Ever heard of the “chemin des écoliers” in Annonay, Ardèche? An urban walk to get to school on foot or discover the town from school to school through its streets and neighbourhoods.
The schoolchildren’s route in Annonay
Initiated by teachers several years ago, the “chemin des écoliers” is a pedestrian route through the streets of Annonay.
This urban path links all the schools together to encourage people to walk as part of an urban eco-mobility approach: encouraging pedestrian travel between home and school, and offering a daily walking route for residents or a discovery trail for visitors to the Annonay-Rhône conurbation.
Because of its geography and its industrial activity in the town centre, which faces the river, Annonay has long been a pedestrianised town.
Whether it’s to get to the factories, via the chemin des papetiers or the escalier des tanneries for example, or to go toschool or to the shops in the town centre, the many staircases and footpaths, more or less well-maintained, that dot the urban landscape bear witness to this.
Car ownership is a recent phenomenon, having emerged at the end of the last century, with its share of developments, such as the construction of car parks and the covering of the River Deûme.
The lack of exercise, the trend towards overweight in public health and environmental concerns for the future of our children and our planet are all prompting us to think more about walking in the city, in addition to improving traffic flow and facilities for bicycles, whether electric or not, depending on the user.
The ” chemin des écoliers ” is a first initiative in this direction, positive for pedestrians of all ages and in particular for the daily journeys made by children with their parents to school.
About the chemin des écoliers
Why not set off on a voyage of discovery?
- Information leaflet on the Annonay urban trail and footpaths:
Map of the schoolchildren’s route
And if you want to follow all or part of the route, here’s a map of the route through the town of Annonay :
- Extract from the magazine of the town of Annonay which mentioned the two footpaths for schoolchildren:
- Annonay Rhône Agglo?
- Green route in Annonay, the Via Fluvia
- Where to stay in Annonay?