From Valence-sur-Baïse to Maignaut-Tauzia

Park at Place Voltaire.

(S/E) Take Rue du 14 Juillet to Boulevard du Nord.

(1) Turn left down Chemin des Droits Humains (also known as Chemin des Chèvres) and head towards the roundabout. Turn left onto the D930 and follow it carefully. Turn right with the road and continue to the first junction.

(2) Cross with care to join the D232 towards Maignaut-Tauzia. Pass the Auloue chapel and continue for about 100 metres.

(3) Take the D570 to the left, with Tauzia Castle in view. At the bottom of the valley, take the path on the right at the bend (^PR®®30), go round a small pond on the left and join the ridge road.

(4) Turn right and continue to the village of Maignaut-Tauzia.

(5) Turn right to cross the village and, once opposite the church, head down the road to the right, Côte de Valence. At the fork by the old wash house, continue to the right, Chemin du Lavoir, and carry on to a four-way junction.

(6) Continue straight ahead, cross the Auloue bridge, cross the D930 with care, then head back up to the village to reach Place des Pyrénées, where the Salle des Fêtes is located.

(7) Cross the square then turn right into Rue des Remparts. Go through the Porte de l’Hérisson and first turn right then left to reach Rue Jean-Jaurès. Follow this street to the left to reach Place de l’Hôtel de Ville. Cross the square diagonally (church).

(8) Take Rue Jules Ferry, which bends to the left and leads onto Rue Anatole France. Cross this street to arrive immediately at Place Voltaire (S/E).

Toilets on Rue Jules Ferry in Valence and at the port.
Accessible by mountain bike.
Picnic areas in Valence: Church Park, harbour, Flaran Park, Place des Pyrénées. Maignaut: Church Park.

Restaurants: Le Massalet and La Table d’Emma (Town Hall Square in Valence), La Barge (Valence harbour), La Ferme de Flaran.

In Valence, on Place Voltaire (see old map below), a large mansion has been converted into the Oustal lodge, with its shaded grounds.

Before Maignaut, you will see the Romanesque chapel of l’Auloue and its cemetery, then the Gascon castle of Tauzia (13th century).

A rare dovecote-cum-tollhouse (note the terracotta faces at the corners of the roof) welcomes visitors opposite the fortified gate of Castelnau-de-Maignaut. From the cemetery, there is an interesting view of the castle, now converted into a residence.

On your way back to Valence, behind the Porte de l’Hérisson, discover the ‘salle du paréage’ at the top of the steps leading up from the old prison.

Don’t miss the climb to the top of Saint-Jean Baptiste Church for a breathtaking view!

Nearby: Flaran Abbey and the Simonow Collection, the Bastide discovery trail.