Tossiat: Hiking Trails, Cycling Routes and Heritage

Tossiat combines named hiking and cycling routes with a specific historic village setting. When planning your trip, you can choose between the GR®59 long-distance hiking trail above the village, mountain biking loops through Tossiat, and a circular route with a stated distance and duration. Local points of interest also include the Church of Saint-Marcel and the Lavoir de la Chanaz. Saturday is also market day in Tossiat, with local producers. This gives you several distinct themes to consider when planning your stay.

Distinguishing between hiking and mountain biking routes

The GR®59 long-distance trail, “Des Vosges au Jura,” runs over the hill above Tossiat. For mountain biking, two other named options are relevant: Loop No. 21, “Vignoble du Revermont, tour de Gravelles,” passes through Tossiat, as does Loop No. 23, “Entre vignoble et gorge du Suran.” The numbers help you distinguish between the two cycling routes when planning. The routes differ both in mode of travel and in their paths: the GR®59 runs over the hill above the village, while the mountain biking loops pass through Tossiat. Route details may change, so check them before setting out.

A hike with a stated distance and duration

Another hiking option is the Circuit de la Chanaz circular route. It starts in Tossiat, is 3.3 km long and is described as a one-hour hike. Its distance and duration give you two concrete points of reference for planning your time. The route therefore helps with a different planning question than the GR®59: for the Circuit, the distance and duration are stated, while the long-distance trail’s connection to the area is its route above Tossiat. If you would like to choose a hike with a clear time frame, you can assess the Circuit using these details.

Saint-Marcel: architectural features, frescoes and altar

The Church of Saint-Marcel brings together several specific details of architectural and artistic history. The choir, nave and façade date from the 15th century. These terms refer to different parts of the church while placing them in the same century. The church also contains an 18th-century high altar made of gilded wood. In the former Chapel of Saint-Sébastien inside the church, there are wall frescoes depicting an Annunciation and heads of apostles, dated to 1417. The architecture, wall paintings and altar thus offer different points of interest within the same building.

The washhouse and market as other local points of interest

The Lavoir de la Chanaz is an emblematic village washhouse in Tossiat, at the foot of the Revermont. This named village landmark complements the routes and the architectural history of Saint-Marcel. Saturday is also market day in Tossiat, with local producers. If you would like to include this in your stay, take the day of the week into account when planning. This means your options encompass not only outdoor activities and architectural history but also a local feature tied to a specific day.

Discover more destinations: Tramoyes, Malafretaz, Neyron, Priay, Bellegarde-Sur-Valserine, Biziat, Villebois, Dagneux

For the broader travel overview: Ain.