Top 15 Mountain Passes around Saint-Didier-Sur-Beaujeu

The Col de Durbize is a mountain pass at 550 meters above sea level in the municipality of Chiroubles, in the heart of the Beaujolais wine region. The pass is located in the Massif Central and, as an important road junction (intersection of roads D26, D86, and D18E1), connects surrounding wine villages such as Villié-Morgon and Beaujeu. It is particularly popular with road cyclists and hikers for its panoramic views.

Beautiful pass at 736 m, quite gentle, 6.1% average. Nice to do by mixing with the 76 gravel hiking trail.

Several possible routes through the vineyards towards Villié-Morgon, notably via Chiroubles.

Col de Favardy alt 856m Departure from many trails

“Each of these crosses can tell its own story and what prompted people to erect “their” cross at this point. (...) These wayside crosses were erected as visible signs and attract the attention of many people. The cross is a symbol of life. It stands as a sign of our Christian hope and wants to direct our gaze to Jesus Christ, who has overcome death (...). The cross is part of our life as it was in the life of Jesus. So I wish that many people … visit the crosses, whether as places of stillness and breathing space before God, whether as places for community gatherings, prayer and praise to God.” (Text source: Dean Rainald M. Ollig in: “Crossroads. Small sacred monuments as a sign of popular piety")

Nice pass to do from the Azergues valley via St Nizier and the Col de la Croix Nicelle: until the Croix Nicelle the percentages are around 7/8% then the final flattens out. From Ranchal or from St Vincent de Reins via St Bonnet le Troncy, the climbs are less complicated but long because the pass is quite high at 862 m. The view at the top is non-existent but the forest atmosphere can be appreciable in foggy weather which gives it a mysterious atmosphere. Many gravel or mountain bike trails converge here and the GR7 passes by.

Nice pass to do from Claveisolles, St Didier sur Beaujeu, Marchampt, la Varenne. The hardest percentages are from Varenne which takes a very small road, very little frequented with a beautiful view of the vines. The other climbs are more regular turning around 5/6%. From Claveisolles we go up in a very pleasant little valley. The view at the top is mainly on the Azergues side. Note that a very pleasant little road goes in the direction of Chénellette or Vernay, we are alone in the world.

Nice pass to do from Lamure sur Azergues, Le Perréon, Le Papilloud (road of the ridges but you can climb from Vaux too). On the Lamure side, the view is absent but it is relatively hard with some good percentages. If you start from the Perréon you take the start of the Col de la Croix Rosier, magnificent... From the Papilloud the climb is very short but there is no shortage of views over the Beaujolais. At the top the view is not very present but the forest atmosphere is very pleasant, we enter the upper Beaujolais...