From Lyon to Seyssel on the ViaRhôna
Day 1
63 km
Lyon → La Balme-les-Grottes
Start your journey gently from our Paulette partner agency, located in the heart of Lyon. The route begins along the banks of the Rhône, then winds through green spaces and lakes: Tête d’Or Park, Miribel-Jonage, Grand Large—perfect stops to breathe deeply and leave the city behind.
Following the Jonage Canal, you pass through Jons and gradually swap the urban for the wild. The landscape opens onto the Balcons du Dauphiné, with limestone cliffs and perched châteaux.
Arriving in La Balme-les-Grottes, you’re greeted by a dramatic mineral setting. If time allows, visit the caves—ranked among the seven wonders of Dauphiné—for a magical underground adventure.
Day 2
52 km
La Balme-les-Grottes → Groslée
Leave the cliffs behind and ride into rolling countryside, dotted with hamlets and open fields. Here, the pace slows, and a more rural, untamed atmosphere takes over. You’ll pass through Morestel, known as the City of Painters, then the time-frozen village of Quirieu, and Saint-Sorlin-en-Bugey with its medieval charm.
The route, a mix of greenways and quiet roads, meanders between hills and the bends of the Rhône. Your day ends in Groslée, nestled at the foot of the Bugey massif. Perfect for a riverside swim or a picnic with your feet in the water.
Day 3
35 km
Groslée → Belley
Today’s ride is shorter, but no less rich. You cycle through the Bugey, surrounded by cliffs, vineyards, and mountains.
The trail follows the Rhône’s curves on a peaceful greenway, now made easier by the Virignin footbridge linking Ain and Savoie.
The scenery becomes more Alpine, the light clearer and more vivid. Arriving in Belley, a modest but welcoming town, you’ll discover true Savoyard charm: farmers’ markets, quiet terraces, and local art de vivre.
Day 4
36 km
Belley → Seyssel
Final day—and what a finish. The route blends vineyard plains, charming small towns, and more athletic stretches over the Bugey ridges.
You ride through Culoz, then follow the Rhône past waterfalls, forested plateaus, and shimmering lakes. The river plays hide and seek with the landscape, and the mood becomes distinctly mountainous.
Then comes Seyssel, straddling both banks of the Rhône, between Savoie and Haute-Savoie. A peaceful border town, ideal for ending your bike adventure with a glass of Bugey white wine on a terrace, gazing at the peaks.