Discover Malleval: Gorges, Waterfall and Wine
Accommodation in Malleval
Malleval’s village centre is surrounded by wooded gorges known as the Gorges de Malleval. The local attractions and surrounding landscape offer different experiences: a viewpoint looks out over the village, a hiking trail leads to the Saut de Laurette waterfall, and another route runs through the Batalon gorges to the banks of the Rhône. When planning your visit, you can decide whether you are most interested in views, village trails, a hike or winegrowing.
Gorges, waterways and a waterfall
The Batalon is about nine kilometres long. It flows through Lupé and Malleval, where it is joined by the Épervier, before reaching the Rhône at Saint-Pierre-de-Bœuf. Near Malleval, the Saut de Laurette waterfall forms where the Épervier flows into the Batalon. The water cascades over the rocks amid wild, green surroundings. The waterfall is just a few minutes’ walk from the village centre; a hiking trail passes through the medieval village to its base. So, for a visit to the waterfall, you can choose between the short distance from the centre and the trail through the village.
Viewpoint and orienteering courses
The Belvédère de Malleval stands at an altitude of 283 metres on a bend in the D 79 and offers a view of the village. At the viewpoint, a picnic table can be reached via a paved path with a gradient of less than five per cent. The gradient information applies to this path to the table. You can plan the viewpoint as a stop in its own right, while the trail to Saut de Laurette passes through the medieval village to the waterfall.
The Espace sports orientation de Malleval offers four photo orienteering courses. They range in difficulty from green to black. Unlike a single hiking route, you can choose from four courses at different difficulty levels. Photo orienteering and the graded difficulty give this activity a different character from the trail to the waterfall or the hike along the Batalon.
Hiking to the banks of the RhĂ´ne
The “De Malleval à Saint-Pierre-de-Bœuf” route passes through the Batalon gorges and continues to the banks of the Rhône. Its stated destination sets it apart from the hiking trail to the base of Saut de Laurette: this route focuses on the gorges and the riverbanks. So when comparing hiking trails, the starting point in Malleval is not the only thing to consider—you can also choose between a waterfall near the village and a route all the way to the Rhône.
Vineyards and Domaine Pierre Gaillard
Domaine Pierre Gaillard is located above the medieval village and can be reached on foot from the village through the vineyards. The winery has a freely accessible educational trail covering different grape varieties and vineyard work in summer and winter. These topics make the trail a distinctive way to learn about winegrowing. Domaine Pierre Gaillard also offers tastings of Condrieu, CĂ´te-RĂ´tie and Saint-Joseph wines; check their availability before your trip.
If you are looking for hotels for a stay in Malleval, the different local attractions can help you plan your trip. The nearby waterfall and village trail offer a different focus from the hike to the RhĂ´ne riverbanks, the orienteering courses or a visit to the winery.
Discover more destinations: La Talaudière, Saint-Rirand, Aboën, Chavanay, Charlieu, Ambierle, Bussy-Albieux, Nervieux
For the main travel overview: Loire.
