Bach Phosphate Quarry Route

Themed trail exploring the origins of the earth, with paths leading through an old phosphate mine.
Starting from the square in front of Bach Town Hall, follow the Yellow ‘Les Phosphatières’ trail for 9 km.
Roman ruins along the route, including a well, a wash house and, above all, cazelles – stone shelters.

Details

68137850
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.18 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 61 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 117 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 376 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 317 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Lot (46)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 44.350314° / E 1.670981°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2139E
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the square in front of Bach Town Hall.

(S/E) Follow the path on the D22 towards Jamblusse and reach the crossroads in the Coudénas district.

(1) Leave the road and turn right onto the Chemin de Découverte until you reach the Midi-QuercyGRP ®.

(2) Turn left onto it and follow the yellow and red markings. Walk through the forest until you reach the edge.

(3) Leave theGRP® and keep left on the yellow-marked discovery trail to reach the Roman well.

(4) Turn right and you’ll soon reach the crossroads by the wash house. Continue left along the discovery trail, enter the forest shortly after the houses at Cloup d’Aural and arrive at a crossroads.

(5) Turn right to reach the Phosphatières site.

(6) Turn left, cross the D19 with care, continue almost in a straight line through the woods and you will then reach theGR®65.

(7) Turn left onto it and follow it to the edge of the woods.

(8) Turn right onto the nature trail and head towards the Combe Millière crossroads.

(9) Turn left, pass the hamlet of Les Bories and then reach the D22 junction.

(10) Cross it carefully, continue straight on and then veer slightly to the left. Pass Laganic and then Mas de Juge before returning to the car park at Bach Town Hall (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 376 m - Car park at Bach Town Hall
  2. 1 : km 0.16 - alt. 371 m - Le Couidenas
  3. 2 : km 1.06 - alt. 365 m - GRP
  4. 3 : km 2.33 - alt. 341 m - La Verrière
  5. 4 : km 2.76 - alt. 348 m - Roman well
  6. 5 : km 3.78 - alt. 374 m - Les Moulins
  7. 6 : km 4.15 - alt. 367 m - Ecomuseum
  8. 7 : km 5.41 - alt. 340 m - GR65
  9. 8 : km 5.95 - alt. 353 m - Paillassie
  10. 9 : km 6.49 - alt. 336 m - Combe Millière
  11. 10 : km 7.62 - alt. 351 m - D22
  12. S/E : km 9.18 - alt. 317 m - Car park at Bach Town Hall

Notes

Ideal for families due to its cultural richness; wide path with little elevation gain (50 m), duration 3 hours.

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.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
TISSOTY
TISSOTY

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, mostly through woodland, offering the chance to see wells and wash houses typical of this region. Best done before the unmissable visit to the phosphate mines.

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User 21453808

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this walk recommended by Apicq.

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Michèle F.
Michèle F.

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike with beautiful paths, a magnificent wash house and a very interesting visit to the phosphate mines. The place is unique and magnificent.
€14 admission to the phosphate mines, but hey...
A superb day out

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Fa54
Fa54
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This is a geological interpretation trail that actually starts at point 6 (phosphate mines, admission fee but surprising and very interesting) and goes in the opposite direction to the one indicated. It is best to follow the planned route as the information boards along the trail seem to be arranged in proportion to the time it takes to walk the trail.

Don't miss the butterfly wash house and the three fountains along the route, which are very original. Otherwise, the landscape is typical of the Quercy region, with low walls everywhere, stone huts and a limestone plateau landscape.

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User 2686116

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, peaceful and well-shaded walk.
Some lovely discoveries: wells, stone huts and wash houses. Brilliant!

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