The Signal - Monts du Lyonnais - Saint-André-la Côte

At Le Signal, the iconic summit of the Monts du Lyonnais, discover an invigorating trail through meadows and open panoramas of the Alps, Forez, and the Rhône Valley. Here, livestock farming shapes the landscape, punctuated by views of hilltop villages.

You'll love:
• The Signal site, an iconic high point in the Monts du Lyonnais, located at 934 meters.
• An invigorating trail featuring mosaics of meadows interspersed with hedges against a backdrop of open landscapes overlooking the Forez, the Alps, the Rhône Valley, and more.
• A section of the Monts du Lyonnais with average altitudes of 750 to 800 meters. Market gardening and fruit growing here gives way to the predominance of livestock farming.
• The panoramas: at the end of Rue de l'Église in Saint-André-la-Côte, facing the Alps, then between Saint-André-La-Côte and Brûle-Fer, the bird's eye view of the village of Riverie.

You'll enjoy it better:
• A very windy, open trail: bring warm clothing and pack binoculars.
• Enjoy the reward of Le Signal, 2 km before the finish, a well-deserved break to savor the last drops of coffee from the thermos overlooking the Alps.
• In summer, walking at night during an organized outing with friends, well equipped with headlamps.
• During the Bastille Day celebrations on July 14th, to admire the fireworks throughout the surrounding region upon returning from the hike.

A bit of culture:
Le Signal, a story that begins under Louis XV. The geographer François Cassini de Thury was commissioned by the Academy of Sciences to create the first map of France by calculating the distances between the various characteristic points of the Kingdom: cities, villages, communication routes, etc.
From the top of Le Signal, between 1758 and 1761, he took measurements to draw the map of Lyon. His work subsequently served to develop the first General Staff maps. In 1945, a boundary stone was erected there. The IGN uses this point as a basis for producing its 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 scale blue series maps.
Dedicated signage on the site presents the history of this unusual geographical heritage. A panoramic walkway, a green amphitheater, and dry toilets also allow visitors to enjoy the area.