This trail is on the outskirts of Chambaran forest which was once a refuge for the famous smuggler Mandrin. Discover Château de Bressieux and the village of Roybon with original architecture.
Start at Marnans: head for Saint-Etienne-de-Saint-Geoirs, past the factory, then Château de Bressieux.
Continue on the D130B and turn left towards Combe de Vaux.
After Saint-Étienne-de-Saint-Geoirs, head for Saint-Geoirs-la-Barrière. Carry on to Izeaux via Plan.
When you arrive in Izeaux, head down towards to La Forteresse on the F73B towards Saint-Paul-d'Izeaux and Girin.
Continue towards Saint-Michel-de-Saint-Geoirs via les Fourcoules, then follow the Toutes Aures pass via Brion.
Finally, head for Roybon on the D156 and turn right on to the D156C towards Marmans and your starting point.
Technical information
- Activities
- Cycle sports, Signposted Cycling routes
- Target clientele:
- For experts / practiced
- Distance:
- 57 km
- Trail type:
- Loop
- Elevation gain:
- 1060 m
- Elevation drop:
- 1060 m
- Daily duration:
- 4h
Practical information
Good deals!
Chambaran mushrooms: Chambaran forest is famous for its mushrooms, especially around the Col de Toutes Aures. Main species include penny buns, horns of plenty, chanterelles and grey chanterelles. Of course, the best season is autumn, but some mushrooms grow earlier, such as the summer cep, which grows under oak and beech trees from June to September.
Nicolas Grandclaude, chef at Atelier Grandclaude in Marnans, is a big fan: "I love walking in Chambaran forest foraging for mushrooms. And I can serve them in my restaurant regularly, because I'm lucky enough to know gatherers who sell me their find. I use them in a range of recipes such as cream of mushroom soup, small biscuits and pan-fried penny bun mushrooms with parmesan and gravy. They give earthy flavours that are a regular feature of my autumn menu ".
History, culture and heritage
Roybon: the old town of Roybon charms visitors with houses decorated with pebbles, the pink brick Saint-Jean-Baptiste church and the statue of liberty. The village is the proud home of one of the replicas of Liberty Enlightening the World. It was a gift from Bartholdi to the Sainte-Romme family, Roybon notables who presided over local life until the beginning of the 20th century. To visit Roybon, pick up the Mémoire de Galets booklet at the tourist information centre.
Lake Roybon: very close to the village, Lake Roybon is ideal for a relaxing fun day out with beaches, playgrounds and picnic areas, all for free. Trout are released regularly for fishing which is authorised all year round, except on the first and third Friday of the month.
Our Lady of the Winds: a statue of the Virgin Mary is erected above Saint-Michel-de-Saint-Geoirs. During the Middle Ages, a fortified castle overlooked the village. The only reminder of its existence is the name of the place: Le Château. In 1954, a shrine of Our Lady was placed on the same site and was named Our Lady of the Winds: Notre-Dame-des-Vents.
Bressieux castle: base for one of the most powerful seigneuries of medieval Dauphiné, Bressieux castle is an important site in the province's history. Only the towers and pink-brick keep remain. There is a panoramic view of the Chambaran, the Bièvre and the Vercors from the top of the keep. A small museum in the village recounts human occupation of Bressieux, from prehistory to modern times. There is a model of the brick fortress when it was built.
A textile history: Saint-Siméon-de-Bressieux shelters a curiosity - the glass roof of the old Girodon silk factory. Built by a silk industrialist from Lyon, the two sections of the factory are linked by a glass roof. It employed nearly a thousand people until it closed in 1934.
Contact details & information
Office de Tourisme Terres de Berlioz
Getting here
- 38980 Marnans
Opening times
From 01/05 to 31/10.
Subject to favorable weather.
Prices
Free access.
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