Route des Cigales in Fontanes

The Circuit des Cigales is the ideal route for exploring the surroundings of Fontanes and Saint-Cevet, the two pillars of the municipality of Fontanes, which itself was behind the creation of this circuit.

Details

17227225
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.79 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 103 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 100 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 265 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 209 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park near the Rond-Point des Bienvenus roundabout.

(S/E) Leaving the car park, turn right onto the D149 towards Saint-Cevet. Pass the Fontanes cemetery on your left and the Chemin de Laraigné on your right. Climb up to Jas Viel and continue for about 100 m.

(1) Turn right onto the path. Continue straight ahead, cross a small tarmac road (D19), and continue on the path opposite, slightly to the left. You will reach Les Bouyssières Basses, the northernmost point of the route.

(2) When you reach the hamlet, return to the tarmac road and head back towards the church and cemetery of Saint-Cevet. Return to the D19, follow it to the right for about 100 metres, then turn left onto the path towards the hamlet of Capy. At the fork, turn left, then right about 100 metres further on to reach the hamlet.

(3) Leave Capy via the road heading west to join the D149. Follow the road to the right for about 50 metres, then take a path on the left that runs alongside the Ruisseau de Lestant stream and leads to the pumping station on the D19.

(4) Turn left, then left again to go around the pumping station and head south.

(5) Continue straight ahead and keep going in the same direction, ignoring the paths on either side.

(6) Before Les Bastous, cross the road from Les Bastous to Escazals, go straight ahead and join a cross path. Take it to the left to reach Les Gourpatières on the road you crossed earlier.

(7) Follow it to the right, crossing the hamlet of Escazals.

(8) Immediately after leaving the hamlet, descend to the right and then climb up the other side of the valley to reach the stone cross at the edge of the D47.

(9) Turn left and return to Fontanes at the Bienvenus roundabout (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 210 m - Bienvenus roundabout
  2. 1 : km 0.82 - alt. 227 m - Jas Viel
  3. 2 : km 3.31 - alt. 251 m - Bouyssières Basses
  4. 3 : km 4.94 - alt. 255 m - Hamlet of Capy
  5. 4 : km 6.07 - alt. 247 m - D 19
  6. 5 : km 6.69 - alt. 246 m - Junction, straight ahead
  7. 6 : km 7.97 - alt. 263 m - Les Bastous
  8. 7 : km 8.95 - alt. 256 m - Gourpatières
  9. 8 : km 9.66 - alt. 246 m - Exit Escazals, on the right
  10. 9 : km 10.21 - alt. 235 m - D 47, cross
  11. S/E : km 10.79 - alt. 210 m - Bienvenus roundabout

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
3.8 / 5
Fuxi
Fuxi

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

This route is sandwiched between the A20 motorway and the N20 (expressway). As soon as you move away from the background noise of the motorway, the noise of the expressway takes over. You never really get the silence of the countryside, no matter where you are. And to top it all off, the route is constantly flown over by small planes from the nearby Cahors aerodrome.
This hike is not recommended in summer as there is very little shade.

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Vendinielle
Vendinielle
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

As mentioned, a route for exploring the local area, with few roads and wide, open paths. Some sections through the undergrowth are truly magnificent. Beautiful stone houses (in comparison, the corrugated iron farm buildings in Escazals look rather poor!). No distant views, but rolling meadows and woods. The church of Saint-Cevet is a lovely surprise. No cicadas in September, but lots of butterflies. At the end of summer 2024, the vegetation is still very good.
It's a shame to hear the noise of the motorway between 1 and 2.

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lupi001
lupi001

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Even after heavy rainfall, such as this spring, this route is relatively dry, with only a few small sections with a little water. There is also little tarmac. The GPS indicates a length of over 11 km. Beautiful scenery.

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nicodaime
nicodaime

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

I really enjoyed this hike on the Causse plateau, with its beautiful paths, wild flowers, peaceful atmosphere, no mud despite the rain, a car park with a bench, and toilets near the town hall. Not suitable in hot weather. Very well signposted. I found it to be 1 km longer and 155 m higher than stated.

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Dimarche
Dimarche

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We suspect that in February we won't hear any cicadas... The name of the truffier route would be more appropriate, whatever the season! The path is marked all along its length, alternating between plateaus and hollows, open views and streams. A very good walk _to be done in 2½ hours at a good pace_ in average weather, even in winter.🤗

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Mamydomy34
Mamydomy34

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

No cicada singing!!!! !!! ....
A pleasant route. Wide path. No difficulty.
Markings a little "faded" in places but still legible.

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Leclanpin
Leclanpin

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy hike, very well marked. I recommend it.

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CMA31
CMA31

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very pretty village and landscape.

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norbert.maisonneuve
norbert.maisonneuve

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

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