Tour du Mollard d’Arbon (Trail No. 5 “Sentiers de Chartreuse Occidentale”)

The walk starts in Voreppe Bourg, at the ‘Parking des Gradins de Roize’, Quai du Dr Jacquin (towards Chalais); however, you must park at the ‘Parking des Randonneurs’ on Rue Pré Boulat, 100 metres further up (it is signposted). Then make your way back to the Parking des Gradins de Roize, the starting point for the trails.

Follow the No. 5 directional signs and the yellow markings.

This circular route is described as running anti-clockwise.

S/E The route begins by crossing the village of Voreppe.
(1) Take Rue de Porte Saint Laurent. Continue along Rue des Tupinières until you reach an old fountain, then carry on along Rue Porte des Pallaches.
At the end of this street, the path continues straight ahead. Follow it alongside the fences and low walls bordering the grounds of the “Château de la Grande Rue” and the media centre to reach …

(2) … Rue de Gachetière. Walk up this street and take the second street on the left (Rue de Château Vieux). At the end of this street, join the path (which runs alongside the water reservoir on the left); it passes the ‘petrified fountain of Le Corbeau’ (a petrified waterfall formed from tuff).

(3) After a fairly steep climb, with steps, you’ll reach the signpost for the “Belvédère du Crochet”. Take a round trip to the Belvédère du Crochet. Views over the Isère valley, the Vercors, the Cluse de l’Isère and the Bourg Vieux district. You will see the ruins of the Delphinal fortified castle on your left (it is situated on private property. Do not enter).
Return to the path and walk alongside a deep ravine...

(4) … and reach the Gachetière viewpoint, where there is a bench for a welcome break. Views over Voreppe and the Vercors.

Continue along the path; you’ll descend into the bed of a stream via some wooden steps

(5) You’ll come to a crossroads with a signpost. Turn right onto path No. 5, which, after a steep climb...

(6) …leads onto the Chalais road at a place called La Rajasse, the highest point of this route.

Cross the road to rejoin the path heading downhill, then cross the road again and continue down Path No. 5. You’ll come to a junction of paths, with a signpost marked ‘Côte Longue’.

(7) Follow the path to the left to reach the hamlet of Le Clet (signpost for “Le Clet”).

Walk a few metres along the road and take the path branching off to the right, which crosses the Clet road once more.
Turn right, taking care, along the Route de Racin, which descends towards Voreppe. Before a hairpin bend, take a path on the left which rejoins the road and the cemetery on your left.

Turn right onto Rue de Pré Boulat to return to the car park (S/E).

The Mollard d’Arbon is a high hill, characterised by its rounded shape, shaped by glaciers, and by the structure of its soil, composed of molasse and puddingstone.
(1) A tour of the village of Voreppe can be undertaken at the end of the walk, starting from the ‘Gradins de Roize’ car park, where a sign displays the various routes on offer.
Heading up Rue de Gachetière – the first street on the left, which you pass by during the walk – leads to a mushroom farm, a former molasse quarry.
(3) From the Crochet viewpoint, the ruins of the former Dauphin’s castle come into view when looking north, above a large town house.
Visit the Corepha association’s website to find out more about the heritage and history of the commune of Voreppe.