Pralong: Basalt Landscapes and Trails at Pic Griot

Discover Pralong through its landscapes, hiking trails and local history. The Puy de Griot is known for its dry basalt grasslands; the Sentier découverte des 2 pics passes through an area with a wide range of themes. The Entre Ruillat et Pralong mountain bike loop is another option for planning a trip: it is longer and has a different difficulty rating than the hiking trail. The Church of Saint-Romain, with its historical significance, is another point of interest.

Basalt Landscapes and Views

The Puy de Griot is home to dry basalt grasslands, which the Conservatoire d'espaces naturels Rhône-Alpes has been managing since 2004. They are home to the Zygaena mannii, a turquoise Mediterranean moth found in the Loire only in these habitats. Basalt columns and dry grasslands can also be seen on the way to Pic Griot. Geological formations and dry habitats are therefore central to the natural landscape around Pic Griot.

A cross erected in 1933 marks a viewpoint with a 360-degree panorama over the plain and the Forez Mountains. At La Madone, an orientation table points out the Ruillat Valley, the Côtes du Forez vineyards, Champdieu and the Forez Plain. It thus identifies both landscape areas and places, offering a different perspective on the surroundings from the viewpoint over the plain and mountains.

Hiking the Sentier découverte des 2 pics

The Sentier découverte des 2 pics was created jointly by Champdieu and Pralong and can be started in Pralong, at the foot of Pic Griot. The trail is 10.92 kilometres long, rated easy and listed as taking approximately three hours. Its length, difficulty rating and estimated time help with different aspects of planning: the distance indicates the scale of the route, the rating its stated difficulty and the estimated duration the time required.

Along the trail, informative and interactive panels cover the local fauna and flora, as well as the history, culture, ecology and geography of the area. If you would like to learn more about the surroundings while hiking, these topics add context to the route. The trail leads to the protected basalt site of La Madone; basalt columns and dry grasslands can be seen on the way to Pic Griot. The orientation table at La Madone adds information about the valley, vineyards, Champdieu and the Forez Plain.

The Entre Ruillat et Pralong Mountain Bike Loop

For a mountain bike outing, the Entre Ruillat et Pralong mountain bike loop is a separate option. It is 19.5 kilometres long, rated difficult and marked with black VTT-FFC signs. By comparison, the Sentier découverte des 2 pics is shorter and designated as an easy hiking trail. The two routes therefore differ in type, length and stated difficulty. Local trail conditions can change, so check them before setting out.

The Church of Saint-Romain and Local History

The Church of Saint-Romain was first mentioned in writing in 1225. The parish was under the authority of the nearby Benedictine priory of Champdieu. This historical connection adds another perspective on Pralong alongside its landscape and trails: while information about the Puy de Griot and La Madone concerns nature and orientation, Saint-Romain is associated with the church’s first written mention and the parish’s ecclesiastical affiliation.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Bonnet-Le-Château, Saint-Cyr-Les-Vignes, Saint-Jean-La-Vêtre, Saint-Germain-Laval, Aboën, Mars, Changy, Régny.

For the overview of the wider region: Loire.