Hike around Lac de Nantua
Last spring, I went on a hike in Nantua, a small town in Ain located between Bellegarde-sur-Valserine and Bourg-en-Bresse: I walked a loop around the lake (Lac de Nantua), first going along the cliff above it, then coming back following the shore.
Here is a map of the path I walked (download KML):
In the morning, I took a LIHSA bus (line 22) from Annecy to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine. I had to wait for a bit for the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regional bus (line 36) to Nantua. I got off near Lac de Nantua, which was covered with a thick fog. I took a few pictures then started on the hike by going up below the cliff on the north side of the lake. At first, I took a trail I found on Open Street Map: I arrived at a rockfall protection structure. There was not really a path there and I had to wade through a dense bush to find a trail. I then kept going up. It was muddy at times. Finally, I arrived on the plateau above the cliff (Barre des Fècles). There was a first viewpoint with a great view on Nantua, the Viaduc de Nantua going into the Tunnel de Chamoise and the Monts d’Ain on the other side of the city. I then arrived at the Belvédère de la Colonne, which refers to an unstable rock that was destroyed in 1973. There was a great view on the lake from there. I kept going along the ridge, which offered many other viewpoints. I arrived a the Plateau de Don then went down to Montréal-la-Cluse on the west side of Lac de Nantua. I ate lunch in a park near the lake then took the way back along the south shore. It is a one-way street with little car traffic. Finally, I arrived back in Nantua and completed the loop. I walked around the town and visited the Eglise Saint-Michel then went to take the bus. Instead of waiting a few hours for the same bus I took in the morning, I first boarded a bus to Ambérieu-en-Bugey, then a direct train to Annecy.
Above, thick fog in the morning, seen from the promenade on the east side of the lake.
Above, the fog started lifting pretty quickly.
Above, on the way to the trailhead.
Above, it goes between those 2 buildings.
Above, empty area.
Above, Barre des Fècles.
Above, bush at the rockfall protection structure (merlon de protection).
Above, finding a trail.
Above, tires to handle rockfall shock.
Above, view of the lake. The fog had totally lifted.
Above, Chemin des Gardes.
Above, dead bird.
Above, muddy trail.
Above, on the plateau above the cliff.
Above, Viaduc de Nantua and Monts d’Ain above.
Above, the town of Nantua.
Above, Roche Merveilleuse.
Above, the trail continues along the side of the cliff.
Above, French flag at the Belvédère de la Colonne.
Above, at Belvédère de la Colonne.
Above, Barre des Fècles.
Above, Lac de Nantua.
Above, Monts d’Ain.
Above, the cliff is very unstable and those structures are for measuring how much it moves.
Above, this rock slowly slides down the mountain.
Above, the rockfall protection structure I passed through in the morning.
Above, in Plateau de Don.
Above, viewpoint (belvédère).
Above, a town called Port at the west end of Lac de Nantua.
Above, Plateau de Chamoise.
Above, on the way down to Montréal-la-Cluse.
Above, fresco in Montréal.
Above, Parc de la Cluse.
Above, Lac de Nantua from the west.
Above, the cliff below Plateau de Don.
Above, Barre des Fècles.
Above, baby coots.
Above, on the way to Nantua.
Above, the path follows the train tracks.
Above, sailing club.
Above, Belvédère de la Colonne.
Above, a stone from the Colonne.
Above, Hommage aux Déportés de l’Ain.
Above, it was very windy.
Above, Monts d’Ain.
Above, towards the town center.
Above, Eglise Saint-Michel.
Above, two angry dogs at a window.
Above, near the bus stop in Nantua (Médiathèque).
Above, at the Ambérieu-en-Bugey train station.