Château de Pierre Gourde and Serre de Meran

From Saint-Laurent-du-Pape, this pleasant hike to the ruins of Pierre Gourde Castle offers a beautiful overview of the Ardèche: the route is almost exclusively along ridges, with magnificent views of the Eyrieux Valley, the Ardèche Mountains, the Rhône Valley and the Vercors.
Please note: some steep and rugged climbs before reaching the château and, above all, the ascent of the Serre de Girbaud may discourage some hikers. It is not advisable to do the hike in reverse!

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.25 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 592 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 588 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 620 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 112 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Coming from Beauchastel on the D120, after passing through Saint-Laurent-du-Pape, there is a small car park on the right at a place called Les Plantas, marked by rubbish bins.

(S/E) Walk 400 m along the D120 with great caution, going up the Eyrieux Valley. Take the first road on the right going up towards Begouier (yellow-white markings). The road curves to the left between the houses and, after about 100 metres, comes to a fork (signpost). Leave the yellow-white markings and turn right onto Chemin de Beaumier, towards Beaumazet-le-Haut. After a sharp right-hand bend, you will come to another fork.

(1) Turn left, still on Chemin de Beaumier (a kilometre marker on the left indicates the old route ofthe GR® 42). The tarmac disappears, giving way to a wide, steadily ascending track. After several hairpin bends of varying widths, the track becomes flatter and reaches a fork (not shown on the map) before Petit Baumier.

(2) Keep right, towards Pierre Gourde (sign and yellow-white markings again). After 250 m, ignore the access road to the hamlet of Baumier on your right. From here, the path offers numerous variations and shortcuts: follow the yellow-white markings and after more than 2 km you will reach the signpost for "Pierre Gourde".

(3) Turn right a few metres after the signpost towards Boulon (there are several paths of varying steepness and with varying degrees of erosion). After a steep climb towards the castle, you will arrive at the carriage track below it. Cross the track and, following the more or less marked paths, climb to the top of the castle (note that it is easier to reach by going around the ruins on the left). Be careful, as ruins are always potentially dangerous.

(4) After admiring the view, retrace your steps to the track: it is possible to walk through the ruins to reach it further north. Take this path northwards for about 600 m until you reach a fork: signpost for "Chastan", at the foot of Serre de Girbaud.

(5) Leave the road and take the path to the left of the signpost, which is quite rough and climbs steeply up to Serre de Girbaud. This is the most difficult part of the route. After these challenging 300 metres, the path widens out onto a flat section and you will come to a fork.

(6) Turn right and, facing the Vercors and Serre de Meran, head for the Col de Meran, where you will join theGR® 42.

(7) Cross the D 266 road and take theGR® 42 opposite on the left, which leads to the Serre de Meran (it is also possible to take the wide path going straight up to the Serre, which is steeper and less pleasant). Continue on theGR® 42 for about 1 km, ignoring any other paths, until you reach the "Serre de Meran" signpost (there is an underground reservoir at this point).

(8) Leave theGR® 42 on your left and continue straight ahead on the shoulder. After about a hundred metres, the path begins to descend. After another 500 metres or so, you will reach the "Boulon" signpost.

(9) Turn right towards Saint-Laurent-du-Pape and join the D 266 road below (pass through the fence just before). Turn left towards the hamlet of Boulon. Just before the houses, look out for a path on the right (yellow markings).

(10) Take this path on the right and stay on it until you reach the D 266 road after a 2 km descent through beautiful holm oak woods.

