The Croix de la Coche from Saint Baldoph through the chestnut wood

At the gateway to the city, take a breath of fresh air and nature on this hike that's accessible to all! Feast your eyes on a landscape that overlooks the valley and stretches from the Chartreuse to the Bauges.

The route begins on a small road, which you soon leave to take a path through the vineyards. Then, as you climb up through the undergrowth, you'll come across gaps that offer beautiful views of the village below. The return trip to the Mont-Charvais reading table is well worth it for the splendid view of the surrounding massifs, from the Chartreuse to the Bauges. Continue on to the imposing stone cross of La Coche. It was placed there by the ancients to mark the passageway ("coche" in Savoyard) that linked the villages of Barberaz, Saint-Baldoph and Montagnole around the mountain. You then take a narrow path along the ridge through the undergrowth, where the scent of boxwood accompanies you. At the exit, a surprise awaits you with a superb panorama of Mont-St-Michel, La Galoppaz and the Belledonnes. You cross woods, meadows and vineyards again, before returning to a more urban atmosphere and completing your loop.