Violay is a mountain village in the Loire department of France, situated at the highest point of the Monts du Lyonnais. This region offers a diverse natural landscape characterized by mountainous terrain, forests, and streams, providing a scenic backdrop for outdoor pursuits. Its unique geographical position offers panoramic views that enhance activities across several sports like hiking, road cycling, mountain biking, touring cycling, and more.
Violay provides a wide array of outdoor activities, with more…
80
Routes
4.5
(53)
Average rating
520
People visited

5.0
(2)
13
riders
53.4km
03:52
1,160m
1,160m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

5.0
(2)
23
riders
67.2km
04:23
950m
950m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

5.0
(1)
11
riders
22.7km
02:14
580m
590m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

3.0
(2)
7
riders
24.6km
02:15
520m
520m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.
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4.7
(3)
32
hikers
13.8km
04:08
430m
440m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily walkable paths.

4.6
(8)
30
hikers
9.68km
02:49
250m
240m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily walkable paths.

3.5
(2)
8
hikers
11.3km
03:16
290m
290m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily walkable paths.

9
hikers
4.35km
01:14
100m
100m
Easy hike. Easily walkable paths.
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19
riders
65.6km
03:16
1,040m
1,040m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(1)
21
riders
57.1km
02:43
790m
790m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

12
riders
49.6km
02:24
640m
640m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

9
riders
82.8km
03:48
950m
950m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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5.0
(2)
15
riders
38.1km
03:49
990m
990m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required.

4.5
(4)
9
riders
34.6km
03:06
810m
800m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required.

5
riders
20.3km
01:57
470m
470m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required.

4.0
(2)
4
riders
53.5km
05:08
1,320m
1,320m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required.
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3.0
(1)
10
runners
12.9km
01:29
270m
270m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

3.0
(1)
7
runners
10.2km
01:15
300m
300m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

6
runners
8.67km
01:02
210m
210m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

5
runners
6.63km
00:48
200m
200m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.
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2
riders
26.1km
02:23
680m
670m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

5.0
(3)
2
riders
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

1
riders
Hard gravel ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

1
riders
20.4km
01:38
480m
480m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.
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Violay offers a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, road cycling, mountain biking, touring cycling, and jogging. The region provides a diverse natural landscape with mountainous terrain, forests, and streams. There are 51 routes available across these sports.
More than 4,000 visitors have explored Violay using komoot. The routes in Violay have an average rating of 4.51 out of 5 stars, indicating a high level of satisfaction among users. There are 426 ratings recorded for the region's tours.
Violay features marked hiking trails, including an "Espace trail Violay" and educational paths like "De l'Arbre au Bois" and "Entre ruisseau et forêt." These trails allow exploration of the diverse natural environment. For more details, consult the Hiking around Violay guide.
Yes, Violay is known as a "terre de VTT" (land of mountain biking), offering numerous circuits for mountain biking. The area also features a bike park for downhill VTT. Explore more options in the MTB Trails around Violay guide.
Violay caters to both road and touring cyclists with various circuits to discover. The region's diverse landscapes provide scenic routes for different cycling preferences. Specific routes can be found in the Road Cycling Routes around Violay and Cycling around Violay guides.
Violay is situated at the highest point of the Monts du Lyonnais, Mont Boussuivre (1004 m), offering extensive panoramic views. From this vantage point, it is possible to see up to 14 departments, including the Forez plain, the Monts de la Madeleine, and even the Alps. The Tour Matagrin further enhances the panoramic experience.
Yes, komoot offers several guides for Violay to help plan outdoor adventures. These include Hiking around Violay, MTB Trails around Violay, Road Cycling Routes around Violay, Cycling around Violay, and Running Trails around Violay.
The highest point in Violay is Mont Boussuivre, which reaches an elevation of 1,004 meters (3,294 feet). This peak is part of the Monts du Lyonnais and offers significant panoramic views of the surrounding region.
Violay provides various accommodation options for visitors. These include gîtes, chambres d'hôtes, and facilities for campers such as an aire de bivouac and a camping-car park. These options cater to different types of travelers and their preferences.
Information on tourism activities and sites in Violay is often available through the Mairie (town hall) of Violay. During summer, tourist information points may also be found at the Mairie or the Tour Matagrin. The phone number for the Mairie of Violay is 04 74 63 90 92.
Yes, Violay offers trails suitable for jogging and running. There are 12 jogging routes available in the region. For more information on these routes, refer to the Running Trails around Violay guide.

