The heights of Vienne by small roads for wet days

A hike that almost exclusively uses small roads without traffic, providing a route where the paths are not an option.
We start in Vienne and experience its panoramic views of Notre-Dame de Pipet and the Vienne hills with beautiful views of the Rhône Valley and the Pilat massif at the bottom.
The return journey takes you through the homes on the Vienne heights while maintaining good views of the Viennoise hills.

Technical sheet

4098745
A Vienne (Isère) walk posted on 16/01/16 by LB_Neil. Last update : 23/03/16
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.44 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 210 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 205 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 390 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 186 m

Description

Park in the free car park on the edge of the D538 (Montée Saint-Marcel to Vienne) at number 51 (new building).

(S/F) Head down the D538 to Vienne town centre for about fifty metres. At the traffic lights, leave the D538 to take a slight right uphill along a small road (Chemin de l'Octroi Oest) towards the Pipet viewpoint and the Delay nurseries.

At the end of the lane, take Chemin de Pipet to the left towards the Pipet viewpoint. Continue on Chemin de Pipet for 400 m, then when borders the cemetery, slightly left towards the Pipet viewpoint. Go up to the viewpoint, enjoy the views over Vienne, the Rhône Valley and the Pilat massif.

Retrace your steps, and arrive at Rue Pipet, then continue on the right. Immediately after this, turn right at a right angle, and take a paved staircase (Chemin des Amoureux). At the bottom of the stairs, cross the D538 (Montée Saint-Marcel), follow the small road opposite that goes to the right (Montée des Tupinières).

After a 400 to 500 m climb, just after number 23 (2), follow a hairpin turn right and take the first small street that descends sharply (Montée Beaumur). Downhill, the street takes at right angled turn to the left and along the old odeon forum.

Turn left at the first street corner to continue following Montée Beaumur (just after the opening of the wall surrounding the forum (works)). At the next junction, turn slightly left to take Chemin Coupe-Jarret.

Continue to head uphill, pass the hairpin bend on the left, 25 m away, completely turn around in a hairpin bend on the right to take the tiny lane uphill called Grapillat de Coupe Jarret (3).

Upstairs, reach Chemin Coupe-Jarret and follow it for 20 metres, then immediately turn right on Chemin de la Corniche (4). Continue on this path with its changes of direction and slopes, and its beautiful views of the Rhône valley to the south and over the Pilat massif.

At the top of the Chemin de la Corniche, at the crossroads, turn right onto Chemin des Murieux. At the next junction, turn to the left onto Chemin des Centaures. Follow this slightly tortuous path that makes a wide curve to the left. At the end, at the intersection with Chemin de Charvanay, turn right and follow this road for 200 m to reach Chemin de Coupe-Jarret ahead. Pass the Viennoise horse club of Les Charmilles.

Continue on this road for 250 m and take the first left, on Montée des Grands Prés (5). At the next Y-junction, follow the main road on the right (Chemin de Beauregard), which offers sweeping views of the Viennoise hills for almost 1 km.

(6) Take the first right (dead end), Chemin de la Musardière, for 100 m. Where the paved road ends, continue straight through the path downhill ahead. At the bottom of the road, turn to the left on Chemin des Cirelles and follow it to its end.

At the end, turn right on Chemin de Beauregard (7). Follow it for about 500 m, then take the first road on the right, Chemin Passardière (8). Head down until you reach the D538 (Montée Saint-Marcel). Turn left (note that there is only one pavement on the right side of the road) and down to find the starting point (S/F).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 238 m
  2. 1 : km 1.06 - alt. 236 m - Crossroads, Rue de Pipet - Chemin des Amoureux
  3. 2 : km 1.65 - alt. 228 m - Crossroads, Montée des Tupinières - Montée de Beau
  4. 3 : km 2.8 - alt. 239 m - Crossroads, Montée Coupe-jarret - Grapillat
  5. 4 : km 3.08 - alt. 281 m - Crossroads, Chemin Coupe-jarret - Chemin de la Cor
  6. 5 : km 6.24 - alt. 382 m - Crossroads, Chemin Coupe-Jarret/Montée Grand Prés
  7. 6 : km 7.36 - alt. 360 m - Crossroads, Chemin de Beauregard - Chemin de la Mu
  8. 7 : km 8.24 - alt. 330 m - Crossroads, Chemin des Cirelles - Chemin de Beaure
  9. 8 : km 8.67 - alt. 292 m - Crossroads, Chemin de Beauregard - Chemin de la Pa
  10. S/E : km 9.44 - alt. 239 m

Useful Information

Grapillat: You understand that this word translates steep slope.

No special equipment needed, just a good pair of running or walking shoes.
Bring water, no supplies are available on the route.

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

During the walk or to do/see around

The passage through Esplanade de Notre-Dame de Pipet is optional (return by the same route). However this is an opportunity to discover a beautiful view of Vienne and its surroundings, to understand the structure of the city, discover the Odeon forum... A map and an information panel help you properly locate yourself and get some historical information.

The ancient Theatre, built between 40 and 50 AD has steps with their back to Pipet hill. It was abandoned and the crumbling stones of this monument were reused for many centuries to build houses on the remains of the theatre. The stands have a capacity of about 13,000 people. The theatre was used for performances of all kinds, but also for civic or official gatherings. In 1834, archaeologist Claude-Delorme Thomas convinced the inspector general of historical monuments at the foot of the Pipet hill were remains that were like those of a Roman theater and not those of an amphitheater. It was not until the excavations between 1908 to 1938 to identify and restore the monument.

The Odeon: it was long thought that the ruins visible on the north side of the hill belonged to a theatre. A block of marble bearing the inscription ODEV (Odeon) was discovered in the ruins, identifying the function of the building. This inscription is to date the only one known throughout the Roman world. Excavation of the odeon was discontinued. The odeon is a construction of Greek origin. An Odeon is usually in the form of a small, covered theatre. These small buildings were intended for singing performances (ôdè = singing in Greek), concerts and readings. The presence of a roofing provided better acoustics. They were often richly decorated. Only two odeons are known in Roman Gaul: Lyon and Vienne. This was discovered in 1973.

The Chapel of Notre-Dame de Pipet, a holy place consecrated by the Viennois to the Virgin Mary, materialised in 1860 with the inauguration of a statue in Volvic stone, then by the construction in 1873 of a pilgrimage chapel in honour of Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette;

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