For a trip to Savas, hiking and historical traces can be considered as two distinct focuses. The Tour du Mont Chaud leads to the ruins of Saint-Julien-en-Goye; the village church and commemorative plaque offer different points of interest. The hikes also differ in their profile: the distance, elevation gain and duration are given for the Tour du Mont Chaud, while the description of the Gourdan hike mainly highlights its route and views. When planning, you can first decide whether to focus on a specific time profile, a route through varied landscapes or historical themes.
Cultural history in the village and landscape
The former church of Saint-Julien-en-Goye was destroyed by Baron des Adrets in 1562. The Le Tour du Mont Chaud hike leads to its ruins, which offer a viewpoint. This combines a historic site with a hike; trail conditions may change and should be checked before setting out.
A different period of history awaits you in the village church of Savas: it houses a main altar and a reredos from the 17th century, both of which have recently been restored. A commemorative plaque in the centre of the village also remembers Paul Bourget. It was installed on 29 September 2002 on the house where his grandmother, Marie-Françoise Bouveron, lived. Together, these places represent different ways of remembering: the ruins of the former church, the furnishings of the village church and a personal connection marked by the plaque.
Hikes with different profiles
Le Tour du Mont Chaud is 8 kilometres long, has an elevation gain of 230 metres and a stated duration of 2 hours 30 minutes. These three key details help you assess the hike in terms of time and elevation gain. Together with the destination at the ruins of Saint-Julien-en-Goye, they make for a clearly described hiking objective. Check trail conditions before setting out, as they may change.
The Gourdan hike has a different focus: it leads from Saint-Clair through green meadows to the village of Savas and on to the Bois de Bégut. Along the way, there are views of Annonay and its basin. While the Tour du Mont Chaud’s length, elevation gain and duration make it easier to plan, Gourdan is defined mainly by its described route and viewpoints. La Montagne de Sainte-Blandine and Le Col du Fayet also add to the selection of named routes; according to the official route information, Savas is one of the communes crossed by both.
Geology and viewpoints
Suc de Clava is a geological feature: it is an outcrop of serpentinised mantle rock containing black serpentinite. Flora and fauna have adapted to this distinctive ground. This geological feature complements the historic sites with a perspective on the nature of the landscape and its adapted plant and animal life.
The Bois de BĂ©gut hike has several viewpoints overlooking the Annonay basin, the Vivarais mountains and the RhĂ´ne Valley; the route is shaded. This offers different perspectives on the landscape: the distinctive ground at Suc de Clava and the wide-ranging views along the hike. The viewpoints and the shaded nature of the route are specific features of this hike, but do not imply a particular time required.
Ideas for your stay
When planning a trip to Savas, you can consider the hikes and cultural sites as different elements of your itinerary. With its distance and stated duration, Le Tour du Mont Chaud is an option whose time commitment is easy to gauge; Gourdan stands out for its route across meadows, through Savas and onward to the Bois de BĂ©gut. The village church, commemorative plaque and ruins of Saint-Julien-en-Goye add historic sites to the hiking theme.
Discover more destinations: Annonay, Joyeuse, Valvignères, Le Cheylard, Saint-Maurice-En-Chalencon, St. Julien Du Serre, Saint-Désirat, Labeaume
Return to the main travel overview: Ardèche.
