Niévroz: Circular Walking Trail, Pont de Jons and Cycling Route

Niévroz offers several specific points of interest for planning a trip: the municipal circular walking trail along the Rhône Canal, the Pont de Jons watersports centre, cycling connections, and topics related to water engineering and nature conservation. The trail distances provide a guide for planning a walk. Pont de Jons is also a key reference point for the watersports club and cycling connections. Other points of interest include a local memorial and the weir that regulates the flow of the Rhône.

Circular Walking Trail along the Rhône Canal

The municipal circular walking trail in Niévroz runs for about two kilometres along the towpath beside the Miribel Rhône Canal. This figure describes the section along the canal; the complete loop is eleven kilometres long and ends back in the town’s central square. The two distances answer different planning questions: about two kilometres refers to the section by the water, while eleven kilometres is the total length of the circular route. This distinction helps you plan the length of your walk.

Watersports at Pont de Jons

The Amicale Nautique des Sauveteurs de Niévroz is based at the Pont de Jons watersports centre. Founded in 1981, the lifeboat club offers a sport that is open to everyone and can be practised both recreationally and competitively. Watersports offer a different focus from the municipal circular walking trail. If you are considering taking part, check the participation requirements in advance.

Pont de Jons and the Rhône

The present-day Pont de Jons was built in May 1977. The Jons-Niévroz weir regulates the flow of the Rhône; construction began and ended between 1934 and 1937. The construction dates distinguish a specific month for the present-day bridge from a period for the weir.

The fish pass built by EDF is 300 metres long and comprises 32 pools. It enables fish to bypass the Jons-Niévroz weir and move freely along this stretch of the Rhône. Its length and number of pools describe different aspects of the structure: its overall extent and the sequence of pools. Its function adds the ecological movement of fish in the river to the topic of Rhône regulation.

Nature Conservation and Local History

Île de Miribel-Jonage is designated as an ENS and is part of Grand Parc de Miribel-Jonage, which is a Natura 2000 site. The designations apply at different levels: ENS for the island, Natura 2000 for the park. This natural setting complements the technical topics relating to the Rhône with designated protected areas.

A local memorial is the Arbre à Trésor, a hollow plane tree. A childhood tradition is associated with the tree: objects were placed inside it in the 1950s and 1960s. This links a specific place with a local tradition dating to a defined period.

Cycling from Pont de Jons

There are two cycling references to distinguish. The ViaRhôna is accessible in Niévroz at Pont de Jons. The 26.5-kilometre Anneau Bleu cycling route connects Pont de Jons with the centre of Lyon. The first reference identifies an access point to the ViaRhôna, while the second gives the length and destination of a cycling route. This provides different points of reference for planning: access to the ViaRhôna and the Anneau Bleu route to central Lyon.

Discover more destinations: Gorrevod, Brégnier-Cordon, Arbigny, Chanay, Giron, Maillat, Neyron, Ambérieu-en-Bugey.

For the main travel overview: Ain.