On the outskirts of Luriecq via the old railway line

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A circular route through the very first foothills of the Monts du Forez, which partly follows the old railway line. Until the 1970s, a railway line linked Bonson to Sembadel. Today, you can follow this old railway line – mainly by bike but also on foot – from Saint-Marcellin-en-Forez to Estivareilles. Throughout this ‘Rail Adventure’, you can admire the architectural remains left behind by the railway.

Details

n°99789434
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.73 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 597 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 597 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,313 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,860 ft
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Description of the walk

At La Roche, after Saint-Marcellin-en-Forez, turn left towards Périgneux. Park your car at a place called La Gare, on the right as you come from Saint-Marcellin; there are plenty of parking spaces available, right by the old station.

(S/E) Follow the old railway line towards Luriecq.

(1) Note the return path on your left and continue straight on to Nus station, following the D498 for the final 150 metres.

(2) Shortly after the station, head left towards the hamlet of Sommériecq. Pass through it, then turn left, heading down towards the Bonsonnet and cross the stream.

(3) Keep to the right at the bend to head back up towards Les Barraques. Cut across a side path and carry on until you reach the very first houses in the hamlet.

(4) Take the Route de Périgneux (D32) on the far left towards La Tuilière.

(5) At the fork in the road, take the left-hand road, pass through La Tuilière and arrive at Fressonnet.

(6) In front of an imposing farmhouse, turn left and continue through the hamlet. Then leave the tarmac road and head back down towards the Bonsonnet, which you cross again via a footbridge. You’ll reach a crossroads.

(7) Take the path on the right and then immediately turn left at the three-way junction. Stay on this path below the hamlet of La Mûre until you reach the old railway line.

(1) Turn right and head straight back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,942 ft - Car park at La Gare (Périgneux)
  2. 1 : mi 0.45 - alt. 1,952 ft - Junction of the circular loop
  3. 2 : mi 2.52 - alt. 2,113 ft - Nus railway station
  4. 3 : mi 2.88 - alt. 1,995 ft - Bonsonnet Pass - Bonsonnet (cours d'eau) - Affluent du Bonson
  5. 4 : mi 3.76 - alt. 2,313 ft - Les Barraques, on the left on the D32
  6. 5 : mi 4.19 - alt. 2,178 ft - Three-way junction
  7. 6 : mi 4.75 - alt. 2,116 ft - Fressonnet
  8. 7 : mi 5.87 - alt. 1,880 ft - Crossroads after the footbridge - Bonsonnet (cours d'eau) - Affluent du Bonson
  9. S/E : mi 6.73 - alt. 1,942 ft - Car park at La Gare (Périgneux)

Worth a visit

The importance of the hamlet of La Gare is linked to the construction of the railway line from Bonson to Sembadel in 1873.
It experienced remarkable growth thanks to its activities linked to the transport of paving stones from the numerous nearby granite quarries, which are now abandoned.

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