Beaune le Chaud from Fontfreyde via solidified lava flow of Mercœur

In Fonfreyde, park in the car park on the edge of Rue du Relais (D90) and walk along Place du Coudert, south of the village.

(S/E) Continue along the road, heading south, with your back to the town centre. At No. 70, an abandoned house with a rounded gate on the right-hand side of the road, take the path on the right (to the left of the gate). Further on, you will come to a disused road; follow it to the right. Ignore the paths that branch off to the right into the forest and you will come to a meadow on your right.

(1) Take the path on the right, which runs alongside the meadow on your left and then enters the forest.

(2) Further on, at a trail junction at the entrance to a meadow, pay attention: it is tempting to follow the better-marked trail on the left (shown on the OSM map but not on the IGN map), but you must stay to the right on a trail that is not necessarily visible if you do not look in that direction, which goes around the meadow on the left and arrives at an open space. Continue straight ahead towards the entrance to another meadow and follow the path that branches off to the right.

(3) At the T-junction with a path, turn left. Pass through the moorland areas of Creux du Pialoux.

(4) Ignore a path branching off to the left, continue straight ahead and you will come to a road (D5). Cross it and then turn right onto the path that runs alongside the road (which has little traffic). After about 200 m, you will arrive at the start of the fitness trail.

(5) Take the path on the left. Further on, ignore a path on the right and you will come to a crossroads.

(6) Continue straight ahead on the path between meadows and woods.

(7) Turn onto the first path on the right and continue straight ahead at the next crossroads.

(8) At the farm buildings, ignore the path on the right, which you will take on the way back, and continue straight ahead to reach the village of Beaune le Chaud.
Traditional houses, fountains and wash houses, picnic areas. This route leads to the wash house with a picnic table but does not allow you to visit the rest of the village.

(9) Retrace your steps to the intersection of paths near the farm buildings.

(8) Follow the path on the left. Further on, ignore a path on the right at the "Les Palles Hautes" signpost.

(10) Immediately afterwards, follow the path on the left towards Fontfreyde. Continue straight ahead until you reach a road (D5).

(11) Follow it to the right for about 150 metres, then continue on the path to the left, into a mixed forest. The path becomes a trail lined with old walls. Further on, you will pass a Forest Art area, "La forêt en chantier" (The Forest Under Construction), on your left. Feel free to enter this plot to discover some original works of art. Then continue along the trail, which joins a path.

(12) Follow it to the left, walk alongside the farm buildings, then leave the path for a trail that climbs to the right and joins a road. Follow it to the right until you reach the "Fontfreyde" signpost.

(13) Follow the path to the left towards "La Cassière", quickly rejoin a street and follow it, going around a house with red shutters on the right. At the intersection, leave Rue du Soleil Levant on your left and continue straight ahead to Place de la Fontaine (fountain and wash house), then follow the main street, almost opposite, to return to Place du Coudert and the car park (S/E).

Fairly easy hike, standard hiking equipment required.

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here.

Photo album here.

Walk in the forest, then through pastures. Traditional dwellings in Beaune, fountains, wash houses. Forest Art (or Land Art) plot.