Valfleury walks

A very varied hike in the Loire, alternating between open landscapes with meadows, valleys, deciduous forests and numerous apple and cherry orchards. The walk also allows you to discover a curious underground aqueduct. In good weather, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Mont Blanc and the entire Alpine range. This hike can be enjoyed in all seasons, but it must be magnificent in spring when the fruit trees are in bloom.

This circuit starts in Valfleury, a charming village nestled at the bottom of a valley, and mainly follows ridges offering numerous views towards Saint-Chamond, Saint-Étienne, Pilat and, further afield, Forez and Auvergne. Don't miss a visit to Valfleury church.

A lovely walk in the countryside with stunning views.

The route passes through different areas in the countryside around Saint-Christo-en-Jarez (wetlands, forest and meadows). Along the way, themed information boards provide details about the local wildlife. On a clear day, two-thirds of the way along the route, you will be treated to a magnificent view of the Alps.

A circuit primarily on small paved and sunny roads.

A walk that takes you around Cellieu via the geographical centre of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, whilst discovering magnificent landscapes, and even Mont Blanc on a very clear day. Please note: there is a significant elevation gain, making this route unsuitable for pushchairs.

A walk in the hills with unobstructed views of the Pilat massif on one side and the Monts du Lyonnais on the other. The route follows good paths and small service roads. There are some steep sections, but they are short-lived.

Walk on the heights of the Col du Pilon, reaching Fontanés via the footpaths and returning via the small roads, with little elevation gain.

A beautiful walk with views of Pilat and Saint-Etienne. Reviews indicate that a GPS is very useful for following this hike.

A lovely route – long but not difficult – which takes you on a complete route of the Val d’Onzon, offering beautiful views of the Pilat massif, the Monts du Forez and the Northern Alps (on a clear day!). A wide variety of idyllic landscapes. The route mainly follows the higher parts of the terrain.

A short walk starting from the village of Fontanès, offering a beautiful view at the highest point of the Sept Pins. The passage through the woods is very pleasant.

Beautiful route along the ridges around the village of Fontanès. Free parking in the castle grounds.

A nature walk in the Monts du Lyonnais, through pastures and small hamlets.

Route starting from Marcenod, a small rural village of 700 inhabitants at an altitude of around 700 m. Very lovely views of the Monts du Forez.

A beautiful hike through orchards and forests in the hills above Rive de Gier. The very hilly area offers beautiful panoramic views. Chagnon and Saint-Romain-en-Jarez are interesting for those who love old buildings.

A lovely, quick walk that is easily accessible from the centre of La Talaudière. Hilly but not difficult. Beautiful views of the Pilat massif and the heights of Sorbiers. Discover the castle and park of Sorbiers at the end of the walk.

An easy hike (reasonable distance and elevation gain) offering views of the northern slope of the Pilat Regional Nature Park, the hillsides of Jarez and the Monts du Lyonnais. Alternating meadows and groves, with a few sections on very quiet roads.

A hike with no major climbs and beautiful views of the Col de l'Oeillon and Saint-Chamond.

Short circular or long circular above Saint-Chamond. A pleasant walk or bike ride for the whole family. This path is quite busy, especially on Sunday mornings when the weather is good. Be careful if there is snow, as there may be snowdrifts near the Col de Trente Sous.

Family-friendly walk in the hills of Saint-Héand among the horses and cows.

On the heights of Saint-Martin-la-Plaine, a lovely walk through the fields. The last part takes you past a zoo where you can see a few animals (ostriches, wolves, goats).

Starting from Châtelus, head towards the Couzon, which you will follow as far as the Moulin du Pas. From there, the route climbs up to the Pin Picard and heads towards the Bruneton, from where you will return to Châtelus via Soleymieux and La Rivoire.

A long and beautiful circular route that begins in a small valley, at the bottom of which lies a hermitage. After a climb, the view opens up onto the Soulages Dam and La Rive lakes. You follow the latter to climb up to the Sapey woods plateau and reach Rochetaillée. A magnificent village dominated by its 12th-century castle. The path leads to the Auberge de Salvaris, which invites you to take a break and enjoy the beautiful view.

A circular loop offering views of the Pilat Regional Nature Park, the Monts du Lyonnais and the Couzon Dam. Alternates between paths and very quiet roads. Best enjoyed in mid-season to make the most of the sunshine.

A pleasant circular walk starting from Farnay. Fully marked in white and yellow as Farnay 3 route. Two other walks start from behind the town hall and are signposted. This is the longest, but it is possible to shorten it by 3 km.

A short walk to do with children (but not with a pushchair!). The start is quite steep for little ones, but the rest is fairly easy.

This hike around Crêt de Montieux offers beautiful views of Mont Pilat, the Couzon dam and the Col de Pavezin.

Starting from La Tour-en-Jarez, this is a gentle walk along quiet roads and paths, ideal for families.

