Discover Saint-Symphorien

This lovely walk will take you along a variation of^{the GRP® trail} that runs alongside the Ruisseau des Sietges (a tributary of the La Lère), the beautiful hamlets of Perrière (restored houses, stone walls, carved calvary and cazelle) and Saint-Symphorien (a former 15th-century priory, cemetery with dry stone enclosures, spring and restored stone basin). Part of the route is through woodland (magnificent boxwood paths) and the return journey is along quiet little roads on the limestone plateau.

Details

n°456287

Creation:
12 Jan 2017

Last update:
20 Aug 2017

Last review:
30 Jul 2024

Activity: Walking
Distance: 9.02 km
Average duration: 3h 10
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 201 m
Descent: - 204 m
Highest point: 314 m
Lowest point: 199 m

Country: France
District: Caylus (82160)
Start/End: N 44.229452° / E 1.720776°
IGN map(s): Ref. 2140E
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Description of the walk

The walk starts from the pretty hamlet of Perrière. To reach the starting point, pass Sepfonds towards Caylus on the D926, leaving the villages of Lavaurette, Lamandine and Guillaumet on your left, and take the small road to Claousès Daillats or the next one, to reach the hamlet of Bernadelle and then Perrière. There is plenty of parking available in Perrière.

(S/E) With your back to the calvary (the road is on your left), take the path marked in red and yellow (^PR®5) opposite you for 100 metres, then turn right. Enter the woods on a slight downhill slope, keep left at the fork just before the stream, and cross the stream a few metres further on. Continue along this beautiful path for about 1.6 km, ignoring the paths on either side and always following the red and yellow markings. After a steep climb, you will come out onto a small road.

(1) Follow this road to the left, keeping to the red and yellow markings (^GRP®). After about 200m, pass the Gusounat farmhouse (on your right) and continue straight ahead on the road, which becomes a boxwood path. Continue along this beautiful path and shortly afterwards enjoy a beautiful view of the Travers de la Grange.

Continue along the path, which turns 90° to the left and begins to descend into the valley, keeping to the same signs. This will take you to the bottom of the valley.

(2) Follow a boxwood path on the right that runs alongside the Travers de Saint-Symphorien for over a kilometre until you arrive at the old priory.

(3) After visiting this wonderful site, walk past the cemetery and join a small road. Leave the red and yellow^GRP® markings and turn right onto the small road, which you should follow for about 3 km. Pass Gravet (a pretty farmhouse with stone dwellings) and shortly afterwards, a beautiful calvary on your left stands at the crossroads of two paths. Go through Rigal Sanayre, Peyrugues, Poussounel and Pourouyou (beautiful dovecote), continuing straight ahead at each crossroads.

(4) After Pourouyou, at the crossroads, take the road on the right. Pass a wash house halfway along on the right and continue to Perrière (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 291 m - Perrière hamlet
1 : km 1.7 - alt. 268 m - Junction of path and road
2 : km 3.04 - alt. 210 m - Travers de la Grange
3 : km 4.07 - alt. 201 m - Saint-Symphorien
4 : km 7.87 - alt. 304 m - Crossroads after Pourouyou
S/E : km 9.02 - alt. 291 m - Hamlet of Perrière

Notes

It is necessary to stock up on food in the village of Caylus, as this walk passes through small hamlets and quiet roads with no villages nearby.
There is a little haven of coolness under the old priory (either on the stream side or the spring side), but you should still bring water with you.
In good weather, the two places mentioned above are ideal for a gourmet break, as are the entire Ruisseau des Sietges valley and the rocks at the viewpoint between the points (1) and (2).

In case of bad weather, there is a cazelle in Perrière and a small barn (just after (2)) where you can shelter and warm up with a good homemade soup, for example.

Worth a visit

Not to be missed: the site of Saint-Symphorien: a former 15th-century priory with a nearby cemetery enclosed by dry stone walls and trimmed box trees, and a spring with healing properties (for the eyes) that flows between the priory and the cemetery. A stone basin collects the water before it flows into the river via a small ornate canal.

Also worth seeing: The hamlet of Perrière: carved calvary, beautiful restored houses, dry stone barns, cazelle (stone huts), stone walls with half-moon shapes.

Things to do: visit the small wash house on the way back to Perrière (between (4) and (S/E)), observe the flora in the undergrowth of the Ruisseau des Sietges valley (between (S/E) and (2)), discover the dry river (you can go down into the old river bed to see the stonework), stop on the rocks (between (1) and (2)) for remarkable views of the Travers de Saint-Symphorien and Travers de la Grange valleys.
And always admire the wild nature, superb landscapes and beautiful boxwood paths of the Causse.
It should be noted that there is an association that maintains the Saint-Symphorien site and perpetuates the magic of the place.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5

Based on 31 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5

Route interest
4.2 / 5

peticapio62

30 Jul 2024 at 10:12 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The first part of the route is magnificent and very pleasant in summer as it is shaded.
it's definitely worth a look and you'll be pleasantly surprised by the beauty and variety of the scenery.
The path is well maintained.

