Pélussin sits on the eastern flank of the Massif du Pilat, high above the Rhône valley south of Vienne. The town is spread across a sunny slope, among orchards, vineyards and meadows, and from its terraces you look down on the river and across to the hills of the Dauphiné, with the Alps on the far horizon on clear days.
The Pilat is a regional natural park, a granite massif of forests, high pastures and scree slopes rising from the Rhône to over 1400 metres at the Crêt de la Perdrix. Its eastern slopes, around Pélussin, are warm and sheltered, with orchards of apricots and cherries and some vineyards. Higher up, the climate is harsher, with spruce and beech forests, heather moors and long winters.
For riders, the roads climbing from Pélussin into the Pilat are among the finest in the region. The road up to the Col de l'Œillon is a classic, winding through forest with hairpins and views, and it leads to the Crêt de l'Œillon, crowned by a television mast and a viewpoint with a panorama over the Rhône valley and the Alps. The roads across the plateau, towards the Croix de Chaubouret and Le Bessat, are fast and flowing. Surfaces are generally good, but watch for cyclists, who love these climbs.
Pélussin has fuel, food and basic services. For a photo, the views from the Crêt de l'Œillon are spectacular, especially in the morning or evening light. In winter, snow can close the higher roads, so check conditions.