The Daronne Gorges
Colombier-le-Vieux
The Daronne Gorges
Hard
Difficulty5h
Duration14,7km
Distance+521m
Positive Elevation-521m
Negative ElevationCourse type
Network
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5 points of interest
Deyras
One of the three hamlets having given birth to the current village of Saint Victor. Even if we are not exactly on unified land here, in 1937 the « deyrasiens » (people of the hamlet of Deyras) asked for their independence which was refused. The church is one of the three bell towers of Saint Victor (born from the joining up of 3 hamlets, Saint Victor, Deyras and Navas). Its statue of the Virgin Mary dating back to 1886 is built on a plot of land belonging to a lady called Madame de l’Hermuzière who was a very important person in the history of the town of Annonay as she founded the convent belonging to the Ursulines order. Don’t miss the beautiful panorama of fruit orchards around you and the view overlooking the beginning of the river Daronne gorges.
PanoramaViewing point
Splendid view looking down into the intertwining Daronne GorgesThe footbridge of Saint Sorny
Installed in 2007, this footbridge enables you to cross the river Daronne. You are here, at the heart of l’espace naturel sensible (sensitive nature zone) of the river Daronne gorges. However this cable bridge is not the first one crossing the river as long ago, the villages of Colombier le Vieux and Saint Victor were already linked by a bridge used mainly by farmers going to the market to sell their produce. We can easily imagine their consternation when the original bridge was carried away by floods in 1963 !
FaunaThe secret nature of the Daronne Gorges
Only a few kilometres from the Rhône Valley discover the Daronne Gorges ; a secluded haven make it an exceptional site part of a zone recently labelled "Espace Naturel Sensible" (sensitive nature zone) by the county authorities. A walk full of surprises through this breathtaking, secretive valley being at the same time so close yet so remote. To make the most of this educational trail make sure you have the appropriate kit. So on with your walking boots ! Find details about the trail on site (kit can be purchased in our tourist offices).- Panorama
Viewing point
Splendid view overlooking the Daronne Gorges
Description
1 - Colombier le Vieux - 420 m Follow Bonnefond 4.3 km Deyras 6.8 km
Cross the square keeping to the small lane then continue ahead on a path taking you down to the river Daronne. Go across the river and up the path facing you. Careful ! the bridge is liable to flooding during periods of heavy rainfall making crossing impossible. Cross the D578, careful when crossing, onto the grass path facing you. After the houses continue ahead on the small road. At the following junction turn right and then follow the path ahead. Go up the other side and when you get to the road, go uphill to a path on the right. Carry on through fields and a little further on, follow the road taking the first path to the right.
2 - Bonnefond - 480 m Follow Deyras 2.4 km
Go back down onto the D578. Turn right and go along for a few metres before turning left to go through the farm Victouron. Go down the road then onto the tarmac lane on the left at the junction going past the house Payat. Carry on downhill and just before the house Cros turn left down through the field. Further down bear left, cross the stream and go up the path over the other side. Go past the path on the right and carry on uphill. Further up bear right and go along a field then past the house Sauzet. Cross through a big field taking you to a small road where you turn left and go uphill. At the following junction turn right taking you to the village of Deyras.
3 - Deyras - 470 m Follow Saint Sorny 3.5 km Colombier le Vieux 8.3 km
Follow the small lane taking you down to Méjon. After the house turn right onto the path going to the river Daronne. At the following fork turn left into the woods. The path, through woodland, starts off on level but quickly becomes quite steep and runs along the hillside. Go down to the river and cross the footbridge then turn left to discover the lovely hamlet of Saint Sorny situated in a loop of the river Daronne.
4 - Saint Sorny - 255 m Follow Chemin de Chatelet 350 m Colombier le Vieux 4.7 km
Keep to the main path until you come to the following crossroads
5 - Chemin de Chatelet - 280 m Follow Colombier le Vieux 4.3 km
Here go up the small lane and after the bend, turn left onto a track and carry on uphill. Follow this lovely track through chestnut, oak and Sylvester pine trees taking you up to the place called La Grange. Go through gates to cross through a field (don’t forget to close them behind you) then turn right and follow a lane.
6 - La Grange - 440 m Suivre Colombier le Vieux 3.1 km
Follow the road to the hamlet Palisse. Turn left and go through then follow a path through orchards to Chardon.
7 - Chardon - 420 m Follow Colombier le Vieux 1.4 km
Continue on the road.
8 - La Croisette - 418 m Follow Colombier le Vieux 600 m
Follow the small road to the left until you reach the village.
Cross the square keeping to the small lane then continue ahead on a path taking you down to the river Daronne. Go across the river and up the path facing you. Careful ! the bridge is liable to flooding during periods of heavy rainfall making crossing impossible. Cross the D578, careful when crossing, onto the grass path facing you. After the houses continue ahead on the small road. At the following junction turn right and then follow the path ahead. Go up the other side and when you get to the road, go uphill to a path on the right. Carry on through fields and a little further on, follow the road taking the first path to the right.
2 - Bonnefond - 480 m Follow Deyras 2.4 km
Go back down onto the D578. Turn right and go along for a few metres before turning left to go through the farm Victouron. Go down the road then onto the tarmac lane on the left at the junction going past the house Payat. Carry on downhill and just before the house Cros turn left down through the field. Further down bear left, cross the stream and go up the path over the other side. Go past the path on the right and carry on uphill. Further up bear right and go along a field then past the house Sauzet. Cross through a big field taking you to a small road where you turn left and go uphill. At the following junction turn right taking you to the village of Deyras.
3 - Deyras - 470 m Follow Saint Sorny 3.5 km Colombier le Vieux 8.3 km
Follow the small lane taking you down to Méjon. After the house turn right onto the path going to the river Daronne. At the following fork turn left into the woods. The path, through woodland, starts off on level but quickly becomes quite steep and runs along the hillside. Go down to the river and cross the footbridge then turn left to discover the lovely hamlet of Saint Sorny situated in a loop of the river Daronne.
4 - Saint Sorny - 255 m Follow Chemin de Chatelet 350 m Colombier le Vieux 4.7 km
Keep to the main path until you come to the following crossroads
5 - Chemin de Chatelet - 280 m Follow Colombier le Vieux 4.3 km
Here go up the small lane and after the bend, turn left onto a track and carry on uphill. Follow this lovely track through chestnut, oak and Sylvester pine trees taking you up to the place called La Grange. Go through gates to cross through a field (don’t forget to close them behind you) then turn right and follow a lane.
6 - La Grange - 440 m Suivre Colombier le Vieux 3.1 km
Follow the road to the hamlet Palisse. Turn left and go through then follow a path through orchards to Chardon.
7 - Chardon - 420 m Follow Colombier le Vieux 1.4 km
Continue on the road.
8 - La Croisette - 418 m Follow Colombier le Vieux 600 m
Follow the small road to the left until you reach the village.
- Departure : Colombier le Vieux - Market square
- Arrival : Colombier le Vieux - Market square
- Towns crossed : Colombier-le-Vieux and Saint-Victor
Altimetric profile
Information desks
6, place du 8 mai 1945 - BP 70019, 26601 Tain l'Hermitage
Access and parking
Follow the D234 from Saint Félicien to Colombier le Vieux
Parking :
Market Square
More information
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