Gasques washhouse route

A strip of chalky rock runs down from the Quercy highlands to the outskirts of Valence d’Agen. On this short route, you’ll wander over hill and dale. You’ll pass by a few old wash houses. The first, below the village, still has its stone benches for washing clothes. The others, halfway along the route, on either side of the road, are overgrown with vegetation or water lilies. (Excerpt from “Emilie’s Trails in the 82” by Randoéditions).

Details

12732100
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.90 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 512 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 509 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 525 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 266 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Gasques (82400)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 44.153424° / E 0.919421°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1940E
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Description of the walk

Park in the village hall car park.

(S/E) Head downhill to the left along Rue de la Grange au Chêne, passing the housing estate and the bend.

(1) Turn right and take the path that passes beneath the limestone cliffs and runs alongside a wall of cut stone. 50 m before the old communal wash house, turn left onto a section ofthe GR® de Pays which descends to the D46.
There, turn right for a few metres, cross the road then walk alongside a small copse. Turn left to walk alongside the Ruisseau de Gasques. At the end of the path, cross the bridge on the left to join the D46 and follow it to the left for about 50 m.

(2) Turn right, walk past a house and climb the path which joins a tarmac road on the plateau. At the junction, turn left towards the hamlet of Barbe, passing in front of Granges Hautes.

(3) In the hamlet, turn left. Pass in front of “the water lily fountain” and cross a bridge over the Ruisseau de Barbe.

(4) Turn right onto the narrow path that climbs through the woods. Pass under a power line and, on leaving the woods, continue right along the path towards the D74.

(5) Turn left and continue to Jean du Fa, passing the farm on your right.

(6) At the bend, turn left onto the path leading down towards the D46 (once on the road, a 20-metre detour to the right – not marked – allows you to see a wash house). Follow the D46 to the left.

(7) At a pond, take the first path on the left and head up through the woods, passing under a power line. Continue to the tarmac road leading to the village and arrive at the village hall car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 469 ft - Village hall car park, behind the church
  2. 1 : mi 0.15 - alt. 430 ft - Path running along the cliff
  3. 2 : mi 1.05 - alt. 272 ft - Path on the right
  4. 3 : mi 1.87 - alt. 479 ft - Barbe hamlet
  5. 4 : mi 2.15 - alt. 367 ft - Path through the woods
  6. 5 : mi 2.58 - alt. 518 ft - D74
  7. 6 : mi 3.1 - alt. 367 ft - Junction at the bend
  8. 7 : mi 3.36 - alt. 331 ft - Junction at a pond
  9. S/E : mi 3.9 - alt. 469 ft - Village hall car park, behind the church

Notes

There are public toilets near the village hall car park.
NB: several paths do not appear on the IGN map but are visible on OSM.

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 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
User 29081189

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 16, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk, but a bit disappointing as there are very few wash houses; it really ought to be called something else

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2doudoux
2doudoux

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A perfect, easy route with shaded, well-maintained paths – ideal for little ones at this time of year. There’s not much tarmac on the plateau, with views of the mill; a stretch in the sun and pure bliss... a chorus of birdsong!!!!! No other walkers on the route

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RosaDel
RosaDel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We went for a walk after a lot of rain in the days leading up to it, so it was very muddy, making the descents and ascents slippery, but we managed to adapt.
Very pleasant with a good balance of tarmac (quiet roads) and countryside. Lovely shaded spots, the starting village, the wash houses, and the little stream that the path follows for part of the walk are what make this route so charming.
In dry weather, the walk is accessible to everyone, even though there are ascents and descents (valleys).
Hike done with a dog on a lead: no problems at all

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Alain Renaud
Alain Renaud

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Concise and user-friendly. A really good app

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