Around Notre-Dame de Prime Combe

Hike from the small village of Vic-le-Fesc, which will take you to the Vidourle River via the picturesque site of Notre-Dame de Prime Combe with its giant statues, Stations of the Cross and open chapel.

Details

16898911
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.33 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 617 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 640 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 528 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 105 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Vic-le-Fesq (30260)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.868833° / E 4.079109°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2842OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at Vic-le-Fesc cemetery.

(S/E) Cross Vic-le-Fesc by taking the Chemin du Vidourle and following the yellow markings. Turn right onto the Chemin de la Tuilerie, then the Chemin Vieux. You will come to a Y-shaped crossroads.

(1) Take the path on the right and leave the yellow markings, indicated by a yellow cross on the wooden post. A few hundred metres further on, you will come to a crossroads with several directions. Take the path on the right. Stay on this path until you reach a Y-shaped crossroads with a DFCI C26 sign.

(2) Keep to the right to find the junction with the concrete track.

(3) Continue straight ahead on the track towards Notre-Dame de Prime Combe. Take the stairs on the left and follow the Way of the Cross to the statue of the White Virgin.

(4) Walk along the wall between the church and a large building. Climb a few steps to a hut containing bells. Take the path under the trees until you reach the junction with the concrete track.

(3) Return by the same route to the crossroads at the DFCI C26 sign.

(2) Turn right onto the blocked track, pass to the right of an antenna and continue until you reach a crossroads directly below the high-voltage power line.

(5) Take the path under this line and then, quickly at the blue marker, take the middle path. Reach the bottom of the slope at a large fig tree.

(6) Cross a stream. At the next fork, continue straight ahead on the track. You will then come to the crossroads with the DFCI C13 sign.

(7) Turn left until you reach the D 302 road. Follow it to the right for a few metres until you reach the crossroads of two paths.

(8) Take the path furthest to the left. Continue along this path, then take the less visible, slightly stony path on the right that runs alongside a fence on the right. Please note that this path does not appear on the IGN map. Cross the bridge over an old railway line until you reach the main track with a gate.

(9) Turn right and follow this track, running more or less alongside the Vidourle. You will then come to a ruin on your left.

(10) Cross the meadow to reach the riverbank and enjoy the waterfalls and picnic spots. Return to the track, turn left and follow the river and the old railway line, which is marked with yellow signs. You will reach the Moulin de Loriol.

(10) Continue along the track, passing the Bergerie de Coucedière before reaching the car park at the Vic-le-Fesc cemetery (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 167 ft - Parking at the Vic-le-Fesc cemetery
  2. 1 : mi 0.68 - alt. 318 ft - Y-junction
  3. 2 : mi 1.53 - alt. 499 ft - DFCI sign C26
  4. 3 : mi 1.77 - alt. 400 ft - Cement track
  5. 4 : mi 1.99 - alt. 354 ft - Vierge Blanche - Église Notre-Dame de Prime Combe (Fontanès)
  6. 5 : mi 3.3 - alt. 390 ft - Power line junction
  7. 6 : mi 3.96 - alt. 220 ft - Large fig tree
  8. 7 : mi 4.27 - alt. 243 ft - DFCI C13 sign
  9. 8 : mi 4.6 - alt. 194 ft - Route D302
  10. 9 : mi 5.03 - alt. 135 ft - Gateway
  11. 10 : mi 5.42 - alt. 121 ft - Ruins and waterfalls
  12. S/E : mi 7.33 - alt. 167 ft - Parking at the Vic-le-Fesc cemetery

Notes

No water source, no particular difficulty.

Worth a visit

Between (4) and (3), be aware that the bells ring on the hour and half hour.
(4) Visit the picturesque site of La Chapelle de Notre-Dame de Prime Combe.
Between (9) and (), the Vidourle river is magnificent, tumultuous in places.
Enjoy the peace and quiet and the scents of the heath.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 20 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Poupy
Poupy

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, but it's a shame that it avoids the sights surrounding the area, as mentioned in point 2 above, by taking a detour to see a cross and a large statue of the Virgin Mary. To see two other sights, you need to go from point 4 to point 3 via a small path that branches off to the right at the bell hut. You will discover a "Pieta" and, further on, a reconstruction of "Golgotha" on the Mount of Olives.

