The Pont des Pierres connects Montanges and Confort, crossing the Valserine at a height of 80 metres. Within Confort, the Pont de Confort, designed as a pedestrian bridge, also crosses the same river.
Valserine and the landscape
The Valserine flows below Confort. At the Mêlée des eaux, the Valserine and the Semine meet. The confluence can be reached via the Sentier de Coz and is known as a popular spot among walkers. In October 2014, the Valserine became the first river to receive the Site Rivières Sauvages designation. The designated stretch runs from the springs to the Pertes and covers 46 of the river’s total 47.6 kilometres. Along this entire stretch, the river has a natural geomorphological functioning.
The Galerie du Pont des Pierres is located within the municipality of Montanges, on the border with Confort. It is part of both the Réserve naturelle régionale de la galerie du Pont des Pierres and the Natura 2000 site Galerie à chauves-souris du Pont des Pierres. The gallery is currently closed to the public for safety and quiet reasons. Check the latest visitor information before travelling.
Bridges and history
The Pont des Pierres was built in 1910 for the tramway connection from Bellegarde to Chézery. After being destroyed during the Second World War, it was rebuilt in concrete in 1954. At the time of its construction, it was considered the highest masonry bridge in the world. This timeframe is part of the structure’s history: it describes its reputation at the time it was built.
The history of the area also has a biographical side: Sœur Rosalie Rendu was born in Confort in 1786 and beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2003.
Hiking and cycling routes
The Voie du Tram is listed as a 19-kilometre out-and-back route, taking 6 hours and 30 minutes, with 1,118 metres of ascent. Information panels along the hiking route tell the story of the tramway. The La vallée de la Valserine hiking loop passes through Confort. It is listed as a moderately difficult 17-kilometre route, taking 5 hours and 30 minutes, with 252 metres of ascent. Compared directly, the routes differ by two kilometres in distance, one hour of walking time and 866 metres of ascent.
Dedicated mountain biking features have been installed along the section of the Voie du Tram between Lancrans and Confort. Another cycling route leads from Confort along a country road towards the Col de Menthières. The climb is 9 kilometres long, has 578 metres of elevation gain and an average gradient of 6.2 per cent. Various excursions in Confort are also offered on foot, on horseback and by bicycle. The town is also on the Way of St James to Santiago de Compostela.
Discover more destinations: Hautecourt-Romanèche, Montrevel-En-Bresse, Saint-Bois, Jassans-Riottier, Chazey-sur-Ain, Évosges, Crozet, Massignieu-De-Rives.
For the regional travel overview: Ain.
