L'Hostunoise

Description

History, culture and heritage

Hostun, its walnut groves and old wine press.

The walnut oil press, installed around 1890 at the bottom of the main street in the new Saint-Maurice district, attracted onlookers, as did the forge. It was in operation for 70 years. Every farm had a few walnut trees, even a few rows, for family use. The term "walnut grove" didn't exist: it's absent from old dictionaries. Around 1970, with land consolidation, walnut groves of several hundred plants multiplied rapidly. Today, there are 300 hectares of walnut trees, or 30,000 plants.

Guidebook with maps/step-by-step

1/ From Hostun - St Martin (l\'église) (alt. 292m), head south-west past the Hostun - St Martin post (alt. 280m). Turn left onto the first dirt track. Cross the château road, pass the gate on the right and continue due south. At Les Carrières (alt. 336m), go back down to the right, skirting the château and neighboring house on the left, down a track to the La Voue or La Rey - Combe Blanche crossroads (alt. 295m).
Coordinates: (45.0354873, 5.2092226)
Distance from starting point: 0 m
2/ Head north-west for 80 m, then take the path that descends to the right, due north. Further down, on the small paved road, leave a path on the left that climbs up and take the path below, along a meadow. At the bottom, see the well on the left, and return to the village.
Coordinates: (45.0334037, 5.2037902)
Distance from starting point: 1 km
3/ At the Hostun - St Maurice post (alt. 240m), turn left, along the La Patache parking lot, the public garden, La Poste, and look for the wine press on your right. In avenue des marronniers turn right, towards the church, along the school, rue du charron, cross the road, take the footpath which arrives at the corner of the cemetery.
Coordinates: (45.0380414, 5.2008556)
Distance from starting point: 2 km
4/ Take the road to the left and go straight on (Les Perrières). Take the first small road on the right, and climb up the Chemin de la Mine. At the Quartier des marchands crossroads (alt. 310m), look for sign 13, heading south. Go back a few paces on the road that descends to the northeast, la Combe de Saron. At Les Guerbys (narrow road), turn right onto the Chemin des Paillonnières for 20m and then right, under an EDF pole, onto the path which climbs for 350m.
Coordinates: (45.0387486, 5.2049429)
Distance from starting point: 3 km
5/ At Les Sablons (alt. 355m), turn right to La Roche (alt. 360m). Follow the small road south-west for 350m. Finally, take the path on the left, which climbs, then descends to Saint-Martin.
Coordinates: (45.0422768, 5.2194607)
Distance from starting point: 5 km

Opening periods