Ancient loop of Paussac Saint-Juste

Some points of interest in the village: you will pass the Tour Pigeonnier, the Pierre à Sacrifice or Peyre d'Ermale or Dermale. Further on, there is a climbing site and a troglodytic village dating from the 12th-13th centuries. Don't miss the Peyrelevade dolmen, dating from the Neolithic period and listed as a Historic Monument since 1960, and the sculptures visible on the gate of a quarry.

Details

167140
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.29 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 95 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 99 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 158 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 97 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the town hall car park.

(S/E) Turn right onto the street called Le Bourg. Go straight ahead at the crossroads to pass in front of the climbing club and the Saint-Michel presbytery.

(1) Take the first path on the right, pass in front of a dovecote tower and arrive at a crossroads of paths.

(2) Keep right to take the small path marked in yellow, follow it to Peyre Dermale.

(3) After exploring the site, return to the marked trail and join the carriage road with signposts. Continue to the right, keep right at the three-way junction just ahead and you will come out on the road leading to Le Breuil.

(4) Turn left to cross the bridge and head towards the climbing site. Before the bend, you will find the aerial lock.

(5) Once you have visited the site, continue along the road for 300 metres.

(6) A sign on the left indicates the troglodyte village: allow plenty of time as the site, which dates from the 11th to 13th centuries, is very spread out.

(7) Turn back.

(6) Turn left and follow the signs.

(8) At the bend, take the path on your left and follow the signs to a crossroads.

(9) Take a small path on the left heading south-east.

(10) Turn right: the path on the left returns to the village of Saint-Just and is a shortcut to shorten the hike. At the crossroads, turn left and follow the yellow markings.

(11) Keep left, cross the Sandonie, which was once teeming with crayfish. Cross the small stone bridge and continue along the carriage road to reach the Peyrelevade dolmen

(12). After visiting the site, join the D93 and follow it on your left towards Paussac. On the way back, you can see the sculptures on the gate of a quarry and the village mayor's Maypole, a custom that makes it impossible not to know where the mayor lives.

(1) Stay on the road and return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 151 m - Town hall car park
  2. 1 : km 0.27 - alt. 144 m - Path on the right, dovecote tower
  3. 2 : km 0.64 - alt. 122 m - Trail marked in yellow
  4. 3 : km 1.14 - alt. 140 m - Peyre d'Ermale
  5. 4 : km 2.35 - alt. 112 m - Route du Breuil, bridge
  6. 5 : km 2.57 - alt. 111 m - Aerial cluseau
  7. 6 : km 3.01 - alt. 136 m - Troglodyte village junction
  8. 7 : km 3.26 - alt. 140 m - Troglodytic village
  9. 8 : km 3.86 - alt. 145 m - Path on the left
  10. 9 : km 4.84 - alt. 149 m - Path on the left
  11. 10 : km 5.32 - alt. 146 m - Possible escape route for a shortcut
  12. 11 : km 6.7 - alt. 123 m - Three-way junction, on the left
  13. 12 : km 8.01 - alt. 141 m - Peyrelevade dolmen
  14. S/E : km 10.29 - alt. 151 m - Town hall car park

Notes

Water source: the bar near the church.
If anyone feels uneasy about climbing up to the cluseau, bring ten metres of rope to reassure them. Lighting is not necessary.

Worth a visit

Climbing club and Saint-Michel presbytery.

Presbytery: the building dates from the early 20th century and features architecture that is unusual for this type of building. Built on two levels, it has a small square tower at each end, each with one more floor than the main building.
Pigeon loft tower.
(3) The Ermale stone.
(5) Aerial view.
(7) Troglodytic village: these small houses are half-built, half-troglodytic, meaning that they were built against the rock walls and a façade wall was constructed. The extraction of the rock allowed for the excavation of the basement, making it somewhat easier to convert these dwellings. The roof was tiled. One cottage was restored 15 years ago, and you can see the floor and the fireplace.
They were small, between 5 and 25 m² with two levels. The lower level was probably used for storing tools. The upper level was reserved for the quarryman. There was a fireplace, which he could use for cooking and heating. One building closely resembles a chapel.
These men did not live there. They only occupied these small houses while they were working on their stone orders and then returned to their families.
(12) The Peyrelevade dolmen: dating from the Neolithic period, it has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1960.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 25 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
User 4078862

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike that is well marked to date.
However, the last 2 kilometres on a very busy road left me feeling a little uncertain.
I would not recommend it with children.

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crouzatier monique
crouzatier monique

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant hike in all seasons – but take care in very hot weather – few roads and little traffic –
Be sure to follow the IGN map extract carefully, as the details and markings are not always accurate.

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Barry
Barry

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very interesting circular, but the description is not perfect.
(1) It is the second path on the right that you should take (not the first).
(10) The path on the left returns to the village of Paussac (not Saint-Juste).

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Choulimi
Choulimi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

an interesting tour, with porcini mushrooms to boot!

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User 2597135

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful route with dolmen, old abandoned village, sacrificial stone.

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JMW
JMW

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A really interesting hike that is not difficult despite the distance.
Many points of interest
The village of Paussac is superb.

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Laurence82
Laurence82

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very well. All clear.
Completed as a group.

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Gysgot
Gysgot

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Beautiful scenery, shaded paths.

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AD24
AD24

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

One of the markers is missing where you have to rejoin a path in the woods at a bend.

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Romuald Vincourt
Romuald Vincourt

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

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balou17
balou17

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike, you become one with nature, sometimes a little too much so. There are a few small paths that are not maintained, so watch out for the brambles that brush against you as you pass. 95% of the route is through shaded forest. I didn't find the troglodyte village.

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fff
fff

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a very beautiful walk, with interesting places to visit (dolmen, cave dwelling)

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24claurent.
24claurent.

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Sometimes a bit too much road before reaching a path, but otherwise a very nice walk. Well signposted.

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Speedos
Speedos

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful walk through woods and fields dotted with megaliths.
The route is hilly and interesting.

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bobby186
bobby186

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Great hike, the area is really nice. I would have preferred a little less tarmac, but that didn't detract from the charm of this walk.
Follow "le vieux breuil" to see the troglodyte ruins.
Thanks for the route!

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