Around La Courrège via Saint-Cassien

A mixed walk (forest paths and small roads) around the bastide town of Monpazier.
A complete immersion in the undergrowth and in a countryside that has hardly changed in over 50 years. A truly remote spot.
Updated at the request of a local resident, the start of this hike has been moved to Saint-Cassien, near the village church.

Details

1250525
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.80 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 75 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 73 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 215 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 160 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) Depart from the village of Saint Cassien at the church. Join the main road.

(1) Turn right. Continue to the next crossroads with the Monpazier-Tourliac road.

(2) Continue straight ahead towards the place called "La Courrège" (opposite the road leading to the village of Saint-Cassien). Follow the asphalt road to La Courrége. This section is partially shaded.

(3) Continue along the carriageway (open lane) which winds between two low walls (it roughly follows the contour line).

(4) Continue left on the tree-lined path; there are sometimes electric fence wires in this area. Close the gates behind you and continue to the crossroads at a place called Al Coustal.

(5) Take the path on the right that crosses the Ribatol stream (a small trickle of water) and leads to a carriageway.

(6) Turn left onto this white limestone path and continue straight ahead in a north-northeast direction to join theGR®36.

(7) Cross the road (cross) and continue along a dirt track under the trees, which is theGR®36marked in red and white. You will reach a road near a place called Les Fargues.

(8) Leave theGR® and turn left, again onto a tree-lined sunken path (there is a lovely walnut tree plantation on your left). You will come to a road.

(9) Follow the asphalt road to the left, then after 20 metres turn right, heading north until you reach another crossroads.

(10) Turn left onto the road that leads to a small group of houses. Do not enter the hamlet of Fondure, but continue slightly to the left along a path lined with fig trees and then hazelnut trees. You will reach the hamlet of Guinot.

(11) Turn left towards Saint-Cassien, following this road which crosses a small valley to reach the crossroads you passed at the start of the walk.

(1) Then turn right to reach Saint-Cassien (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 178 m - Village of Saint-Cassien
  2. 1 : km 0.28 - alt. 182 m - Access to the village of Saint Cassien
  3. 2 : km 0.76 - alt. 186 m - Crossroads with the Monpazier-Tourliac road.
  4. 3 : km 2.9 - alt. 180 m - Hamlet of La Courrège
  5. 4 : km 3.45 - alt. 181 m - Slight fork to the left.
  6. 5 : km 4.02 - alt. 182 m - In the woods, take the path on the right.
  7. 6 : km 4.49 - alt. 193 m - Stone path on the left
  8. 7 : km 6.34 - alt. 197 m - Crossing the road
  9. 8 : km 6.97 - alt. 197 m - Monpazier-Tourlaic road
  10. 9 : km 7.86 - alt. 200 m - Monpazier-Tourliac road
  11. 10 : km 8.41 - alt. 201 m - Turn left towards the hamlet of Fondure.
  12. 11 : km 9.59 - alt. 188 m - Lavalade-Saint-Cassien road
  13. S/E : km 10.8 - alt. 179 m - Village of Saint-Cassien

Notes

There are no drinking water points, but there are a few farms nearby in case of emergency.
Wear comfortable walking shoes; no technical equipment is required.
The paths may be muddy in places in wet weather.
Note that there are many places that are perfect for a picnic.
In fact, the walk is ideal with children.

It is possible to shorten the hike by a third by going directly from point (:9) to point (2) via the hamlet of Barriat.

Worth a visit

At the start, there is a lovely view of Lake Brayssou (Tourliac).

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Poulette cabane
Poulette cabane

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy and pleasant hike. Very peaceful.

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yvesrando
yvesrando

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk with no difficulty.

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m@rk79
m@rk79
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike through the undergrowth.
Okay, the start isn't great, even though most of the route is shaded by the undergrowth, it's still tarmac. It's worth adding that there's hardly anyone on this road, where we only came across two cars.
But after the road, what a delight! We wound our way along a small shaded path, then onto a wide path, still in the shade, and then back onto another small path, still in the shade. And shade was definitely needed today, as it was 35°C in the shade.
At the end of the path, to avoid returning to the road in full sun, instead of turning right, we went straight on towards Fontblanque. After crossing the hamlet (watch out for dogs), follow the path that turns to the left. At the end of the path, you will come to a path that branches off to the left and, at the same time, a yellow marker. Simply follow this very pleasant and partially shaded path to return directly to the starting point. In the end, I have 12.8 km on my GPS, but I am certain that this final detour is much more pleasant than the road.

