Champoly: Medieval fortress and hiking trails

Champoly combines medieval history with opportunities for hiking and mountain biking. The Château des Cornes d’Urfé is the village’s landmark; marked hiking trails and starting points for the Espace VTT-Bois Noirs offer different ways to plan an active stay. For hiking options, specific details about distance, difficulty, elevation gain and duration can help, while the Cascade de Corbillon has its own access requirements.

The Château des Cornes d’Urfé

The Château des Cornes d’Urfé is a medieval fortress and is considered Champoly’s landmark. The fortress stands at an altitude of 930 metres and was built mainly between the 12th and 14th centuries. It was the first documented residence of the Raybe d’Urfé family. The site thus connects a clearly defined construction period with the family’s history.

The keep, the fortress’s main tower, offers a 360-degree panoramic view. There is also an orientation board there. The building, view and board each offer a different perspective on the Château: it is a historic site and a practical point of reference for visiting Champoly.

Hiking routes and choosing a tour

The marked hiking routes in Champoly start at Place de la Fontaine. Route No. 23, “le Bois des Côtes,” is listed as 15 kilometres long, with 398 metres of elevation gain and a duration of 3 hours and 30 minutes; it is rated moderate. This combination of distance, elevation gain, difficulty level and duration provides several points of reference for planning a hike. Check local trail conditions and signage before setting out.

Les Fialins is a 2.4-kilometre hiking route in Champoly and is suitable for beginners. It is therefore considerably shorter than moderate Route No. 23. Another 2.4-kilometre loop is developed for hikers and marked “cascade”; it leads to the Gorges de Corbillon, their waterfalls and the Gour Dodu. Despite being the same length, the two short routes differ in their stated destinations: Les Fialins is rated suitable for beginners, while the loop leads to the Gorges and the Gour Dodu.

The Cascade de Corbillon

The Cascade de Corbillon is one of the places recommended for discovery in Champoly. Access is via a 400-metre-long, steep path with a handrail; the path is narrow, steep and slippery. Sturdy footwear is required. Check local conditions before setting out. The details for the marked loop to the Gorges de Corbillon describe a hiking route to the Gorges, their waterfalls and the Gour Dodu; access to the Cascade de Corbillon has the specific trail conditions stated here.

Mountain biking in Champoly

Champoly also offers starting points for mountain bike rides: the Espace VTT-Bois Noirs is an FFC-certified mountain biking area. This provides a distinct type of tour alongside the hiking routes described above. Check current trail conditions and signage before setting off so you can adapt your plans to the local conditions.

Discover more destinations: L'etrat, La Tuilière, Saint-Priest-La-Vêtre, Rive-De-Gier, Unieux, Le Coteau, Saint-Régis-Du-Coin, Saint-Julien-D'oddes.

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