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Bike tour : Hills and heritage of Bourbre

Bike tour : Hills and heritage of Bourbre_Val-de-Virieu
Bike tour : Hills and heritage of Bourbre
Bike tour : Hills and heritage of Bourbre_Val-de-Virieu

Description

Starting from Val de Virieu, cycle through the Bourbre valley. Climb up to discover panoramic views all the way to Mont Blanc and admire the historical heritage as you pass by the Château de Virieu.

Start / return (parking):
- Train station of Virieu sur Bourbre (Val de Virieu)

Take the train to Val de Virieu and embark on a varied tour. The route begins along the Bourbre Valley, on a flat road with no major difficulties. 3km after your departure, turn right to admire the neo-Byzantine church of Chassignieu.

A few kilometers later, you will cross the D73 to begin a 5.5km climb with 250m of elevation gain. At the start of this climb, before passing through the village of St Ondras, you can stop at the Lapérousse mill, a recently renovated 19th-century relic.

The climb continues until you reach an altitude of over 600m at the Vivier pond, a popular spot for anglers. You will then remain at around 600m altitude for 7km until you arrive at the Château de Virieu. Don't hesitate to stop there, as well as at the adjacent clog museum (see their website for opening times). Finally, you'll descend back to Val de Virieu via a short but steep one-kilometer descent that requires careful handling.

Once back in Val de Virieu, take the opportunity to stop for a tasting at the Bigallet distillery or enjoy a delicious meal at La Guinguette.

Technical Information

Racing biking
Difficulty
Easy
Duration
1h45mn
Dist.
23 km
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Altimetric profile

Starting point

Gare SNCF , 38730   Val-de-Virieu
Lat : 45.491285Lng : 5.47223

Points of interest

image du object

Virieu Castle

Built in 1010. Military heritage and french gardens characterize this monument which offers visitors some beautiful rooms : you would particularly enjoy Louis XIII's room, the medieval kitchen, the XVIIe chapel and the peculiar dunjeon.Come and discover the Virieu's castle during a one hour visit with our team of tour guide. You will start your visit in front of an impressive entrace door with 2115 original nails, topped by its pediment, bearing the Virieu coat of arms. Then, you will be in the castle's court of honor, just in front of its dungeon. You can see at your right the cannons offered by Louis XIII in 1622, placed under the arcade gallery in brick of Italian style. A few steps and you will be in the peaceful atmosphere of Virieu's chapel. Inside of it, you will discover the Way of the Cross sculpted by Stéphanie de Virieu at the age of 80. With a few steps under the gallery, you can access to the ancient kitchen, which now used as a dining room. You will discover the monumental fireplace with its low arch and its XIIIth century fireback, a souvenir of the ancient Chartreuse de la Sylve Bénite. You will also be able to appreciate its furniture before entering the Great Hall full of history. The King's bedroom, impressive and majestic room, called like that because the King Louis XIII slept there in 1622, has kept its original aspect and part of its furniture. You will then reach the White Room, which should have been a chapel. The visit touch to its end near the dungeon, which is now a memorial place dedicated to the Resistance during German's occupation from 1940 to 1944.

1245, Rue du Château Virieu 38730 Val-de-Virieu
- Office de Tourisme des Vals du Dauphiné -
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Additional information

Updated by

Office de Tourisme des Vals du Dauphiné - 13/11/2025
www.tourisme-valsdudauphine.fr/
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Environments

Mountain view
Panoramic view
In the country
Less than 10 minutes from a train station by bike
Less than 10 minutes from an SNCF train station by electric bike
Less than 10 min walk from a train station

Open period

All year round daily.
See opening hours of Pont-de-Beauvoisin tourist information center.

Type of land

Hard coating (tar, cement, flooring)

Topo guides and map references

Map references :
Bike map available free of charge at the Tourist Office Les Vals du Dauphiné

Data author

25 Place de la République 38480 Pont de Beauvoisin France

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Caution!
We have no information on the difficulty of this circuit. You may encounter some surprises along the way. Before you go, please feel free to inquire more and take all necessary precautions. Have a good trip! 🌳🥾