Around the Diège Valley

Head to Capdenac-Gare, then Saint-Julien d’Empare. Park at the junction with the road leading to Château d’Empare.

(S/E) Take the road towards the château, walk past it and, at the end of the road, join the Diège.

(1) Turn right and follow the Diège river until you reach a bridge.

(2) Take the road opposite, then the path that follows it, between the railway line on the left and the River Diège on the right. At a bend in the River Diège, you’ll reach the D558. Take this road to the left until you reach a junction opposite the hamlet of Diège.

(3) Follow the road to the right, which climbs towards this hamlet. Walk through the hamlet and turn right onto the path leading to the plateau. Join the access road to the Mas des Vignes.

(4) As you leave the track, take and follow the road on the left for about 2 km towards the hamlet of Lagarrigue.

(5) Before reaching this hamlet, at the bend to the right, leave the road and take a small track on the left for about 500 metres until you reach the tarmac road.

(6) Once on the road, turn left and head downhill to the second Fork in the road. Turn left, then keep to the right to reach the Chapel of Saint-Loup.

(7) Continue along the wide track, then turn left.

(8) Before reaching the hamlet of Le Fromental, take the path that dips down to the left until you reach the hamlet of Le Lac. Then follow the road to the right and head down it to the junction.

(9) Cross the road, then take the path on the left and follow it along the valley for about 500m before heading back up through the woods to the junction of two tarmac roads.

(10) Take the road on the left and continue uphill; at the top, there’s a lovely view of Naussac and Peyrusse-le-Roc. Then head back down the road to the right until you reach the D87, which you follow to the left for about 300m.

(11) Before the cemetery, leave the road and take a path on the right which descends very steeply until it rejoins the D87.

(12) Once on the road, turn right and, after a few metres, take the path on the left which runs alongside a house and rejoins the D87.

(13) Cross the railway line, then follow the path down to the left. Cross the D40 and then the River Diège via a small bridge.

(14) At the end of the path, turn left, then carry on straight ahead for about 500m until you reach the road. Continue along the road to the left until you reach the hamlet of Le Théron.

(15) In the hamlet, you’ll come out onto the D40. Turn right towards La Vaysse.

(16) Just past the last derelict house on your right, turn onto the path on the right. Cross the stream over a small bridge and rejoin the road.

(17) Turn left onto the road and, after a few metres, take the path leading uphill to the right. Cross the D40, pass a path on your right, then at the next Fork in the road, take the right-hand branch to reach the hamlet of Layzac.

(18) At Layzac, leave the track and you’ll come out onto a road. Turn left, then head down the path into the valley. Cross the Layzac stream and head back up towards the Lieucamp plateau. At the junction, turn right and continue along the path to La Marmiesse.

(19) Once you reach the road, turn left until you reach the junction with the D205.

(20) Turn left.

(21) After about 900m, leave the D205 and take the road on the right towards Sonnac. Carry on straight ahead until you reach a major junction with the D579.

(22) Take the second road on the right and follow it past the village of Sonnac towards Cors.

(23) After 500m, just past a barn on your left, take the path on the right and follow it for about 500m until you reach a junction with signposts.

(24) Turn left, towards La Coste, and head down the valley alongside the stream to the hamlet (this path is not shown on the IGN map).

(25) In the hamlet, once you’ve left the path, follow the village road to the right for about 200m, then, at the corner of the last house, take the path leading down to the left (towards Empare/Saint-Julien d’Empare).
Walk down this path, pass under the railway line and continue downhill until you reach a house.

(1) Then turn right and return to the starting point (S/E).

Chapel of Saint-Loup: 5th century
Naussac with lovely views over the Diège Valley and Peyrusse-le-Roc.