Dolmens, ruined castle and resurgence at Grospierres

This hike allows you to discover the Combe Fille Dolmen, then the Sous-Planas Dolmen, different views of the Ardèche foothills to the Lozère Mountains, a small drystone shelter in a magnificent holm oak undergrowth, the Chapel of Notre-Dame des Songes, the ruins of the "Chastelas" and finally the Font Vive Resurgence.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.64 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,555 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,545 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,522 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 420 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from the car park, Route du Marronnier.

White-yellow markings

(S/E) With your back to the car park, turn left, cross Route de Belvezet, then take the grassy path opposite. At the three-way junction, keep left, continue along the path to a road and follow it to a 90° left turn, a few metres after the sign for Mezeyras.

(1) Turn right and follow what remains of a mule track. Walk alongside a stream on your right and, after a few hairpin bends, you will reach a fork at the top of the plateau.

No more markings

(2) Take the path on the left and you will soon reach the Combe Fille dolmen.

(3) Then return to the previous fork.

(2) Continue straight ahead, passing a magnificent oak tree on your right. Then take the first path on the left. This will take you to the Sous-Planas Dolmen. Continue for another 20 metres or so until you reach a T-junction.

(4) Take the small path on the left. At the track, opposite the fence, turn right and you will soon reach a fork.

(5) Ignore the grassy path on the right and take the path opposite, which is not very visible but becomes increasingly clear. Continue straight ahead, slightly uphill, until you reach a track.

White-red markings

(6) Follow it to the right and you will reach a large crossroads.

No more markings

(7) Continue along the track on the left, signposted Col de la Cize, and climb the gentle slope to reach it.

White-yellow markings

(8) Take the small path on the right, along the mountainside, slightly downhill. After about 800 m, it climbs again and, after a good hundred metres, joins the start of a hairpin path on the right.

(9) Take this path and you will soon reach the ridge with its magnificent view. Then cross over to the other side. At the next fork (not very clearly marked), keep to the right and continue through a magnificent holm oak forest.

(10) Note a small drystone shelter, somewhat hidden by vegetation, and continue downhill to a four-way fork.

White-red markings

(11) Go straight ahead and head for the Chapel of Notre-Dame des Songes.

(12) Continue downhill and keep right at the next fork. You will reach the start of a very discreet path on the left, about ten metres before the vegetation opens up on the right.

No more markings

(13) Climb the embankment on the left and you will soon reach a small plateau. Turn right and you will come to a lunar landscape, facing a rocky peak. Descend to the left, pass under the porch of the ruins of "Chastelas" and continue downhill, exploring the area, until you reach a fork at the foot of the site.

White-yellow markings

(14) Turn left, walk along the ruins on your left, then take the first path down to the right and reach the Font Vive resurgence.

(15) Turn around and return to the foot of the ruins of "Chastelas".

White-red markings

(14) Keep left and you will soon reach a fork with a cross at the foot of the hill.

White-yellow markings

(16) Descend to the right and, at the road, go right. At the next crossroads, turn left and then quickly onto the path on the right. Cross a stream, take a right-hand bend and find the start of a path on the right, at the entrance to the left-hand bend.

(17) Follow the path and arrive at a fork at a small pass.

(18) Keep left, go around the hill on the right and, at the next fork, go right. Continue straight on the path that follows the ridge, then descend to a hamlet. Continue on the tarmac road and reach the first bend on the left.