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grandin
grandin ★

Nathalie Bellanger

The starting point for this hike was changed by its author on 4 June 2021.

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Nathalie Bellanger
Nathalie Bellanger
• Edited:

I repeat, it is strictly forbidden to park at a place called La Courrege following a family decision, as it belongs to private individuals. Therefore, please park next to the church and town hall in Saint Cassien, as the only departure point is from Saint Cassien. This is non-negotiable. See the route at the Monpazier tourist office. Thank you. Bellanger Nathalie

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ADDX
ADDX

Hello, my apologies to Nathalie for not responding sooner about the parking situation. I was not receiving messages from Visorando, and I admit that I do not regularly review the descriptions I have written.
However, I saw her father several times last year, and he didn't mention it to me.
I didn't think I was doing anything wrong by suggesting parking in that spot. It's so quiet.
Starting from the village of Saint Cassien is a very good idea, even if there is absolutely nothing to prevent you from parking at the side of the road, on the hard shoulder, without contravening the rules on obstructive parking, of course.

Enjoy your walk.

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Nathalie Bellanger
Nathalie Bellanger

Okay, I will keep you informed if other people come following their visit to your website. I just want Alain Delmon to update his information. And thank you very much for your understanding. I will tell my parents that you have made the correction.

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grandin
grandin ★

Nathalie Bellanger, if other people claiming to be from Visorando come and park at your house despite the warning I have added, please send me a personal message and I will remove this hike.

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Nathalie Bellanger
Nathalie Bellanger

Thank you very much for taking my requests into consideration, as we have put up a fence around our property. I too would like Alain Delmon to update what he has written.

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grandin
grandin ★

Nathalie Bellanger, the Visorando team apologises for this inconvenience. I have just added a warning to the description of this hike to indicate that the starting point is St-Cassien.
It would be great if the author, alain.delmon, could now update his route and description.

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Nathalie Bellanger
Nathalie Bellanger
• Edited:

I am contacting all hikers who wish to take the Courrege circular route in 24540 Saint Cassien. The only starting point for this circular route is the Saint Cassien town hall, as it is actually 13 kilometres long. The Courrege circular route has never started from the place known as La Courrege. So, contrary to the information provided by Alain Delmon, do not come to La Courrege to park your car, as you will be asked to go to the town hall in Saint Cassien because the place where you park is a private field and therefore off-limits to people outside our family. Alain Delmon, no one has authorised you to park there. I am the daughter of the owners of the land at La Courrege, so please stop giving false information about this circular route. For more information, please visit the Monpazier tourist office. There is only one place where this circular route starts, and that place is the town hall of Saint Cassien.

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Nathalie Bellanger
Nathalie Bellanger
• Edited:

Hello, I am the daughter of the owners of the land where cars park for this circular route at a place called La Courrege. For your information, there has never been any question of people parking on our property to do the circular route because there is no authorisation, and for your information, the La Courrege circular route starts at the Saint Cassien town hall, which is also the official finish line. There are no other places for the start or finish of the circular La Courrege loop apart from the town hall. Alain Delmon has misled you, and we are extremely unhappy that you are parking on our property in La Courrege, as this land is strictly private. I would like to know who authorised Alain Delmon to park on our property. According to the Monpazier tourist office, the start and finish are at the town hall in Saint Cassien. We require anyone intending to follow Alain Delmon's recommendation to go to Saint Cassien to park and follow the signs, contrary to what Marie Segura says. It is absolutely essential that you start from the town hall in Saint Cassien, as there is only one starting point and one finishing point for this circular route. It is indeed very difficult to park at La Courrege, as no one in the family has given permission.

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Marie Segura
Marie Segura

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We loved this walk, thank you so much!
A quick note for future visitors: at point 8, when turning left towards Saint-Cassien, don't be misled by the signpost (a yellow cross); follow the description and map provided by Visorando, which are spot on.

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balou17
balou17

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A must-see, starting from St Cassien town hall, vast, flat and grassy.
Beautiful hike, three-quarters oak forest, the rest truffle oak and walnut trees. In wet weather, walking shoes are essential. As soon as you leave the tarmac, the clay paths become very muddy and very slippery.
Total elevation gain: 280m.

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ADDX
ADDX

Hello,
I'm glad you enjoyed the route; I'm a little surprised by the parking issue, but people change, and not necessarily for the better...
The departure point can indeed be located in several places; the town hall is a good idea.
Kind regards

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