Saint-Forgeux: Landscapes, Chapelle de Grévilly and hiking trails

Saint-Forgeux is rural, hilly and wooded. The Torrenchin flows through the commune; brown trout live in it. The village’s character includes the Chapelle de Grévilly and several trompe-l'œil murals. Two hiking trails differ in length, difficulty and connection to the surrounding area. These features give you an overview of whether you might consider Saint-Forgeux for its landscapes, the historic chapel or a particular hike. If you are looking for a hotel in Saint-Forgeux, you can first use this information to see how the destination matches your interests.

Landscape and watercourse

The rural, hilly and wooded surroundings shape the character of Saint-Forgeux. The Torrenchin adds a specific watercourse to the village landscape: it flows through the commune, and brown trout live in it. If you include natural features in your travel plans, you can take in the terrain, forest and river here together. The river is not just a name on the map, but a body of water in which a specific fish species is explicitly identified.

Chapelle de Grévilly and village details

The Chapelle de Grévilly is a historic point of interest in the village. Its origins may date back to the 11th or 12th century. In the 14th century, it became a Marian pilgrimage site; it is dedicated to Notre-Dame du Mont Carmel. Its history therefore includes a possible early origin and a later religious role. The approximate dating remains distinct from the pilgrimage history, which is placed within a specific period.

Another attraction awaits you in the village: several trompe-l'œil murals can be found in Saint-Forgeux. They add a distinct village detail to the chapel’s historical significance. If you are interested in different aspects of the village, you can explore both its religious history and these distinctive visual features, without treating them as having the same emphasis.

Comparing two hiking trails

The circular hike to the Chapelle de Grévilly is 7.9 km long, has 240 metres of elevation gain and takes 2 hours and 40 minutes. It is rated moderate. This means your planning can take more into account than just the distance: the elevation gain, stated duration and difficulty rating also describe the profile of this hike. If you are including a hike to the chapel in your stay, you can weigh up all these features together.

The Metal Bridge hiking trail is 5 km long and very easy for families and children. It follows the former tram route and passes the remains of the metal bridge. You can start the trail either in the village or at the stadium. You can take either starting point into account when planning your hike; the former route and the bridge remains also connect the trail to the village’s history.

Directly compared, the Metal Bridge trail is 2.9 km shorter than the circular hike to the Chapelle de Grévilly. The difficulty ratings differ too: very easy versus moderate. If you prefer a shorter hike connected to the former tram route, the Metal Bridge trail is the obvious option. The longer circular hike leads to the chapel and includes a stated duration and 240 metres of elevation gain.

Viewpoint and access

There is a picnic area and an orientation board at the viewpoint. You will find a place to take a break there, as well as a point of reference. Saint-Forgeux is accessible via the A89 motorway. The landscape, village history and different hiking profiles give you several ways to decide whether the destination fits your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: L'arbresle, Charly, Vourles, Sarcey, Courzieu, Saint-Fons, Chessy, Vaugneray.

Go to the main travel overview: Rhône.