Ozon: Wine Country, Hiking and Culture

Ozon combines a rural character with wine production, hiking trails and several cultural sites. Most of its vineyards belong to the Saint-Joseph Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée. The trails and sights offer different ways to plan your stay, from a challenging, longer circular hike to visits to the chapel and memorial.

Landscape and Hiking Trails Around Ozon

Le grand huit passes along the banks of the Rhône, vineyard slopes, plateaus and deep valleys. The circular hike starts at the Salle polyvalente d’Ozon above the village. At 18.0 kilometres, with 589 metres of ascent and 590 metres of descent, it takes six hours and is classified as difficult. These details give a clear idea of the time involved and the elevation changes along the route.

A shorter loop is Rives de l’Ozon: it is 11.2 kilometres long, starts in Arras-sur-Rhône and takes about three and a half hours. It is classified as moderate. The two circular hikes therefore differ in their duration, length and stated difficulty. Rives de l’Ozon passes through the wild, deeply cut Ozon valley, across the plateau and along the slopes of Saint-Joseph. Along the way, there are views of the Rhône Valley and the Alps.

The Passerelle de l’Ardennes is part of the Rives de l’Ozon route. The footbridge crosses the Ozon River between Sécheras and Éclassan and lies at a municipal boundary shared by Sécheras, Éclassan, Arras-sur-Rhône and Ozon. It was built to keep hikers safe on a path that was often impassable and dangerous in the rain. If you plan this loop, bear this rainy-weather condition in mind when navigating the trail.

Chapel and Memorial

The chapel in Ozon dates from the 11th century. The Order of the Monks of St Chaffre built it and dedicated it to the martyred soldiers Pierre and Paul. Originally, the chapel was part of a fortified village; as a medieval remnant, it is part of the area’s history. Parking is available nearby. Individuals and groups can visit with or without a guide, and admission is free. Visitor arrangements may change, so check the current visiting options in advance.

Another historic site is the memorial at Port du Roure in Ozon. The present-day monument is located about ten metres from the site where ten prisoners were executed. The approximate distance indicates the memorial’s location in relation to the historic event without equating the two.

Views and Regional Cuisine

Ozon has a viewpoint overlooking the Défilé Panoramique de St Vallier. The restaurant Le Panoramic in Ozon also offers views of the Rhône’s meanders, the Alps and the Vercors. The restaurant serves traditional and regional cuisine. Vineyards, river valleys and viewpoints thus offer different perspectives on the landscape that you can take into account when planning your days.

For a culture-focused visit, the chapel and memorial offer distinct places to explore. You can discover Ozon through hiking, landscapes and local history without combining these different themes into a single route.

Discover more destinations: Lemps, Coux, Alboussière, Laurac-En-Vivarais, Malarce-Sur-La-Thines, Borne, Privas, Les Assions.

For the broader travel overview: Ardèche.