Nonières: La Dolce Via, Tunnel and Village Church

When choosing a hotel destination in Nonières, the hiking and cycling routes offer just as clear a guide as the local cultural attractions. La Dolce Via provides an easy crossing; there is also a moderate mountain biking loop and a hiking route between Les Nonières and Saint-Julien-Labrousse. The tunnel and village church add specific architectural and cultural points of interest to this selection.

Hiking and cycling on a variety of routes

La Dolce Via du Cheylard aux Nonières (Belsentes) is an easy 8.10-kilometre crossing. The route is listed as having 229 metres of ascent and 35 metres of descent. These figures help you consider the route length and elevation gain together when planning your day: the ascent is considerably greater than the descent.

Before the tunnel, a 300-metre path on La Dolce Via leads to the centre of Les Nonières. It involves an elevation change. This turn-off connects the route description with a specific way to reach the village centre; include the extra distance in your tour plans.

Most of the La Dolce Via section has a soft Gore surface and is accessible to trekking bikes, mountain bikes and hikers. This section is therefore suitable for several ways of getting around. The surface information adds a practical description of the trail to the distance and elevation figures.

A shorter circular route is the Circuit du Bois la Roche – VTT FFC N°12 Bleu. It is 4.8 kilometres long, rated moderate, and has 197 metres of ascent and 200 metres of descent. Compared with the 8.10-kilometre La Dolce Via, the loop is shorter but has almost as much elevation gain. The ratings also differ: the crossing is easy, while the mountain biking loop is moderate. These details give you a concrete basis for choosing tours by length, route type and elevation gain.

The Circuit des deux villages – N°8 is another option for hikers. This 10-kilometre route runs between Les Nonières and Saint-Julien-Labrousse and includes 270 metres of ascent. It therefore differs from the other two routes in both length and the stated endpoints. If you are comparing different tours for your stay, you can use these figures as a guide when making your own plans.

Viewpoints and protected landscape

The Circuit du Bois la Roche – VTT FFC N°12 Bleu offers several viewpoints over the village of Les Nonières and its small wooded valleys. The loop thus combines its listed measurements with views of the village and landscape. It also passes through the Vallée de l'Eyrieux et ses affluents Natura 2000 site. The viewpoints and protected area are two distinct aspects of the same route: the former look out over the village and valleys, while the latter identifies the area the route passes through.

Tunnel and village church

The Tunnel des Nonières is near the hamlet of Les Nonières and is 320 metres long. It is the longest tunnel on La Dolce Via, is illuminated and is accessible year-round. Its length and lighting make it a clearly identifiable point on the route; the information about year-round access helps you plan when to visit.

The village church in Les Nonières is dedicated to Saint James the Lesser. This dedication adds a specific cultural point of interest to the routes and landscape. Together with the tunnel, it means there is more to choose from than just tours: you can plan your trip around hiking or cycling routes, or take an interest in the church and tunnel in their own right.

Trail conditions and routes may change, so check the latest conditions before setting out.

For the broader travel overview: Ardèche.