Chapareillan lies within the Hauts de Chartreuse Nature Reserve, in a landscape where hiking trails and vineyards are equally prominent. For planning a stay, it is useful to make a direct comparison: a 5.6-kilometre circular hike on the slopes of the commune, or a 21.3-kilometre stage of the GR®965. Other highlights include the Bellecombe viewpoint, historic traces of charcoal-making and insights into the wine-growing region.
Hiking: from a short loop to a long stage
The Bellecombette circular hike is 5.6 kilometres long, with an elevation gain of 171 metres. It runs along the slopes of Chapareillan and offers the chance to discover the vineyards of Savoie wines. If you would like to compare it with a longer hike, the GR®965 offers a very different distance: its fourth stage runs from Col de Marcieu to Chapareillan (Bellecombe) and covers 21.3 kilometres, with 731 metres of ascent and 1,121 metres of descent. The distance and elevation figures make the differences between a loop and a stage clear, without reducing the choice to a trail name alone.
The Hauts de Chartreuse Nature Reserve is accessible only on foot. However, specific closures must also be taken into account when planning a hike: the trail along the north face of Mont Granier, the direct access to the cross, and the trail to Pas de la Porte are closed for safety reasons. Check the latest notices before setting out, especially if your plans include any of these trails.
Panoramas and trails around Bellecombe
The Bellecombe viewpoint offers panoramic views of the Belledonne range, the Grésivaudan Valley, Mont Blanc and the surrounding Alpine massifs. On a tour, then, the focus is not just on distance and elevation gain: the viewpoint adds its own distinct landscape highlight. The fourth stage of the GR®965 leads to Chapareillan (Bellecombe); the route of this long-distance trail also passes the ruins of a castle.
For a multi-day hiking plan, accommodation in the hamlet of Bellecombe is also worth considering: accommodation is available there along the GR®965. Check specific availability before booking.
Wine-growing as part of the local landscape
Chapareillan is one of the five communes in Chartreuse Park that together encompass the entire wine-growing area of the Apremont and Abymes crus. Both crus belong to the Vins de Savoie AOC family, which has been a recognised controlled designation of origin since 1973. The Bellecombette loop offers a practical way to connect with this regional heritage, inviting visitors to discover the vineyards of Savoie wines. Hiking trails and wine-growing can thus be seen as two distinct, specifically documented aspects of the surrounding area.
Historic traces and visits
At an altitude of over 780 metres, the Sentier des Charbonniers leads to at least two former charcoal-making platforms or kilns. Information panels explain charcoal-making in the 1940s. The trail thus combines a hike with a tangible historical stop: the installations are former workplaces, while the panels explain the activities carried out there at the time. Along with the castle ruins on a stage of the GR®965, Bellecombe also offers points of interest for travellers who would like to include historic traces as well as scenery.
In Chapareillan, Nature en Bulles offers guided tours of its soap workshop by appointment. The associated artisan boutique features work by four other local craftspeople; the participating artisans may vary. If you would like to include this visit in your plans, make an appointment in advance.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Chasse-Sur-Rhône, Izeron, Vénérieu, Nantes-en-Ratier, Huez, Janneyrias, Biviers, Uriage-Les-Bains.
For the broader travel guide: Isere.
