Couzan Castle and the Rhue Gorges

A few parking spaces are available near the small bridge over the Soulou stream. To get there from Antignac, follow the signs for Couzans for about 1.5 km. The parking spaces are just before the bridge.
Yellow markings

(S/E) Do not cross the stream but follow the road that runs alongside it, heading north-west. Cross the hamlet of La Ganette and continue along the path that extends the road.

(1) At the T-junction, follow the track on the right. Further on, cross Le Soulou. At the fork in the road, turn right and cross the hamlet of Couzan (misspelled on the IGN map).

(2) At the fork in the road, near the castle, turn left. Pass through the hamlet of Les Egards and continue along the road for another 200 metres or so.

(3) At a hairpin bend to the left (the second since Les Egards), leave the road and take the forest track on the right.

(4) At the fork in the road, keep to the right and then, about 200 m further on, at the T-junction with another path, continue to the left.

(5) Further on, the path gives way to a trail through the undergrowth, which descends into the Rhue Gorges and then runs alongside the river above. Caution! Stay alert!

(6) Continue along the path as it moves away from the gorges and heads south-southeast. At the fork, keep right and you will come to a road (D49) about 100 m further on.

(7) Follow it to the right for about 200 metres, then take the path on the left. This cuts across the bend in the road and then rejoins it. Follow it again to the left for about 100 metres, then take another shortcut path on the right, which joins the road at a crossroads.

(8) Continue straight ahead on the road to reach the hamlet of Bellot.

(9) At the entrance to the hamlet, take the path on the right to reach Tampanièrgues at the end of the access road.

(10) Continue straight ahead for a few metres, then, at the right-hand bend in the road, take the path on the left. At a fork in the path, not shown on the map, keep to the right.

(11) At the next fork in the path, turn right. Further down, wade across a stream and you will come to a road.

(12) Follow it to the right for just under 100 metres, then take the path on the left. Pass the hamlet of Grange de Couzans and join a road. Follow it to the left to return to the bridge over the Soulou and the car park (S/E).

Moderate difficulty hike, standard hiking equipment required.

Official^PR®®14hike from the PDIPR (Departmental Plan for Walking and Hiking Routes) Auvergne: Au coin de la Rhue, downloadable information sheet here

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

Photo album of this hike and the Le Rocher d'Agayrou hike here

Some views of the pretty, fairy-tale-style Couzans Castle.
Information about Couzan(s), which appears to be misspelled on the IGN map, and its castle here
Pleasant trail through the gorges, with a few views of the river below. My route sometimes deviates from the trail to access viewpoints.
Some beautiful old farms and lovely paths lined with low walls.