Malpas Route

Here is a walk to stretch your legs... but that's not all! There are also some beautiful rewards!
At the highest point, there is a beautiful view of the plain and the Tarn, which stretches in graceful meanders between Lizac and Sainte-Livrade. There is also a bird's eye view of two buildings of respectable age. At the lowest point, on the way back, you can enjoy the coolness brought by the Tarn.

Details

4556503
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.54 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 87 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 86 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 158 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 71 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from the car park of the hydroelectric plant along the Sainte-Livrade river.

(S/E) Cross the D101 with caution and take the Chemin du Boulanger. Follow it, ignoring all the paths on the right or left. This path is initially tarmac, then becomes a dirt track and finally tarmac again, leading to the intersection with the Route de l'Impasse des Quatre Vents.

(1) Turn right onto the tarmac road that climbs up to Fontarabie. Cross the hamlet and reach the highest point of the route, almost at the end of Impasse des Quatre Vents, where a stony dirt track descends to the left (point 2). Before taking this path, take the opportunity to admire the landscape from the tarmac road that leads to the end of the cul-de-sac. Please stay on the tarmac road to respect the peace and quiet of local residents.

(2) At point 2, take the path that descends, passing first by a house on the left, then a house on the right. After a left turn, the path continues, wide and well marked, although it is not fully shown on the IGN map. Enjoy the view of the Tarn, which sometimes appears on the right through gaps in the vegetation.
You will reach the intersection with the tarmac road to La Serre.

(3) Turn right onto this road, which descends to the Paillot junction.

(4) Follow the D101 (Route des Vergers or Route du Malpas) to the right, which winds between the Tarn and the cliff, and follow it to the starting point at the hydroelectric plant car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 71 m - Car park at the hydroelectric plant
  2. 1 : km 1.43 - alt. 105 m - Intersection with Impasse des 4 Vents
  3. 2 : km 2.16 - alt. 157 m - Viewpoint
  4. 3 : km 2.68 - alt. 121 m - Route de La Serre
  5. 4 : km 3.33 - alt. 74 m - Malpas Road - Tarn (rivère)
  6. S/E : km 4.54 - alt. 72 m - Car park at the hydroelectric plant

Worth a visit

At the highest point of the route (point (2)), you can admire two remarkable buildings in the foreground with the town of Moissac in the background:

The Moulin de Sainte-Livrade, in the foreground: a mill built between 1769, when the work was awarded, and 1772. On the façade, iron letters form the inscription "EN 1776". Subsequent alterations. Significant damage during the 1930 flood. Subsequent renovations to convert it into a power plant between 1946 and 1956. (Excerpt from link now inaccessible http://patrimoines.midipyrenees.fr/filea...).

The Château de Saint-Paul, in the background: a building constructed around 1500 for Jean de Tubières, lieutenant of the seneschal of Quercy, by order of the Parliament of Toulouse in 1487. Additions and alterations in the 17th century, then in the 18th century. (Excerpt from http://chateau-fort-manoir-chateau.eu/ch...)
See also https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2015/09...

At the lowest point, between the point (4) and the finish:
This road, located between the Tarn on the left and a crumbling cliff on the right, is not known by the older generation by its current name of Route des Vergers (Orchard Road), but by a name that is much more evocative of reality, the "Route du Malpas" (Bad Road). In my childhood, between floods of the Tarn and landslides from the cliff, the road was often blocked...

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
CeFran82
CeFran82

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful view. It's just a shame that the end is along the road.

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Vero 82
Vero 82

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice little route. Well documented. We use maps a lot on our hikes. The Visio Rando maps are clear with landmarks, so no problems.

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souche.jeanlouis
souche.jeanlouis

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

After visiting the "Saut du Tarn" site and the associated museum, we didn't have much time left. However, we wanted to walk along the Tarn to enjoy the river a little longer.
We didn't have time to do this hike, even though it wasn't very long.
From our parking spot on Chemin de l'Albaret, we went down to the banks of the Tarn to follow its course as closely as possible. Once we had climbed back up, we returned to our car via Avenue Jean-Jaures. We satisfied our desire to walk by covering about 4.5 km in 1.5 hours.
Thanks to the author of this hike and to Visorando.

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Eidole
Eidole
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk, with accurate timing and helpful directions. We did it in the evening with our two dogs. It was very quiet and we didn't meet anyone.

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floli
floli

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant short walk alternating between grassy paths along the edge of fields and forest trails.
It's pretty, smooth going and the view of the Tarn is delightful
The circular loop is a little short
Thanks to the author of the route

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JohanConquista
JohanConquista

Hello,

I have walked this hiking route and found it very pleasant.

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Occitan_82
Occitan_82

I have just completed the route again and found that the suggested routes are excellent (and very pleasant).

So please let me know which points of the explanation need to be revised (if any) to avoid any errors in the route.
At the same time, I would like to take this opportunity to correct an oversight by asking everyone to respect private property and the peace and quiet of the residents, particularly near point no. 2, where there is a beautiful view.

Kind regards,
Occitan_82

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Occitan_82
Occitan_82

Hello everyone,

I am the creator of the route and I apologise if the route description is unclear. In particular, I don't understand how Daniel could have encountered a path blocked by brush... Please let me know exactly what is unclear so that I can improve it.
Best regards.

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Daniel .
Daniel .

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The hike could be interesting, provided that part of the path, which is completely impassable, is cleared. I do not recommend this hike.

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Lelene66
Lelene66

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant route, not well signposted.

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