(11) Turn right onto Chemin d'Autussac (tarmac road), cross the hamlet of the same name and head for Les Plantas and the car park at the start (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 113 m - Car park at the start at a place called "Les Plantas".
  2. 1 : km 0.79 - alt. 150 m - Beaumier Path
  3. 2 : km 1.97 - alt. 326 m - On the right, yellow and white markings.
  4. 3 : km 4.25 - alt. 479 m - Pierre Gourde signpost: right towards Boulon
  5. 4 : km 4.57 - alt. 564 m - Summit of Château de Pierre Gourde
  6. 5 : km 5.42 - alt. 548 m - Chastan signpost, path on the left
  7. 6 : km 5.72 - alt. 620 m - Fork in the road, to the right
  8. 7 : km 6.42 - alt. 546 m - Meran Pass
  9. 8 : km 7.57 - alt. 550 m - Serre de Meran signpost, opposite
  10. 9 : km 8.15 - alt. 484 m - Poteau Boulon: on the right
  11. 10 : km 8.41 - alt. 456 m - Trail on the right, marked in yellow.
  12. 11 : km 10.23 - alt. 171 m - Route d'Autissac, on the right
  13. S/E : km 11.25 - alt. 113 m - Car park at the start

Notes

Good shoes and walking sticks recommended for steep climbs.
No water available along the route.

Worth a visit

Ruins of Pierre Gourde Castle (13th century).
Views of the Eyrieux Valley and the Ardèche Mountains to the south and west, and the Rhône Valley, the Vercors and the Trois-Becs Massif to the east.

 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

4.5 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Vonvon
Vonvon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An interesting route that climbs steeply at the start, so it's best to have walking sticks and good shoes. Most of it is on a wide, pleasant path. Some beautiful views, except on the way back, which is through the woods, but with great photo opportunities. Thanks to the author

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Cédric.07
Cédric.07

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike done in early October. If you ignore the stretch along the road at the start, everything else is truly superb. The view from the castle is worth its weight in gold if the weather is clear (as it was that day). We took the opportunity to have a picnic. We left at 11 a.m. and arrived at the castle at 12:15 p.m. The descent is through the woods. We didn't meet anyone!
We did this activity with our dog (a border collie) without any problems. There is a water source at the finish, so be prepared.

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TOULAUD'RANDO
TOULAUD'RANDO

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A lovely hike, completed on Friday, 4 April.
At point 5, the climb up Serre de Giraud is not clearly marked.

No other difficulties.

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delay jean louis
delay jean louis

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike

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MissVertigo
MissVertigo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike with varied trails and beautiful scenery!
No vertiginous passages!
Snow on the surrounding peaks, a little extra!

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Guy 26
Guy 26

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A good and beautiful hike
but with some slightly difficult sections

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suzie
suzie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike, thanks to the author
We went to eat at the top of the castle, superb view

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Maëvaaah
Maëvaaah

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route to the castle is very good. We have a beautiful view! An orientation table would be ideal on this site. Unfortunately, from point 5 onwards, when you have to find the Chastan post, it gets complicated because the vegetation hides the landmark, especially as following the Serre de Girbaud path leads to a dead end full of brambles. We had to continue on the carriage road that took us to the Col de Gilhac and follow the D266, which adds 4 km to the advertised route.
It's a shame that the trails are not maintained. Otherwise, the conditions are ideal for this hike.

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Emmanuel26
Emmanuel26

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike, done on a beautiful autumn day, only encountered one person. Very beautiful view at the castle. Be careful of temperature variations, don't be fooled by the start of the trail, which is south-facing and sheltered from the wind. The last part is quite difficult: the rock was slippery. If I were to do the hike again in autumn, I would stay on the small road for the end.
I strongly advise against hiking on a hot day as the south-facing climb is very exposed. Good footwear is absolutely essential as there are a lot of rocks. Similarly, do not do this hike after rain (there is a high risk of slipping).
Very happy

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maran04
maran04

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike overall.
Not too difficult.

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AqualiJu
AqualiJu

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A nice little hike, perfect for autumn weather. Completed in 3 hours without breaks, in the direction indicated.

It's a shame that the entire first section (~2km) is on a road/wide track. It might have been nicer to take the marked trail on the left at the first hiking signpost (just before the1).
Contrary to what is indicated on the IGN map, the climb is marked in yellow and white.

A few details:
at (5), the signpost is slightly misplaced; take the path on the left just after the signpost (not the one directly next to it)
At (8), the marked path is not clearly indicated. Take the path with the GR cross and enter the enclosure if it is closed.

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