and white or yellow markers. After 200 m, take the path on the left that climbs towards the hamlet of La Montagne, avoiding the tarmac. Cross the Route de la Montagne and continue straight on. The path then turns into a track running alongside a house. You will reach a tarmac road in the hamlet of La Montagne. Follow it straight ahead and you will come to another crossroad (Route de la Montagne).

(6) Turn left onto the road, following the signposts. At a fork, go right and then continue along the path, keeping to the right and leaving the farm access on your left.

(7) At a junction, ignore the path straight ahead and take the one on the left down the slightly steep slope. Keep following the red/white and yellow markings. You’ll reach the tarmac road again as you approach the houses in Brandoux and turn left onto the road that descends towards Le Pin.

(8) After about 500 m, take the path on the right, which climbs up to the ridge. This path then descends to join a road in the hamlet of Les Côtes. Turn right, then at the crossroads turn left down the slope. Continue until you pass a pond on your right as you reach the centre of Le Pin.

(9) Near the Church of Saint-Christophe in Le Pin, be sure to visit it to see its beautiful stained-glass windows and, above all, its paintings saved from the Revolution and restored. Leave the GR®65 and its red/white markings, which head towards Le Puy, to return to Charavines by taking the road on the left and following the yellow markings.

(10) Before leaving Le Pin, take the small road that climbs to the right and turns into a path. Cross the D50 carefully as you descend and take the path opposite. Stay on this path until you come back down to Charavines. There are lovely views of the lake along the way. You can then choose to return to the car park by walking past the car park and the shops, or take a short detour via the little Rue Martin Cluzel as shown on the map. You’ll arrive at the beach car park (S/E).

You will find water at the start and finish, as well as at the various campsites (in season) and when passing through the villages of Paladru and Le Pin. Toilets are available there. Food and drink are available at some campsites, beaches or villages.

This route offers numerous views, even though it follows the Voie Verte on the left bank of the lake, at a slightly lower elevation than some other routes.

A few points of interest may be worth a stop or a visit. The beaches, the Bois d’Amour promenade, the Véronnière and Feydelière marshes, the MALP,and Saint-Christophe Church in Le Pin.