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Circuit of the Espace Naturel Sensible du Grand Birieux in St Marcel
1 alert on this circuit
Alerte visiteurs
Balisage défectueux, incidents / sécurité, conflits d'usage, dépôts sauvages ? : localisez et partagez le problème rencontré sur le dispositif d'alerte national depuis l'appli SURICATE ou via le site sentinelles.sportsdenature.fr/
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Description
A walking circuit between Saint-Marcel and the Espace Nature Sensible de l'étang du Grand Birieux. Don't forget your binoculars!
Close to the ViaRhôna and the Voie Bleue, the Dombes is also a great area for cycling, walking and horse-riding! It's up to you to choose your itinerary and your means of locomotion...
Breathe in, breathe out, you're in the Dombes.
Imagine the Dombes, land of a thousand ponds, as a festival of colors, scents and sounds. The deep blue of the water contrasts with the many greens of the vegetation. The intermittent concert of frogs is accompanied by the songs of wild birds. Sit back for a moment and watch the ballets on the calm waters of the ponds. The grey heron, master of the area, may even grace you with its presence!
So, what could be better than a stroll to visit and discover the Dombes in slow motion?
Technical Information
Altimetric profile
Starting point
Steps
Points of interest
Additional information
Environments
Lakeside or by stretch of water
Waterside
In the country
Village centre
Updated by
Dombes Tourisme - 16/10/2025
www.dombes-tourisme.com/fr/
Report a problem
Open period
All year round daily.
Contact
Phone : 04 74 55 02 27
Email : contact@dombes-tourisme.com
Website : http://www.dombes-tourisme.com/fr/
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Dombestourisme/
Type of land
Ground
Hard coating (tar, cement, flooring)
Guidebook with maps/step-by-step
Departure is from the church square.
Walk along the church and join the route de Birieux. Follow this road out of the village to the crossroads.
At the crossroads, go straight on towards Birieux. Follow this road for about 2.3km. It passes through typical Dombes landscapes of fields, pastures and small woods.
Continue straight on towards Etang Grand Birieux. The first vantage point from the thou is on the Etang Grand Birieux, on either side of the road, with impressive gatherings of birds depending on the season. Continue straight ahead.
Take the path on the right that leads to the observatory, then follow the path through a small wood to the village of Birieux. Continue as far as the junction with the D2 departmental road and cross it (take care!). Continue straight ahead.
At the signpost, turn right and follow the road, leaving the Poisolet pond on your left. After 700 m, take the dirt track on the right and follow it to the D2 road. Turn left and follow the D2. There's a beautiful view of Etang La Levée.
After approx. 700 m, turn right. Follow this road to the signpost.
At the Le Boillet sign, go straight on towards Etang Pinozan. Follow the dirt track alongside the pond and through a small wood.
At the Grand Bayet signpost, take the asphalt road to the right towards Etang Grand Bertin. Continue straight on to the crossroads. Turn left to return to the starting point.
Data author
