Yenne Balcony Trail

Ideal walk to discover sceneries of the Rhone River with three viewpoints over the Balme Bridge, the Rhone Defile, the Chartreuse Fortress of Pierre Châtel and the plains of Ain. Easy itinerary. Duration : 3 to 3:30 hours. Starts from Yenne.

The path, which is none other than the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, rises quietly in the shade of the boxwood-dotted forest. Arriving at Notre-Dame de la Montagne, the first lookout, with its reading table, offers a splendid view of the gorge. Watch as the Rhône winds its way under the suspension bridge. It may look like a wise man, but a chapel is not too much to ask for protection from devastating floods! The path continues on to two other lookouts, from which you can admire the gorge and former navigation posts on the Rhône: the 13th-century Carthusian monastery of Pierre-Châtel and the 19th-century military fort. A little further on, contemplate the plain where the river takes all its ease. Continue on to the Croix de Chevru and you've reached the highest point of your tour. You can then descend to Yenne via the traditional hamlet of Chevru.