On the Causse de Montbel, between Montbel and Larzalier

On the D6, there is a car park near Montbel Church.

(S) From Montbel church, head south along the path that runs alongside the cemetery on your left, towards the plain. Cross the first junction; then, about 300 metres further on, a path joins from the left, leading to another junction.

(1) Leave the return path on your left, take the path on the right and continue due west towards Chaufret. Stay on the edge of the woodland until you reach a junction with a wide track; cross it and continue to the next crossroads.

(2) Take the path on the left, which climbs slightly, and carry on until you reach the tarmac road.

(3) Cross the road and take the path opposite, which leads down towards the hamlet of La Prade. Walk through the hamlet and continue downhill to the railway line.

(4) Cross the level crossing (without barriers) and continue along the path. Cross a second level crossing and continue southwards across the Larzalier plain, ignoring the turnings to the left and right, towards the D27.

(5) Just before reaching the road, take the path on the left to reach the hamlet of Larzalier. It crosses the railway line again, then joins a path coming from the right (elevation 1135).

(6) Continue to the left, heading due north. Keep going in this direction until you reach a path branching off at a 90° angle to the right.

(7) Take this path, which climbs up to Larzalier, approaching the snow gallery. Cross the hamlet, keeping to the left. Follow the gallery (on your left) as far as the level crossing (with barriers).

(8) Cross the railway line and take the path on the right which moves away from the railway line and crosses the Montbel plain again, heading north-east, reaching a junction (elevation 1206) after a short stretch through woodland.

(9) Turn left, heading due north. Keep heading in this direction until you reach the junction you passed on the way there.

(1) Follow the path you took on the way there in the opposite direction to return to Montbel church and the car park (S/E).

A walk on flat ground with very little change in altitude, but with very little shade along the route. Make sure you bring protection from the sun and the heat in the height of summer.

The railway line, known as the ‘Translozérienne’, connects the prefecture of Mende to La Bastide, where it joins the Cévennes line. It is the highest non-electrified railway line in France, and Larzalier is the line’s highest point, at an altitude of over 1,200 metres.

The great Larzalier tunnel, over 500 metres long, is an imposing structure designed to protect the line from snowdrifts, which were once common in winter and prevented trains from running.

The village of Allenc and its 11th-century church with its imposing bell tower.