The chapel of La Salette - Beaujolais Vert - Joux

You'll love:
• A complete, athletic trail, lightly paved with some elevation gain. Before setting off, prepare for a 1.5-2 hour gradual climb to the GR®7. At Moulin Lafay, redouble your efforts to tackle the last, steepest kilometers.
• The beauty of the landscapes and the wild nature. Around Joux, the Tarare mountains are steep, the mountain uninhabited. Here, the forest, the sound of rivers, and birdsong reign.
• The Saint-Cyr-de-Valorges pond, nestled on the edge of the woods.
• Two great panoramas: around Croix Armide, where the landscape runs from east to west, with the Alps on one side and the Forez on the other. Further on, from the chapel, admire the plunging view of Joux.

You'll enjoy it best:
• In any season. The mountain views are most admirable in winter, when the mountains emerge from the sea of clouds under pure blue skies. Bring binoculars!
• Outside of the warmer months, the GR®7 is windy. Wear suitable clothing and footwear for trekking on stony and muddy paths in places.
• Sit down at a picnic table by the Saint-Cyr pond or in the picnic area for a midday snack. Save dessert for a relaxing break on the way back to the chapel.
• While strolling through Joux, discovering its unusual heritage.

A bit of culture:
Joux seen from the Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette chapel
The building has watched over the village for nearly 150 years. Research conducted by the conservation association created for its preservation reveals that it was built to protect soldiers engaged in the Franco-German conflict of 1870.
From the chapel, the view sweeps over the village and is drawn towards the dam and the castle. One can also see the unique layout of Joux, which was surrounded by a rampart walk in the Middle Ages.
The castle is best admired from the exterior as it is privately owned. The first mention of its existence dates back to the 11th century. Since its origins, it has belonged to two families and has always been inhabited. Located off-center from the village, the dam is a reminder of the once-prosperous textile industry in theTurdine Valley. It supplied the factories with water. With very little limestone, this water is now used, in particular, for brewing beers.