(19) Take the path on the right at the foot of the wall of the building on the right. At the next fork, turn left and head towards Grospierres church. Turn right onto the main street, then turn left after the school and arrive at the car park on Route de Marronnier (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 433 ft - Car park - Route du Marronnier
  2. 1 : mi 0.75 - alt. 558 ft - Start of the trail
  3. 2 : mi 1.42 - alt. 1,030 ft - Dolmen fork
  4. 3 : mi 1.51 - alt. 1,096 ft - Dolmen de Combe Fille
  5. 4 : mi 1.83 - alt. 1,027 ft - T-junction - Dolmen de Sous Planas
  6. 5 : mi 2.04 - alt. 1,047 ft - Trail not very visible.
  7. 6 : mi 2.25 - alt. 1,129 ft - Travellable track
  8. 7 : mi 2.46 - alt. 1,158 ft - Large crossroads
  9. 8 : mi 3.31 - alt. 1,516 ft - Col de la Cize (464 m)
  10. 9 : mi 4.02 - alt. 1,437 ft - Trail with a sharp bend to the right.
  11. 10 : mi 4.4 - alt. 1,306 ft - Small drystone shelter
  12. 11 : mi 4.85 - alt. 1,014 ft - Four-way crossroads
  13. 12 : mi 5.12 - alt. 935 ft - Chapelle Notre-Dame des Songes (Grospierres)
  14. 13 : mi 5.26 - alt. 827 ft - Discreet trailhead on the left.
  15. 14 : mi 5.45 - alt. 722 ft - A-R fork
  16. 15 : mi 5.73 - alt. 515 ft - Résurgence de Font Vive
  17. 16 : mi 6.16 - alt. 656 ft - Fork in the road with a cross
  18. 17 : mi 6.46 - alt. 594 ft - Path on the right
  19. 18 : mi 6.64 - alt. 682 ft - Small unnamed pass
  20. 19 : mi 7.27 - alt. 541 ft - Path on the right at the foot of the building wall.
  21. S/E : mi 7.64 - alt. 433 ft - Car park - Route du Marronnier

Notes

(15) At the Font Vive resurgence, the path that continues down the valley is closed, so you must turn back. This site is located in a Sensitive Natural Area. It is strictly forbidden to swim, litter, camp or light fires here. This resurgence is located on private land, and access is tolerated by the owners, who may prohibit access if abuse is observed.

Bring enough water for this hike, which, despite passing through wooded areas, can be very hot in summer.

This is a hunting area, so wear light-coloured clothing during this period.

(S/E) Toilets.

From (S/E) to (2) and from (17) to (19), the ground is clayey and therefore muddy in wet weather.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Shalva
Shalva

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

A few lovely spots of interest and viewpoints, but there really are too many rocks, which spoil the enjoyment of the walk

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marilou 07
marilou 07

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, throughout which our eyes are treated to magnificent landscapes, ruined villages and resurgence. Very little tarmac.

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Kwiss07
Kwiss07

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, with reliable signposts to help you find your way. The abandoned village was particularly popular with the younger ones. Varied landscapes and beautiful views.
Thank you for suggesting this walk.

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Steph et Isa Monnier
Steph et Isa Monnier

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, although slightly tricky to follow at the edge of the abandoned village, but with a little concentration you'll get there just fine.
Be sure to wear good shoes as the paths are very rocky. Beautiful discoveries and a ++ for the abandoned village and the resurgence.
Well done and thank you to the hiker-writer.

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User 26363015
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route on the app is not the same as on the ground. If you don't follow the app, you won't even pass by a dolmen
What's more, the signposting is terrible. Without the app, you're bound to get lost

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papou26200
papou26200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb walk with lots of beautiful things to see. A GPS is recommended as some of the paths (points 5 and 13) are not easy to find, even if the description is correct. Best done early in the morning as the end of the route is quite exposed to the sun. Thank you very much for this hike.

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Gigi et riri
Gigi et riri

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Beautiful diversity throughout the route, lovely views, abandoned village and resurgence that are a must-see.

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JacquesWaller
JacquesWaller

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It's a bit difficult to find the start of the trail to the resurgence; you have to go down to the bottom of the village.
A lovely discovery overall.

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Denis26
Denis26 ★

Thank you for this enthusiastic review.

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Cat38121
Cat38121

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A route chosen for the diversity of its sites. Discover two dolmens, a drystone shelter, a chapel, a ruined castle that is nonetheless immense and beautiful, and the "fireworks" of the resurgence, a splendid site, all along the same trail. It's 13 kilometres long, but the reward is there all along the way.
A must-do!

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vivalpierrelatte
vivalpierrelatte

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

beautiful hike, magnificent water colours at the resurgence

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Latata26
Latata26

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route. We discovered two dolmens (but not the one between 7 and 8, which we couldn't find: no coordinates), a chapel, a drystone shelter (stone hut) and, above all, the resurgence with its magnificent colours. It's worth making the round trip. The view must be splendid, but unfortunately it was very overcast and foggy that day.
We will return.
At the car park near the village hall, there are very clean, free automatic toilets.

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