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anneG
anneG

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route. The appeal of ND is more of a curiosity
I was expecting more of the Vidourle riverbanks, but overall it was a positive experience
Thank you for this route

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Avrilola
Avrilola

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A rather uninteresting hike that took just over three hours. The only highlight was the extremely surprising site of Notre Dame de Prime Combe. Wide, very stony paths in the middle of lush heath, with few views apart from a glimpse of the Cévennes and the villages.
We never saw the fence and returned using the old railway line before picking up the path that leads to the mill.
It might be better to say to turn right at the big fig tree, as the stream is completely dry most of the time.

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Jean-Bernard
Jean-Bernard

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Done during the week, hardly anyone around. Beautiful scenery. A varied route alternating between forest, plains, small paths and tracks, but no endless stretches. The cherry on top is to take the path opposite point 2, not to go towards point 3, to make a higher circular route and discover a giant Christ and Virgin Mary statue. Then head towards Notre Dame de Prime Combe, which is a surprise. I can only recommend it, thanks to the author.

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jubarmich
jubarmich

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

At the end of the route, you reach the village by following the yellow trail for short hikes

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Diddan
Diddan

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk without any great difficulty. Done with the Visorando GPS.

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Annette JUNGK
Annette JUNGK

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike. Sometimes you have to search for the path when you arrive at Prime Combe, but what a joy it is. We didn't meet anyone and it was so peaceful. There is a wonderful sense of serenity there.

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PIERRE MONNIER
PIERRE MONNIER

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy morning hike. Pleasant tracks and trails. Beautiful views of LE PIC SAINT LOUP and L'HORTUS. The site of Notre Dame de Prime Combe and its magnificent Way of the Cross are an ideal place to recharge your batteries and meditate.
PP and MM

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25MENAI
25MENAI
• Edited:

To the attention of Netra Visorandonneur moderator,

Having been 'kicked out' by one of your fellow moderators for posting a photo in which, if you looked closely, you could see the white and red markings of a GR trail and, on another occasion, the markings of the Way of St James, I am surprised to see that your profile photo shows the blue and yellow markings of a trail. Have the rules changed?
The reason for the rejection was an intellectual property issue. Strange, strange

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25MENAI
25MENAI

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We set off at 8:45 a.m. to take advantage of the cool weather and completed a shorter, three-hour version by going directly from point 4 to point 8. At this point, it is not easy to find your way to point 9. I did not see the "path furthest to the left"

Contrary to what is indicated in the description, several trails are marked on the IGN map, at least on their Géoportail app, which I used to guide me thanks to the app's geolocation feature. I took a track heading north-west towards Valat de Fossé Mâle, then due west, arriving at Valat. So I didn't go via Moulin Vieux. At the end of this path, you come across the old railway line. You have to head a little north to leave the ballast and descend onto a wide track.

Thanks to the author of this route //

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Pelote
Pelote

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Excellent route with the visit to Prime Combe, and we continued on to the crosses that are around the area

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Marc heur
Marc heur

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike with beautiful views. The chapel is very unusual; it's the first time we've seen anything like it, just a roof in front of the building, superb. Then, between points 3 and 4, we discovered a religious building which is unfortunately not mentioned in the hike description.From the chapel, taking the circular path to the right and just before reaching point 3, you can see on the map a path that branches off to the right and, after about a hundred metres, leads to the building representing Christ on the cross surrounded by two other crucified figures above an altar. This building is very large and really worth a detour. However, we did not see the Loriol mill at the end of the hike.

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cachoute
cachoute

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike thanks to a visit to the little-known pilgrimage site of Notre-Dame de Prime Combe. But it's best to bring a GPS to follow the route. After the 10 km mark until the return, the route is a little surprising. We followed a path that winds a little above the old railway line, but as a result, we didn't see the Moulin de Loriol or the Coucedière sheepfold. The explanations give the impression that they do not correspond to the GPS track. A small clarification: point 10 appears twice in the description! Thank you anyway for this very pleasant hike.

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carlogeni
carlogeni

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, not very difficult, with a clear route except between 8 and 9, as there are several small paths in the heath that
can be misleading.

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dani rando
dani rando

already answered on 20 December

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