This stage, the longest and hilliest of the entire route, crosses the Bugey massif, a southern foothill of the Jura. Unlike most of the ViaRhôna’s generally flat stretches, this section has real sustained false flats that call for somewhat better fitness.
Belley, birthplace of the gastronome Brillat-Savarin, and Yenne, a small wine village at the foot of the Grand Colombier (one of the hardest road climbs in France, covered separately on the site), punctuate this crossing of rural Bugey.
Arriving in Lyon, at the confluence of the Rhône and the Saône, marks a sharp break from the terrain crossed so far: the greenway enters the metropolis along landscaped riverbanks, offering direct access to the historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Indicative distance for this stretch.