Circular Gavaudun via Saint-Avit

This route allows you to discover one of the least known fortified castles in Lot-et-Garonne, its fortified village and its green valley: Gavaudun. It passes through the hamlet of Laurenque and its elegant 12th-century church.
You will see the moving ruins of the Priory of Saint-Sardos and discover the legend associated with it.
Off the route, you can visit the village of Saint-Avit, home to the Bernard Palissy Museum (potter, enameller, painter, glass craftsman, writer and scholar).

Details

1505129
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.76 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 187 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 186 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 207 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 113 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Gavaudun (47150)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 44.560488° / E 0.886498°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1938O
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park (free) along the Lède river. The yellow-marked trail partly follows theGR® 636

(S/E). Take the D150 (towards Monflanquin) for 300 metres, then at the end of the bend, turn right onto a path that is steep at first but then flattens out to cross the Lède on a small wooden bridge.

(1) The path then winds through the forest, crosses a field bordered on both sides by a fence, then winds through the woods again.

(2) After a stone hut on your right (hidden under the vegetation), turn right onto a small road which, 600 metres further on, near a building, turns into a wide, cobbled path at the edge of the forest, crosses a field, then enters a wood.

(3) At the edge of the woods, turn left onto a small road for 100 metres, then take another stony path opposite for 750 metres. At the crossroads, leave theGR® 636 and take a path on the right.

(4) At the crossroads of four paths, turn right onto a path leading downhill to the edge of the forest, cross a road (159m) and continue straight ahead on the path that leads into the woods. Cross the stream via a small stone bridge and climb up to the path that leads to La Bourdette d'el Tuc.

(5) Descend the gravel path. Pass the Moulin de Saint-Avit on your right, then turn right onto a path lined with dry stone walls. Cross the Lède (section shared with theGR®636).

(6) Cross the D150 road and climb the path opposite that leads into the forest, continuing straight on until you reach a road (204m). Follow this small road for 1km.

(7) After passing a house, turn left onto the small path hidden in the vegetation. After 250m, turn right onto a road. Follow it until just before the bend on the left and follow the path opposite that leads into the forest. Ignore the path that branches off to the left.

(8) Take the path on the right that descends towards the hamlet of Laurenque.

(9) Take the road on the right (leaving theGR® 636 which branches off to the left) and go around the church. Cross the hamlet. After the last houses, follow the grassy path opposite which leads to the ruins of the Priory of Saint-Sardos.

(10) Pass a calvary on your left and descend the rocky, slippery path that passes under the castle keep and leads to a street. Take this street on the right, passing under the fortified gate, which is a remnant of the village's surrounding wall. Return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 118 m - Free car park along the river
  2. 1 : km 0.41 - alt. 114 m - Path through the forest
  3. 2 : km 1.55 - alt. 167 m - Stone hut hidden in the undergrowth
  4. 3 : km 3.33 - alt. 198 m - Turn left and walk 100 metres
  5. 4 : km 4.8 - alt. 179 m - Crossroads of 4 paths
  6. 5 : km 6.58 - alt. 170 m - La Bourdette d'el Tuc
  7. 6 : km 7.31 - alt. 147 m - Crossing the D150
  8. 7 : km 9.3 - alt. 183 m - Small path hidden in the vegetation
  9. 8 : km 10.36 - alt. 170 m - Path on the right
  10. 9 : km 10.62 - alt. 181 m - Road on the right
  11. 10 : km 11.32 - alt. 184 m - Wayside cross on the left
  12. S/E : km 11.76 - alt. 118 m - Free car park along the river

Worth a visit

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 12 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
bernard coulomb
bernard coulomb
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful forest walk connecting two remarkable medieval complexes with superbly restored architecture.
Numerous pyramidal orchids and a few bee orchids along the way.
No problems following the route with GPX.

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MNORDIC
MNORDIC

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk between the imposing medieval fortress of Gavaudan and the beautiful hamlet of St Avit.
We took the mill trail in the Lède valley (which is rather misnamed, as it is very pretty!)
The autumn colours in the undergrowth are superb and there are numerous mills dotted along this very easy route
A big thank you to the owners of the plots of land we crossed, who gave us permission to pass through. It is very well marked!
A surprising discovery: rock shelters in white cliffs!
We 🤎!

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eliesa
eliesa

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A surprising little route with some very pretty historic villages (Gavaudun and Saint Avit), mills, rivers, old stone buildings, blonde hair and some beautiful paths. For our part, we had a picnic in Saint Avit, on the little bench (as mentioned in the previous review), opposite a drinking water tap.

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phbizet
phbizet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A route identical to a circular published by the tourist office, very pleasant as it combines nature, panoramic views and architectural heritage
Picnic in St Avit on a bench, enjoying the serenity of the landscape.
A variation with a few extra kilometres to prolong the pleasure...

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caty.ha
caty.ha

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

One of the most beautiful walks in this area, combining medieval architecture and forest surroundings, stream banks, old iron mines and mills. Very accessible level.

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super randonneur!
super randonneur!
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very typical site in Gavaudun, and a pleasant hike. A sign in the car park at the bottom of the village indicates the starting point, and it's difficult to get lost as it's very well marked with yellow signs. We had a very enjoyable day as the hike offers beautiful paths through the woods and two beautiful villages to visit, St Avit and, of course, the Château de Gavaudun with its spectacular keep.

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scalp92
scalp92

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike, be sure to include a tour of the magnificent village of St Avit (water source and toilets available)

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Basho
Basho

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

There is a new trail that follows the curves of the Lède River between Gavaudun and St-Avit, under a very pleasant canopy of trees. I highly recommend it!!!

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alainm67
alainm67

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 10, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

it is difficult to find the route at the start, but opposite the village square along the road there is a sign inviting us to follow the yellow bars that mark the entire route

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vinorando
vinorando

walk not taken... It will be for another time...

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coalho
coalho

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

great walk, delighted

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uvachon
uvachon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Great hike on fairly varied trails, with plenty of shade. Sections 5-6 were a bit tricky due to the presence of midges and mosquitoes along the roads. The end of the expedition is well worth the detour!

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natte80
natte80

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The trails are very good, very wooded, which is fortunate for places where it gets very hot

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