The Reculée de Gizia gives your stay a clear scenic focus: the valley is three kilometres long and ends in a reculée with 150-metre-high cliff faces. There is also a viewpoint, a circular walking route and historic buildings. You can therefore choose Gizia based on the focus of your visit: views across the valley and plain, a hike, or natural and cultural heritage.

Valley views and nature

From the Belvédère du Chanelet, you can see the entire Reculée, the village of Gizia and, in the distance, the Bresse Bourguignonne plain. The panorama thus extends from the valley and village to the plain. The viewpoint is located in a ZNIEFF and is protected by a biotope protection order. The Reculée is home to chamois, peregrine falcons and eagle owls. In Gizia, Saxifraga de Gizia is considered a plant unique in the world.

Hiking around Châtel

The PR® circular walking route Reculée de Gizia starts in the hamlet of Châtel in Gizia. It is 6.1 kilometres long, takes about two hours and is considered easy. For planning your day, its length and approximate walking time provide a concrete guide; check local trail conditions before setting off. The route covers geology, history and heritage, as well as nature. These themes complement the details on length and duration by giving you another point of reference when choosing a route.

The route from Châtel leads to the Belvédère du Chanelet. It passes the church and town hall, then follows the river for 250 metres along the D 134. This gives you different points of reference when deciding: the viewpoint focuses on expansive views, while the circular route is described by its length, approximate duration and thematic highlights.

Church and former uses

The Église Saint-Etienne de Châtel was under the authority of the Priory of Châtel, which was founded by monks from Gigny. It appears to have been built in the late 15th or early 16th century. In 1780, a bell gable was added in place of the former bell turret on the wall. Since 23 August 2013, the entire building has been listed as a Monument historique by decree. A park and gardens surround the monastery and the Église Saint-Etienne de Châtel.

The timeline distinguishes between the presumed construction period, the later alteration and the listing as a Monument historique: the construction date remains tentative, 1780 marks the change to the bell structure, and the listing dates to 2013.

The river also points to an earlier use: along its entire length, it is accompanied by canals that supplied water to seven mills as far as Cousance. These mills add a distinct perspective on the use of the river to the history of the monastery and church.

Discover more destinations: Chaussin, Villechantria, La Tour-Du-Meix, Montigny-lès-Arsures, Bellefontaine, Villerserine, Moirans-En-Montagne, Rochefort-Sur-Nenon.

For the broader travel overview: Jura.