Lozanne: Trails, Riverbanks and Local History

Lozanne brings together walking routes of different lengths, the landscape along the Azergues and a few traces of its history. For planning your trip, two routes are easy to distinguish: the 100-kilometre Tour des Pierres Dorées and the 7.5-kilometre Balad’Azergues. The Parc des berges de Lozanne adds a distinct feature along the river. This gives you a choice between a long circular route, a walking trail or a combination of scenery and local history for your stay.

Walking routes on different scales

The Tour des Pierres Dorées is a circular route designated as a GRP hiking trail. It starts and ends in Lozanne, is 100 kilometres long and passes through 27 municipalities in Beaujolais. The route thus combines a clear starting and finishing point with a regional itinerary. If you want to make a longer hike the focus of your trip, this is the more extensive option of the two routes described.

The Balad’Azergues is on a different scale: this 7.5-kilometre walking trail runs along the Azergues and connects Lozanne, Civrieux d’Azergues and Chazay d’Azergues. It is a signposted walking trail for families; information panels are located near each footbridge. These panels provide recurring reference points along the route. As route details may change, check the latest information about the Balad’Azergues before setting off.

Length and geographical scope are useful for comparing the routes: the Balad’Azergues covers 7.5 kilometres and connects three riverside municipalities; the Tour des Pierres Dorées is a 100-kilometre circular route through 27 municipalities in Beaujolais. This makes it easy to choose between a walking trail along the Azergues and a more extensive hiking route.

The banks of the Azergues and the recreation area

The Parc des berges de Lozanne is a 1.2-hectare area on the banks of the Azergues. Recreational facilities include wooden play equipment, a running track, a football field, a basketball court, boules and picnic facilities. The area brings together play, running, ball games and a place to stop for a picnic. The park has a different focus from the two routes; at the same time, both the park and the Balad’Azergues are connected to the Azergues, but in different ways: one is a riverside recreation area, the other a trail along the river.

A visible historical feature can also be found by the river: beside the present-day bridge, an old arch dating from the 12th century can be seen on the left bank behind the restaurant. The arch and the present-day bridge thus stand in one place, representing two very different periods of construction.

Traces from different eras

Remains of a prehistoric settlement were discovered in Lozanne, where weapons and tools were made. This archaeological trace adds another kind of local history to the visible buildings: here, the focus is on the remains of a place where objects were made.

A liturgical piscina dating from the 7th century is located in the church choir. A painting above the entrance portal is dated 1480 and was restored in 2010. These different dates provide distinct historical reference points in Lozanne, from the prehistoric site to a liturgical feature from the 7th century and the restored painting.

Discover more destinations: Condrieu, Vaulx-En-Velin, Saint-Pierre-de-Chandieu, Châtillon, Thel, Millery, Riverie, Saint-Martin-en-Haut.

For the regional travel overview: Rhône.