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Luis liliane

26 Feb 2024 at 12:19 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This route is very good up to the estate and chapel. The second part is much too long on the road before reaching the woods where you started.
The second part should be changed, with the option of going through the fields and woods without continuing along this long straight road. It spoils the end of the walk. A shame

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marc olivier lenique

10 Mar 2021 at 18:48 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The first part of the route to Saint Symphorien is very beautiful and quite spectacular.
The second part, which follows a country road for almost 4 km, takes away some of the charm of the first part. It's a shame. In fact, there is an old path that allows you to return to the original route when you cross the road at the first hamlet. However, it has not been cleared.

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Binoche19

09 Dec 2019 at 15:27 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 07, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very pleasant route
Start of the hike A little difficult to find

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joyce82

01 Oct 2018 at 10:30 7200 • Edited: 01 Oct 2018 at 10:32 7200

Thank you for your clarification, that's very interesting, right up to the priory.
A must-do in spring, I hope to find snake's head fritillaries along the stream.
After the priory, I continued on to Caylus (I hadn't realised there were no more signposts) and then turned back.
Now there are no more moths, but the box trees look terrible.

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SiobanS

28 Aug 2018 at 20:50 7200

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

This trail must have been very pleasant... before the box tree moths arrived. From point 2 onwards, the box trees form a canopy and the caterpillars' threads have invaded the trees so much that it feels like entering the funnel-shaped web of a giant spider. We persevered for a while, but our growing disgust at the numerous caterpillars falling on us with every step and the feeling of suffocation in this "web" got the better of us. We gave up and turned back before reaching the priory, much to our regret!

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vivi8219

18 Jul 2018 at 16:57 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hello,
At this time of year, box tree caterpillars have invaded the entire box tree path, making walking in this area difficult. This raises questions about the sustainability of the landscape along this section.

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bechristiane

23 May 2018 at 18:48 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The tour was very good from point 1 to point 3, but after that it was disappointing with a lot of driving and nothing to see. We couldn't find the cemetery.

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Tachmal

08 May 2018 at 11:11 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hello,
The first part of the circuit was magnificent, with a beautiful trail in the Causse and along a small stream
, then arriving at the superb priory.
The second part had too much road.

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CEP82

07 May 2018 at 10:45 7200 • Edited: 07 May 2018 at 11:02 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 07, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

It is important to note that you should enjoy it quickly because the box tree moth causes irreversible damage and this hike would not have the same charm without the box trees. The miraculous fountain and the small cemetery are magnificent. It is a quiet and peaceful place that is well worth a visit
An association that looks after the site is organising a walking tour on 3 June (see the website: la symphorine).

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valou82

24 Apr 2018 at 14:06 7200 • Edited: 24 Apr 2018 at 14:20 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

magnificent boxwood trail... as well as the section along the river...
we didn't find the cemetery... a shame... there are some beautiful things to see: a priory, a wash house, dovecotes...
a bit too much road, though, even though it was very quiet... we didn't see a single vehicle.

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derfeuille

16 Apr 2018 at 11:50 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 16, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

This hike takes us through beautiful areas (typical forest of the Causses with lots of boxwood, meadows, a magical river with crystal clear water, a mythical spring and a beautiful priory that is now inhabited) and is easily accessible to all. The first part of the hike offers beautiful views and is perfect for a good meal!

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marie labo

22 Mar 2018 at 16:39 3600

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

Hello,
The end of the listing needs to be changed because we almost got lost before we arrived.
Can you correct it as follows?

at point 4) After Pourouyou, at the crossroads, take the path on the right. Pass a wash house halfway along on the right and continue to Perrière . ADD: after the wash house, continue along the wide path that descends, leaving a path on the left that climbs and another just after that marked by bicycles Continue until you reach a large Y junction, take the road on the left which goes straight up to Perriere (or if you prefer... continue downhill on the road on the right and further on you will find the path you came down at the start, go up on the left.

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Sixrilles

19 Mar 2018 at 11:02 3600 • Edited: 19 Mar 2018 at 11:03 3600

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

The first part of the hike is very interesting, but the second part on the road is disappointing and monotonous.
Personally, walking along the side of the road is not our idea of hiking.

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Jpto_55

12 Mar 2018 at 10:32 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 12, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Nice walk

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pascale.sartre
3 Walks

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District: Limogne-en-Quercy (46260)

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