Virieu walks

This walk allows you to discover the castles of Pupetière and Virieu. You first walk along the Bourbre valley on the hillside, then through the forest, passing the Croix du Moine Mort, and finally return to the hill towards Virieu.

An easy walk around Lake Paladru, allowing you to discover some fascinating Carthusian buildings. The Grange Dimière is a listed building and, higher up, the former Carthusian monastery, which is now privately owned and not open to visitors.

This is a pleasant walk with varied scenery. You will pass Notre-Dame des Vignes in Valencogne, Lake Paladru in Paladru and, on the heights, the charming Chapelle des Trois Croix in the Dauphinois style. There are no difficulties to be expected, apart from the distance. Halfway through the walk, if the weather is clear, you will have beautiful views of the mountains.

A day's walk, quite lovely and varied. You start by going through the Grand Platon Forest, then going along the south-east bank of the lake with beautiful views over the lake. You change banks and go along the Feydelière and Véronnière marshes ('Marais' - protected sites). The return is via the north-west bank of the lake with beautiful views over Chartreuse and, if the weather is clear, Mont Blanc.

A forest where you feel at peace. According to legend, the Vallin forest in the commune of Saint-Victor-de-Cessieu was frequented by druids and Templars who came to enjoy its healing properties. Several places in the forest are said to be full of energy, and there is a special energy in this place that confuses compasses. It is a pretty forest of beech, oak and hazel trees. Part of the forest has been replanted with Douglas firs, cherry trees and red oaks.

A lovely loop if you fancy an easy, not too long, shady walk, starting from the Chapelle-de-la-Tour car park, with no special equipment required. You could potentially spot ponies, horses, cattle, etc. We went in May, so we recommend going in the morning for the shade and milder temperatures in summer.

A very easy loop through this peaceful woodland. The chestnut wood is home to several protected bird species. This walk is best enjoyed in spring or on the last beautiful days of autumn.

An easy walk among the ponds in the heart of the Nantoin Forest. At the end of the walk, you will be rewarded with a splendid view of the Liers plain, the Chartreuse, the Alps and the Vercors.

This is a fairly short trail through the village of Izeaux. It takes you around the centre of the village, and offers some lovely views of the village.Take a few 'tracolets' through the heart of the village, and you'll discover some of the remarkable features of Izeaux.

This is an easy, well-known walk that allows you to discover the surroundings and heritage of Saint-Chef. In particular, it takes you past the abbey church.

The Col des Mille Martyrs is a road pass well known to cyclists, but hikers are also familiar with it, as there are many paths criss-crossing the area. The proposed walk takes place in a landscape of pastures and forests to the west of the Chartreuse Massif, offering panoramic views of the mountains.

You climb the hillside of La Côte Saint-André (ND de Sciez) from where you have a remarkable view: from the Monts du Pilat in the west to the Mont du Chat in the north-east, passing through the Vercors, Belledonne and Chartreuse. From certain vantage points, on clear days you can even see the summit of Mont Blanc. On the way back, you will pass by the village's main attractions.

This low peak and its twin opposite on the Vercors side, the Dent de Moirans, watch over the exit of the Isère as it flows quietly towards the Rhône and the entrance of rain and snow clouds pushed by the north winds. A remarkable viewpoint over the valleys, it is an ideal half-day walk.

A lovely walk starting from the banks of the Rhône, leading to the Mont de Cordon viewpoint (altitude 400 m) and offering a beautiful panorama of the Rhône and the Izieu mountain. During the climb, you pass a beautiful private castle and on the way back, you can see three caves that were inhabited during prehistoric times: the Bonne Femme cave, an unnamed cave and the Liévrin cave.

A marked trail allows you to explore several water-related areas (hillside, stream, marsh) around Glandieu and its waterfall. Some paths are not maintained, see notices.

Randonnée en huit partant des Trois Fontaines, un lieu baigné de fraicheur où il fait bon s'attarder en plein été.Le sentier commence dans la forêt en s'élevant dans une rude pente par de nombreux lacets. Il franchit des gradins rocheux pour rejoindre une bergerie d'alpage, le Chalet de Jusson. En haut de la prairie se présente la Cheminée de Jusson qui s'escalade sans difficulté pour parvenir au sommet et profiter d'un magnifique panorama. Descendre la crête et une partie du vallon de l'Hérétang puis remonter la Combe des Veaux pour retrouver le Chalet de Jusson. La descente par le Pas des Rochers de Pierre Taillée s'effectuant sur une sente en déshérence puis dans la forêt pour retrouver le parking conviendra aux randonneurs en quête de lieu secret. GPS ou application Visorando recommandé.Ce parcours s'adresse à des randonneurs bien préparés physiquement.

Wind through the valleys between Brion and Saint-Michel-de-Saint-Geoirs, then climb up to the ridge where you will have 360° views of Mezenc, Pilat, the Plaine de la Bièvre, the Chartreuse, Belledone, and the Vercors. End by walking through Mouillasson forest to get back to your vehicle.

This low-altitude loop takes you up an old passage equipped with ladders by hunters, before crossing the formidable Roize and returning via Chalais and its monastery.

An easy little walk for a Sunday afternoon.

A family-friendly circuit starting from Chalais Monastery and ending at the eponymous Aiguille.

This is one of the most beautiful hikes in Chartreuse. Moderator's warning on 22/03/2021: Please note that the hike is impassable beyond point 2, from February 2021 until further notice: "Following a landslide at Les Gourhauts, trail No. 7 is impassable on the section between Abri de Roize and Charminelles." See reviews

This is a loop south of the Chartreuse, at a modest altitude. It starts at Chalais Monastery, climbs up the cable-assisted passageway of the chimney, then heads towards the small village of Mont-Saint-Martin and returns via the Cuchet route. Traditional yellow directional signs indicate the distance to be covered and the time needed to reach the destinations concerned.