Limony – Nature Trails on the Île de la Platière

Limony offers natural spaces, trails and historical traces as different starting points for planning your trip. The Île de la Platière is particularly distinctive: it encompasses Limony and is characterised by alluvial forests, natural meadows and the course of the Rhône. Discovery trails, circular routes and historical connections to the village give you different themes to shape your stay around.

The Île de la Platière and the Rhône Landscape

The Île de la Platière is classified as a Type I ZNIEFF natural area and encompasses Limony. The area has, among other designations, national nature reserve status and is classified as both a bird protection area and a Special Protection Area. Its landscape includes numerous Lônes, or side channels of the Rhône: some still carry water, while others have dried up. The inventory figures, updated on 12 June 2025, list 49 notable plant species and 30 notable animal species.

Since 2012, the Île de la Platière has had four discovery trails open to the public, with a combined length of more than ten kilometres. Safety conditions may affect some sections. The chain ferry that provides access to the first trail may be out of service when water levels in the Rhône or the Lônes are too high. Check the latest water-level-dependent access conditions before your visit.

Discovery Trails and Circular Routes

The Les Platières circular route runs between the hillsides and the wild banks of the Rhône. The interpretation trail “Le Rhône aménagé” follows its eastern section. The Le Montrond circular route runs from Limony through the Montrond valley to Charnas. It is 6.8 kilometres long and has 200 metres of elevation gain. The landscape is the main focus on Les Platières; the distance and elevation gain provide practical planning details for Le Montrond. Route conditions may change, so check them before setting out.

Historical Traces in Limony

A roadside relay station dating from Roman times is documented in the present-day centre of Limony. The Brèze archaeological site in Limony is associated with a villa dating from the High Empire to Late Antiquity. Limony’s church was remodelled in the 19th century. These local features therefore encompass Roman traces and later architectural changes, without implying a single, unified historical development.

The ferry “Bac à traille de Limony” is also part of the village’s history. It has been documented since the mid-16th century and was in operation from 1884 to 1915 and again from 1936 to 1962. It was discontinued in 1962; this historic ferry no longer exists today.

Winegrowing and Fishing

The hillsides of Limony are part of the Saint-Joseph wine-growing area. Limony has also been part of the Condrieu AOC appellation area since 1940. Alongside the Rhône landscape and the village’s historical connections, winegrowing is another aspect that helps define Limony.

A water-management assessment published in 2018 identifies freshwater fishing on the Limony as a leisure activity. If you plan to fish, check the local regulations currently in force beforehand.

Discover more destinations: Saint Basile, Berzème, Saint-Désirat, Les Vans, Le Plagnal, Arras-sur-Rhône, Lalouvesc, Pradons

For the regional travel overview: Ardèche.