Discovering the Barons of Apcher

Park at the entrance to Malzieu-Ville, near the Notre Dame bridge, on the road to Saint-Chély-d'Apcher. Parking spaces are available behind the Bête roundabout or below the chapel.

(S/E) With your back to the village, cross the bridge over the Truyère then take the Sentier des Espagnols on the right (GR®4), a fairly steep climb. Cross the road with care and continue on the path furthest to the right, which climbs through the woods parallel to the D4.

(1) At the Croix Rosière, follow the horse riding signs to the left. At the next junction, continue left. Cross the D989 with care and take the wide path opposite, near the orientation table.

(2) At the crossroads, turn right. The path winds through the pastures before entering the forest. At the next junction, continue left until you reach the road.

(3) Turn right and follow the path for about 300 m. At the granite cross, leave the road and take the path on the left.

(4) At the next junction, turn right.

(5) At the Chaumazelle junction, turn right then left onto the first path and join a tarmac road. Cross with care and take the path opposite, slightly to the right. You will reach a wide track.

(6) Continue to the left along this wide track, which you leave after a few dozen metres to take a small path on the left leading to the entrance to the village of Apcher.

(7) At the memorial, turn right towards the village. At the first houses, continue to the left and, after a few metres, take a small path on the right, blocked by a wooden gate, which leads to the village centre. Then follow the signs to the historic site.

(8) Cross over and head down the steep path opposite. Continue to the left, ignoring the first path on the right, and take the next one to rejoin the wide path you took on the way there.

(4) Continue to the right, then at the next junction, take the small grassy path on the left (small stone bridge) which winds through the peat bogs and leads out onto the road.

(3) Cross with care and rejoin the track through Ganigal Forest that you took on the way there. At the Fork in the road, head right, pass by the water tower and follow the track back up to the next junction.

(2) Continue straight on. Head down through the Bois de Ganigal along the main path, ignoring the small paths on either side. At the bottom of the path, continue to the right, running parallel to the road to Saint-Chély-d’Apcher, until you reach the bend, then take a wider path on the right which leads to the Fontaine Notre-Dame.

(9) Cross the road carefully, walk along the left-hand side of the holiday village and continue towards La Chazette.

(10) At the bend, turn left onto a small path by the hornbeam hedge which leads to the municipal campsite, and follow the road to the football pitch and then the tennis courts.

(11) Cross the footbridge and turn immediately left between the river and the irrigation channel. Walk along the river, passing behind the village hall, then take the path that crosses the vegetable gardens and leads to the road to Saint-Chély-d’Apcher. Follow the road to the left, then keep left at the crossroads to reach the car park at the starting point (S/E).

Apcher site