This pleasant, rural circular walk, in the little-visited hills of the western Monts du Lyonnais, winds its way through the valleys of the Coise and its tributaries. It starts in the charming village of Aubépin and leads to the imposing Château de Lafay, crossing the village of Larajasse and then wandering through fields and forests to isolated farms and peaceful little hamlets: Vaudragon, La Valletière, Chazette, Les Granges, Le Terron, La Grange Bruyère, Gouttenoire, Moulin Vaudray, La Chèvre, La Lardière, La Rivoire, Les Grandes Bruyères and Croix Galant, before returning to Aubépin after this breath of fresh air.

A figure-of-eight route around the Soulages and Rive dams. It avoids the more technical section on the right bank of the Soulages Dam and offers beautiful views of both dams from above.

A lovely walk with some beautiful views of the Gier valley. Our canine friends will find little shade, no paved roads, no river for water, but in season there is a tap at the Saint-Apollinaire chapel.

This hike, which is not difficult on the paths, offers beautiful views of Pilat and the Alps.

This hike takes place in the southern part of the Monts du Lyonnais. It is not very busy, although it follows theGR®®7along the ridges between Sainte-Catherine and Valfleury. A pilgrimage dedicated to the Virgin Mary used to take place in this village. Remnants bear witness to this era, which is gradually fading away: Stations of the Cross, statues, and reconstructed grottos. The return route takes you through the Durèze valley before climbing up through small hamlets, including Lachal with its imposing 18th-century neoclassical château, then crosses the Bois des Feuilles to return to Sainte-Catherine.

At the start, the route winds its way through the valleys of the Monts du Lyonnais and crosses a few hamlets, leading us to the Signal de Saint-André. From the Signal, the view over the Rhône valley, the city of Lyon and the Alps is magnificent. The return journey follows the eastern ridge, with the Pilat massif in your sights and the Alps on your left. The medieval village of Riverie is well worth a visit.

This circular starting from Sainte-Catherine, mainly on trails and little-used roads, allows you to explore the ridges and valleys of the Monts du Lyonnais and discover the Chapels of Saint-Apollinaire and Saint-Pierre. Beautiful views of the Rhône Valley, the Pilat Massif and the Alps on a clear day.

Long hike starting from Sainte-Catherine, which passes by the summit of the Monts du Lyonnais, the Crêt Malherbe at 946m.

A great day’s walk in the deep countryside of the Monts du Lyonnais.

The easier of the two dams at La Valla-en-Gier, offering beautiful and varied light depending on the season, time of day and weather...

A route on wide forest tracks through woods of Douglas firs and pines. The return trip to the Col de Trente Sous is not compulsory, but the views are worth it. Given the number of junctions, I recommend usingthe Visorando app on your smartphone.

A route of no great difficulty. In the first section, there are beautiful views over the Gier valley, the Piney (sometimes dry) and Rive dams. The paths are a bit stony, so wear good walking shoes. On the return journey, after the Col du Planil, there are views of the hamlets in the valley.

Circular route in the Pilat massif starting from La Terrasse-sur-Dorlay, climbing up to Collet de Doizieux and passing by Croix de Montvieux and Croix du Mazet. Along the route, there are beautiful views and panoramas of the Dorlay Dam, the rolling hills of Pilat, the Lyonnais and Forez mountains, and the Rhône and its valley. Discover the craft of shoeing horses and, if you have time, visit the Maison des Tresses et Lacets (house of braids and laces).

Cette randonnée longue et vallonée se déroule majoritairement en forêt ce qui la rend particulièrement agréable en été malgré sa faible altitude. Le parcours en boucle depuis la Terrasse-sur-Dorlay débute par une montée sur la ligne de crête dominant la retenue du Dorlay pour rejoindre la Croix du Planil. Le parcours vient jouxter la Jasserie avant de rejoindre Doizieux et remonter vers le Collet de Doizieux. Le circuit se prolonge par un passage à la Croix de Montvieux, à la Croix du Mazet puis à celle du Pendu. Enfin par le vallon de la Mornante on retrouve la Terrasse-sur-Dorlay.

A walk to discover beautiful views of the Dorlay valley, an opportunity to explore an old Roman road and an old railway line.

A walk in the heart of the Pilat Park on the hills around La Terrasse-sur-Dorlay, alternating between sections through woodland and open paths offering beautiful views of the Pilat mountains and the Gier valley.

A family-friendly, easy and informative walk, punctuated by beautiful panoramic views of the village of Riverie, the Alpine range, the Pilat and the Bozançon Valley. Return via the nature trail and the medieval village walkway in Riverie.

A long route along the panoramic ridges of Mont Pilat.

This urban route is more of a Sunday stroll than a proper hike. There’s plenty of tarmac, certainly, but on quiet roads. It allows you to explore the countryside on the outskirts of the city and enjoy some lovely views over the Saint-Étienne conurbation.