From Durenque to the summit of Lagast

Park in Durenque, on the Place du Couderc, a large square running alongside the D56, where the café-restaurant is located.

(S/E) Leave the car park heading towards Villefranche-de-Panat. Follow Avenue du Lévézou (D522) which descends into the village towards the church, pass Place de la Fontaine and, 100 m further on, turn left into the lane called Chemin de la Barrière.

(1) After the last houses, take the path on the right and keep right at the junctions.

(2) As you cross the Durenque stream, note the small stone bridge. Head up into the small wood, take the fenced-off path through the field and join the road.

(3) Follow it to the left. 200 m after Perbencous Bas, take the path on the right, walk along a meadow for a few dozen metres, then take the path on the left running alongside the stream in the Bois de Paris. Cross the ford, continue along this path, reach a field and walk along it to Ginestouzet. Walk through the hamlet.

(4) Take the small road on the left. Pass Saint-Paul.

(5) Note the Croix des Trois Cantons and continue to reach the summit of Lagast (928 m):a survey table, a magnificent 360° viewpoint with a rather exceptional panorama stretching as far as the Pyrenees on a clear day. The spot invites you to take a break: benches have been installed for this very purpose!

(6) Walk past the TV relay building on the left and follow the forest track, which offers views of the Lagast National Forest (beech and fir trees), majestic in all seasons. At the^third hairpin bend, let the track veer off to the left and take the small path to the right.

(7) Cross a small stream below and continue along this pretty little Franquèze path. Cross the Saint-Paul road and continue straight ahead.

(8) At the^first junction, turn right, then, at the top of the climb, turn left and continue to the road.

(9) Follow it to the right as far as Ginestous and cross the hamlet. At the end, continue left for 150 m.

(10) Note the picnic table in the Champ des Sources. Take the path on the right and continue until you reach the D522.

(11) Follow it to the right for a few dozen metres and take the small road on the left.

(12) At the^first junction, veer slightly left, then, at the^second junction, turn sharply right and head towards Chante-Coucou.

(13) 50 m after the hamlet, at a barrier, take the path on the left towards Moulin de Roupeyrac.

(14) Take the footbridge and cross the Durenque. Walk alongside the Moulin de Roupeyrac site, head towards the waterfall and climb the steps leading up to the pond’s embankment.

(15) Turn left onto the road called Chemin du Moulin de Roupeyrac, which climbs towards the village. When you reach the Hameau des Genêts housing estate, continue straight on across the Passage de la Viaucave, then turn right. Continue straight on, passing the entrance to a farm on your right, walk past a barn and reach the Place de la Fontaine.

Turn left onto Rue Bombe-Cul (aptly named: to make your way up this steep street, you have to lean forward and, well, stick your bum out!) Continue to Avenue du Lévézou, turn left and you’ll find the car park (S/E).

Benches at the summit of Lagast.
Picnic table in the “Champ des Sources” near Ginestous.
This route is marked in yellow (^PR® Promenade et Randonnée) from the Place de la Fontaine.

- Moulin de Roupeyrac site: 19th-century birthplace of the poet François Fabié

https://moulins-roupeyrac.fr/

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moulin_de_...

https://www.tourisme-aveyron.com/fr/diff...

Durenque Church and its stained-glass windows dedicated to Saint Thérèse.

- At the summit of Lagast: orientation table and the Lagast Pyramid
“The highest point of the Lagast mountains, the Pyramid of the same name dates from 1799. At that time, the astronomer Delambre, sent by the King of France, arrived in Durenque, stopped there and set up his triangulation equipment to measure the meridian and establish the standard metre. Gone were the old measurements: the toise, the foot, the inch, the pound… Since the Revolution, there have been no more double standards!”

- Lagast State Forest
The Lagast State Forest covers 89 hectares on a hill at an altitude of 928 metres. It consists of beech and coniferous trees. It has been state-owned since 1790 and is now managed by the National Forestry Office. It originated from the division of the Moncan estate, a former farmstead of the Cistercian Abbey of Bonnecombe. This forest, mainly composed of beech trees, nearly disappeared in the early 19th century because, for reasons of profitability, attempts were made to replace the beech trees with fast-growing pines. Fortunately, this attempt did not really take root and the forest reverted to its original beech stand. Wolves survived in the forest until the late 1800s. A walking trail is available in the forest, focusing on the beech tree.''

- Cannac: church and frescoes by Nicolaï Greschny.

- Alrance: Peyrebrune Tower (14th century).

- Villefranche de Panat: ‘Tour du Lac’, an 11 km marked trail with beaches.