Rochebloine Castle

de fr

This walk takes you through a forest of hundred-year-old beech and chestnut trees to the ruins of Rochebloine Castle and ends on a high note with the view from the Chaux meadows over the Alps.

Details

n°2742738
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.99 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,142 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,112 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,383 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,451 ft
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Photos

La Chaux
Ruins of Rochebloine Castle

Description of the walk

Park in the Col du Buisson car park.

This walk is marked in yellow and white (PR®®).

(S/E) Walk 1 km along the D236 road, heading south.
(1) Take a path on the far right that descends into the beech woods. It passes a centuries-old chestnut tree. Join the Route de la Valette.

(2) Turn right onto it and follow it to La Gagère.

(3) A path branches off to the left into the woods; follow it. It climbs up to meadows where cute little Shetland ponies and Ouessant sheep graze. Pass the houses at Malsert and continue straight on along the path, which climbs through deciduous woodland on a grassy track. Continue until you reach the junction with a road.

(4) Head straight ahead, in the middle of the road junction, along a path to visit the castle.

(5) Rochebloine Castle (ruins). Turn back towards the road.

(4) Carry on to the right, walk a few metres and head slightly onto the D236.

(6) Take a narrow path that runs alongside the D236 below, through coniferous woodland. This path joins a track leading to the pretty hamlet of Tracol. Pass through the hamlet and arrive at a wayside cross.

(7) At the road (D236), turn sharply left; be careful as cars tend to drive a bit fast.

(8) After this new wayside cross, a path climbs up to the right through a forest of Douglas firs, which gives way to deciduous woodland.

(9) When you reach the crossroads at the Ferme de la Chaux, turn right at a 90° angle onto a lovely track amongst the goats. Admire the view stretching from Mont Blanc to the Trois Becs.

(10) Leave the track and take a stony path on the left. It passes through terraced fields and past the Maison le Fouillas, which offers a final view of the Doux valley before descending to the Col du Buisson (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,009 ft - Car park - Col du Buisson (922m)
  2. 1 : mi 0.58 - alt. 3,058 ft - Marked path on the right
  3. 2 : mi 1.11 - alt. 2,628 ft - La Valette
  4. 3 : mi 1.66 - alt. 2,484 ft - La Gagère, path junction
  5. 4 : mi 2.88 - alt. 3,166 ft - Rochebloine crossroads
  6. 5 : mi 3.04 - alt. 3,248 ft - Rochebloine Castle. Beautiful view over the valley of the - Doux (rivière)
  7. 6 : mi 3.25 - alt. 3,179 ft - Path on the right below the D236
  8. 7 : mi 4.06 - alt. 3,182 ft - Calvary
  9. 8 : mi 4.26 - alt. 3,189 ft - Crossroads, path on the right
  10. 9 : mi 4.89 - alt. 3,373 ft - La Chaux
  11. 10 : mi 5.42 - alt. 3,314 ft - Track-path junction
  12. S/E : mi 5.99 - alt. 3,009 ft - Col du Buisson car park

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.

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Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 2 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Laurence57C
Laurence57C

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk through varied landscapes, where the forest gives way to beautiful, unobstructed views. You’ll also come across some lovely, secluded Ardèche-style houses along the way. Please note: between points 3 and 4, do not follow the route shown on the map; instead, follow the path (clearly marked) which is signposted in yellow and white. Best enjoyed in good weather to make the most of the view of the Alps.

Machine-translated

colette petre
colette petre

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A pleasant walk along lovely grassy paths. We only got a bit confused in the hamlet of La Gagère, where we missed the path to the left, but we quickly turned back (there was a change in the fencing, so there were no signposts).
Thank you for this lovely walk.

Machine-translated

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