Presentation
The rock of Ajoux is an ancient Celtic site where a temple of Jupiter is believed to have existed; its name comes from ara jovis, the altar of Jupiter.
Anne Fimbel, a local guide, offers guided walks.
The Roche d'Ajoux, at 970 meters, is the second highest peak in the Beaujolais mountains, after Mont Saint-Rigaud (1,009 meters). It is located in the Rhône department, within the commune of Poule-les-Écharmeaux. The panoramic view extends over the Azergues valley, the Forez and Madeleine mountains, the Charolais region, and, less than 4 km away, Mont Saint-Rigaud. The Propières stream, a tributary of the Loire, rises at an altitude of 700 meters before cascading down the wooded slopes of the rock.
La Roche d'Ajoux is a geosite of the UNESCO Global Geopark of Beaujolais.
Etymology
The rock of Ajoux is an ancient Celtic site where there is believed to have been a temple of Jupiter; its name comes from ara jovis, the altar of Jupiter.
Jupiter is the Roman god of the sky. He is also the father of the gods. His symbols are the eagle and the thunderbolt.
How to take advantage of it?
A route allowing access to the Roche d'Ajoux from the Col des Echarmeaux is available on the Beaujolais Vert Pleine Nature app and on the web portal: https://espacestrail.run/fr/beaujolaisvert/parcours/156266
At the summit of Roche d'Ajoux, enjoy a digital immersion by discovering the landscape through the virtual orientation table. An unusual, amazing, and impact-free experience! Download the "Roche d'Ajoux" app from the Play Store, App Store, or at the following link: http://arinsight.fr/QR/0011/.
The Ajoux rock is located on the Grande Traversée du Rhône mountain biking route. The GR 7 long-distance hiking trail passes at the foot of the rock. The GR 7 is a long-distance hiking trail in France that roughly follows the watershed separating the Mediterranean Sea side from the North Sea-English Channel-Atlantic side. It passes through the Ballon d'Alsace (Vosges), Dijon (Côte-d'Or), Saint-Étienne (Loire), Lodève (Hérault), and Andorra la Vella (Andorra).