Circular from the Viaduc des Rochers Noirs to Soursac

This route takes you along a very quiet road and narrow paths on either side of the Viaduc des Rochers Noirs viaduct to a metal suspension footbridge over the Luzège. Lovely views of the viaduct and the Luzège Valley.

Details

13645141
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.14 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 268 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 273 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 532 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 289 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Car park at Soursac church.

(S/E) Opposite the porch of Saint-Julien Church, take the street on the right (Route de la Parrot), which continues as a path.

(1) At the bench, take the narrow path on the left which joins the D89e.

(2) Continue along the road on the left towards the Viaduc des Rochers Noirs.

(3) Opposite a cistern, ignore the return path on the right. Continue along the road.

(4) The viaduct was closed to traffic, even pedestrians, for a long time. It has now been restored.
Cross it.

(5) Turn right onto the path that descends towards Luzège.

(6) Cross the Luzège via the suspension bridge. Climb back up to the road and the fork you passed on the way there.

(3) Opposite the cistern that was used to fill locomotives with water, turn left in the opposite direction to the outward journey towards Soursac until you reach the fork you passed on the way out.

(2) Stay on the road, ignoring the path on the right further on, and you will reach the viewpoint at altitude 462. There are beautiful views of the Luzège Valley and the Viaduc des Rochers Noirs.
You can visit the "Jardin de Firmin" garden, which has been restored by the association, free of charge (information panels on site).

(7) Take the path on the right towards Soursac. You can stop at the bench just above the "Jardin de Firmin". Beautiful view of the viaduct. Continue along the path to the road and walk to the church (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 532 m - Église Saint-Julien (Soursac)
  2. 1 : km 0.36 - alt. 514 m - Bench
  3. 2 : km 1.15 - alt. 417 m - Crossroads of the eastern circular
  4. 3 : km 2.01 - alt. 383 m - Crossroads leading to the viaduct
  5. 4 : km 2.3 - alt. 394 m - Viaduc des Rochers Noirs
  6. 5 : km 2.56 - alt. 378 m - Fork in the path
  7. 6 : km 2.81 - alt. 289 m - Suspension footbridge over the - Luzège (rivière) - Affluent de la Dordogne
  8. 7 : km 5.19 - alt. 462 m - Belvedere
  9. S/E : km 6.14 - alt. 532 m - Église Saint-Julien (Soursac)

Notes

This hike is classified as moderate due to the path crossing from one bank to the other via the footbridge.

Steep incline on a path in poor condition.
Crossing fallen trees at the stream before Luzège.

Worth a visit

The village of Soursac is very pleasant to visit.
Numerous information panels about the TransCorrézien, a small train that connected the main villages of Corrèze between Tulle and Ussel. Remains of this network include water tanks, bridges, including the Viaduc des Rochers Noirs, tunnels, etc.
Jardin de Firmin (page on the life of Soursac)

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 12 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 18541185

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello, very beautiful route. Very difficult to descend towards the Himalayan footbridge and the same for the ascent. Narrow path with lots of stones. Do not descend in rainy weather. Go to the viaduct.

Machine-translated

Pascal Peyramaure
Pascal Peyramaure

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great walk with exceptional views, a bit of history with the viaduct, and cool temperatures down by the Luzége.
be careful, the descents can be tricky for some people.

Machine-translated

User 22600682

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great, shaded, well-maintained old railway line. Beautiful view.

Machine-translated

User 24623935
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Start the hike from the car park behind the church in Soursac. Pass through the Firmin gardens (free entry) then descend to the viaduct, cross it and continue to the Belvédère for a magnificent view of the viaduct and the Luzège valley. Return via a circular route crossing a Himalayan footbridge. It is advisable to wear suitable footwear and to undertake this hike in good weather.
The site is very well equipped with benches and public toilets.
For a picnic, go from Soursac to the Pond Aubert lake, which is well equipped, accessible to people with reduced mobility, and has toilets, children's games, and a picnic area with wooden huts and tables.

Machine-translated

Jean Mimi 24
Jean Mimi 24

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike, a bit short but very full!
Discovering the renovated viaduct was a wonderful surprise. We gradually uncovered it as we hiked along. Crossing the renovated deck was magical. There will soon be an exhibition of equipment that will be placed on sections of railway track. This should provide additional information to help us better understand the origins of this engineering structure.

Machine-translated

gk
gk
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Following the work carried out on the Viaduc des Rochers Noirs and its reopening, the route of the circuit has been updated.

Machine-translated

Incantesimu
Incantesimu

Hello
I haven't done this hike yet.

Incantesimu

Machine-translated

Jacques.cugnon
Jacques.cugnon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Viaduct open, so complete circular.
Distance needs to be reviewed as it does not match the description, nor does the elevation gain. By cutting through Firmin's garden, we cover 5.5 km and 216 m elevation gain/loss.

Otherwise, a superb walk. It is true that there are a few cars on the section of road leading to the viaduct, but this is not a problem as the drivers are careful and drive slowly.

Machine-translated

Jos_mr
Jos_mr

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful descent through the undergrowth before reaching the road that leads to the viaduct.
The directions need to be changed because the work was completed in September 2024 and pedestrians can now cross. So there is no need to make a return trip on the metal footbridge. You have to cross the viaduct on foot, descend to the footbridge from the opposite side, cross it and climb back up to the other side to continue towards Firmin's garden.
There are some very interesting information boards and photos about the construction of the viaduct in 1913.

Machine-translated

MICHEU
MICHEU

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike, but not one to do at the weekend, as the viaduct can be accessed by car, meaning the road section of the route gets very busy.

Machine-translated

Kikitab
Kikitab
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

The only view of the viaduct from Firmin's garden. The footbridge is of no interest; a small wooden bridge would have sufficed.

Machine-translated

balou17
balou17

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike through the woods. Beautiful clearings give us magnificent views of the viaduct.
The round trip via the footbridge is not "sad". But it's worth it.

Machine-translated

danieldelrieu
danieldelrieu
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 13, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike! Soursac is a very beautiful, well-maintained town. The Firmin area is magical!

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.