Nordic walking through the moors - Saint-Etienne-la-Varenne - Beaujolais

Between wild moors and preserved biotopes, this long, rugged trail invites you to a sporty and revitalizing walk. Along the trails, take a deep breath and perhaps encounter the Patou, guardian of the herds.

You'll love:
• A long and rugged trail, tailor-made for a sporty walk.
• The moors, open spaces for a nature retreat, oxygenating your body and mind.
• Privileged access to a biotope of wild beauty.
• A getaway to the lands of the Patou, the majestic guardian of the sheep that graze in the moors.

You'll enjoy it better:
• By respecting the Patou's work: do not approach it; if it comes, let it make sure, without petting it, that there is no danger.
• By leaving at dawn, in the cool morning air to gain altitude in time with the sun.
• Ideally, in mid-season, a symbolic time to take the pulse of the earth and renew your energy. • By raising your awareness of the beauty of the environment and participating in its preservation: keep dogs on leashes, stay on marked trails*…
• Keep binoculars handy and take a contemplative break in the silence of the moors.
*The moors are subject to a prefectural decree for biotope protection.

A bit of culture:
The moors of Beaujolais
Overlooking the wine-growing hillsides, the moors of Beaujolais cover 1,320 hectares located at high altitude in several communes around Saint-Étienne-la-Varenne. The soil is acidic, thin, and water is rather scarce. Dry grasslands and broom thrive in this open, sunny space. Due to its small size, the vegetation provides an uncluttered landscape. It provides shelter for many bird species. This fragile biotope is protected and listed as a Sensitive Natural Area. The preservation of the site as we see it is due to the presence of a shepherd and his flock of sheep. The maintenance of the moorland has thus revived the extensive and itinerant grazing activity as it was practiced in the past.