Matagrin Tower at the start of the Rivière in Villechenève.

A sheltered walk with a few views of the Monts du Lyonnais and a chance to discover the Matagrin Tower at the top of the highest peak in the Monts du Lyonnais.
An ideal walk in hot weather as it is at altitude and mostly in the woods.

Details

34516438
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.19 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 410 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 406 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 999 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 769 m

Description of the walk

Park in the car park in La Rivière (hiking sign: La Rivière).

(S/E) With your back to the car park, follow the signs for Affoux (GR®7markings) to the north-east until you reach an intersection near Chez Ligot. Hiking sign.

(1) Continue straight ahead towards Affoux (yellow markings) and, at the end of the path, follow the road to Affoux.

(2) In the village, turn left onto the tarmac road. Pass the cemetery and you will come to a junction with the D38.

(3) Cross it carefully and immediately take the path that climbs to the left. Ignore the paths to the right and left and continue straight ahead until you reach a fork with a hiking sign.

(4) Follow the signs for Tour Matagrin (1.8 km) and continue straight ahead until you reach a junction with a tarmac road.

(5) Turn right onto this road and continue to the Matagrin Tower and its shop.

(6) Turn around and go back to the previous crossroads.

(5) Continue straight ahead until you reach a barrier at the junction with the tarmac road.

(7) Follow the road to the left, pass the Violay car park (picnic table), leave the roads on the right (at Godan's, then at Chevrier's) and arrive at a path 100 m before the D38.

(8) Take this path on the right, which passes in front of a house, and follow the yellow markings. Descend steeply and join a cross path.

(9) Turn left and continue straight ahead along the path that climbs almost to the D38. Turn right and continue to follow the yellow markings until you reach the D38.

(10) Cross it carefully and continue straight ahead along the path that climbs through the woods, then descend towards the river (hiking sign). When you reach the first houses, take the path on the left to arrive at the car park opposite (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 769 m - La Rivière car park.
  2. 1 : km 2 - alt. 842 m - Chez Ligot sign
  3. 2 : km 3.34 - alt. 793 m - Affoux village
  4. 3 : km 3.77 - alt. 816 m - D38 junction.
  5. 4 : km 4.45 - alt. 906 m - Hiking sign
  6. 5 : km 5.52 - alt. 963 m - Fork in the road.
  7. 6 : km 5.89 - alt. 999 m - Matagrin Tower
  8. 7 : km 6.78 - alt. 922 m - Crossroads with the tarmac road.
  9. 8 : km 8.13 - alt. 846 m - Fork in the road.
  10. 9 : km 9.05 - alt. 770 m - Fork in the road.
  11. 10 : km 10.38 - alt. 807 m - Crossing the D38.
  12. S/E : km 11.19 - alt. 769 m - La Rivière car park.

Notes

Good walking shoes.
Picnic spots at points (3) and (7).

There is a refreshment bar at the Matagrin Tower as well as a souvenir shop.
Caution for those who are afraid of heights: the Matagrin Tower is quite high. The stairs are quite narrow and steep (especially on the way down).

Some sections of tarmac road.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on 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 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.1 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
lionel3938
lionel3938

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Walk taken in November Starting out foggy Pleasant

Machine-translated

FranJar
FranJar

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice little walk. Visit the tower and enjoy the magnificent view. Lovely picnic spot at the foot of the tower.

Machine-translated

Falsa
Falsa

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We set off from the Col de la Croix Casard towards the Matagrin tower, which offers a beautiful view of the Forez and the east.
At the Croix de Mr Jean, we took the route in reverse to point 3 via a steep descent through the forest. We then cut across the road and the Molières path to reach point 8 and climbed back up the road, which also offers beautiful views.
A pleasant two-hour walk.
We didn't meet anyone on the route, but the tower area is very popular because it is very pleasant and well suited for picnics with children.
There are many paths in the area, all of which are well marked.

Machine-translated

ERIC_Roanne42
ERIC_Roanne42

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

pleasant and easy route.

Machine-translated

starstella
starstella

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb, very enjoyable route

Machine-translated

AlainD42
AlainD42

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We set off from the Matagrin Tower checkpoint towards VILLECHENEVE and followed the route without difficulty to the TOWER and then to the checkpoint: beautiful weather and ideal temperatures.

Machine-translated

marietherese.rodarie
marietherese.rodarie

Overall rating : 1.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Unable to find the path that starts opposite the furniture shop in Violay

Machine-translated

michel tessier
michel tessier
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Shaded forest route, around 900 m, light north wind today, route completed very early between 6am and 10am: ideal temperature for walking in this rather hot weather...

The advantage of the Matagrin tower: take your time...

GPS is useful for unmarked black paths, allowing for multiple variations.

Machine-translated

Forézienne
Forézienne

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Our group completed the route today in fine weather. The route is shaded and very cool, and with the IGN map and explanations, we found our way easily. We really enjoyed the trails and the scenery.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.