Hiking "Lakes and swamps of St Jean de Chevelu"

Let yourself be tempted by the educational ramble of the lakes and swamps of St Jean de Chevelu. A family walk to discover the 2 small lakes of Chevelu and their natural surroundings. Easy walk. Duration : 3 hours. Starts from the car park of the leisure centre in St Jean de Chevelu.

The signs describe the birth of the lakes, their conservation and management, as well as the ancient use of the marshes and their close relationship with the vines planted all around them and exploited very early on by the clerks of the old strongholds.
The route passes through a number of hamlets, woods and meadows.

The birth of the lakes:
The two small Chevelu lakes are nestled in a small basin between the Lierre mountain and the Mont de la Charvaz. They were formed when part of the Dent du Chat collapsed following the retreat of the last Würm glaciers. This collapse is thought to have created a dam giving rise to a lake. Initially a single lake, the basin gradually filled in and split into two smaller lakes. They are relatively small (6.4 and 4.4 ha) and no more than 8 m deep. Together with the surrounding marshes, springs and streams, they form a natural basin with high added value.

Departure - From the base de loisirs des lacs 304 m, follow the D210e to the school, then "St-Jean-d'en-Bas".
1/ Turn left on a path bordering the marshes of the Chevelu lakes. An out-and-back path leads to a lookout overlooking the lake basin.
2/ The itinerary then climbs gently upwards, then returns to a local road to reach Château de Bergin.
3/ Then follow the Billième vineyard slopes to the "Madone" oratory.
4/ The return journey crosses fields and then the woods of Mont de Lierre.
5/ At the end of the woods of Lierre, follow the road that joins the D210 overlooking the Chevelu lakes to the departure parking lot.