Nestling in its setting of greenery, Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez is surrounded by bare, wild peaks. You can follow numerous footpaths and trails to explore the area around the Carthusian monastery and the peaceful, varied natural surroundings.
Immerse yourself in the mysterious atmosphere of Les Roches de Marlin, a megalithic site composed of impressive rocks. Some are hollowed out by numerous small cavities. One of them, "the Singing Stone", with its characteristic elongated form, was apparently a pagan altar in ancient times...
On the way back, explore Jurieux Chapel. Built in the 11th century, it pre-dates the construction of the Sainte-Croix monastery, and it was recently restored. It is sometimes called "the Chapel of Madmen", apparently because of the evil influence of the nearby Marlin Rocks...
Stroll along the banks of the Couzon reservoir, one of the oldest dams in France. It was built between 1789 and 1812 to act as a back-up reservoir for feeding the canal that linked Givors to Rive de Gier, which has now disappeared. Its capacity is 1.5 million cubic metres and its surface area is 18 hectares. It is now used to supply Rive de Gier.
Set out from the areas around the former monastery, whose high bell-tower will always guide you on your way…
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