From the dam to the Tower in Villefranche-de-Panat

A contrasting walk, between panoramic views from a historic hilltop site and the shores of Lake Villefranche, with its footpath passing through the green landscapes typical of the Lévézou.
Moderator's note problem with the passage between (9) and (10), see the notice dated 14/07/2022, and the description between (8) and (9).

Details

4235953
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.26 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 261 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 258 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 910 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 712 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the market square car park.

(S/E) Leave the car park and follow Avenue de l'Alrance to the left until you reach the pedestrian crossing. Cross the avenue, head towards the town hall, then follow the D44 (Avenue du Lévézou) to the right towards Salles-Curan.

(1) Continue straight ahead, ignoring the path on the left which you will take on the way back, turn right with the road and pass the first street on the left.

(2) Take the next street, Rue des Sources (old road). Walk up to the former military holiday village.

(3) After passing the last houses, follow the dirt track on the left (GTML:GR® de Pays marked in red and yellow). Pass the first path on the right leading to Bosc Marty and continue to the next intersection.

(4) Turn 90° to the right.

(5) Before Le Verdier, turn left, then right, then left again to go around the hamlet and continue following the GTML. Descend to the Figaguet stream and climb back up to the hamlet of Frétanels.

(6) Turn right. Leave a path on the right, find a tarmac road further on and follow it to the right until you reach a crossroads. Then turn left to reach the Tour de Peyrebrune, a historic site that can be visited in summer, with picnic tables and a panoramic view.

(7) Retrace your steps and head back to Frétanels.

(6) Take the small road on the right towards Fabrègues.

(8) Once you reach the hamlet, turn left to go around a building and follow the path on the right that leads straight to Mas Nespoulous, near the lake.

Moderator's note: Private property issue shortly before point 0. It is preferable to continue on the road to the left to reach point 10. Then resume the route described.

Follow the road to the right for about a hundred metres.

(9) Turn left to rejoin the "lake path": a circular route that runs alongside the entire Lac de Villefranche.

(10) Turn right to cross the dyke, then continue along the path, staying as close as possible to the bank, and rejoin the D666 at a picnic area.

(11) Follow the road to the right for a few metres, then leave it on the right to rejoin the path.

(12) Ignore the street on the left and continue along the lake until you reach the D44, which you took at the start.

(1) Continue right towards the village centre. In front of the town hall, turn left and then cross right at the pedestrian crossing to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 712 m - Market square - Alrance (rivière) - Affluent du Tarn
  2. 1 : km 0.51 - alt. 731 m - Crossroads of the circular loop - Barrage de Villefranche-de-Panat
  3. 2 : km 0.84 - alt. 746 m - Rue des Sources
  4. 3 : km 1.38 - alt. 762 m - Fork to the left
  5. 4 : km 2.79 - alt. 771 m - Intersection, on the right
  6. 5 : km 3.46 - alt. 772 m - Le Verdier, on the left
  7. 6 : km 5.12 - alt. 796 m - Frétanels
  8. 7 : km 7.29 - alt. 904 m - Tour de Peyrebrune
  9. 8 : km 9.9 - alt. 793 m - Fabrègues, on the left
  10. 9 : km 11.06 - alt. 743 m - Mas Nespoulous, on the left - Lac de Villefranche-de-Panat
  11. 10 : km 11.51 - alt. 728 m - Dike
  12. 11 : km 13.74 - alt. 731 m - Picnic area
  13. 12 : km 14.04 - alt. 729 m - Intersection, straight ahead
  14. S/E : km 15.26 - alt. 712 m - Market square

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
marizou1957
marizou1957

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike at this time of year, although the paths are quite muddy. You'll need gaiters and good walking shoes.
I think the signposting needs to be reviewed as it is very difficult to see in places, which led us astray. Otherwise, a beautiful hike.

Machine-translated

eliane.nouviale@
eliane.nouviale@

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike on comfortable paths under a canopy of greenery.
No particular difficulty. There is a climb before reaching the Peyrebrune tower, which
is a remarkable and well-maintained site. You can climb the tower, which
offers beautiful panoramic views of Levézou.
It is very annoying that the path leading to the lake shore is private and now
closed. However, you can still reach the path that runs along the lake.
Eliane

Machine-translated

randorenaud
randorenaud

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

it was difficult to start the walk because the signs were too vague at points 2 and 3, but the route was otherwise pleasant, especially as the weather was very hot and the path through the undergrowth made it possible to bear the heat.

Machine-translated

ChrisduLevezou
ChrisduLevezou

Hello Mr Ginestet,
Best wishes for the new year. Thank you very much for your comment. I will take it into account and amend the description. Have a great day!

Machine-translated

GINESTET
GINESTET

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello
I would just like to make a small comment about the start of the hike. We found the description a little confusing. We suggest telling hikers to follow the D44 (towards Salle Curan) for 700 metres until they reach Rue de la Source on the left. They will then find the pavilions of the former army holiday centre.
Otherwise, the hike is interesting and offers beautiful views.

Machine-translated

Cricrimarcheur
Cricrimarcheur

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
The route is very pleasant. From point 9 (Mas Nespoulos) onwards, it is less shaded and busier (as it is tarmac and runs alongside the lake) but still enjoyable. However, there is a change to be made to the route description, but this is not the fault of the creator.
When the path leading down from Fabrègues to Mas Nespoulos joins the road at Mas, you should no longer turn right, walk a hundred metres and then turn left to join the lake path, as the last 50 metres pass through a field that is now off-limits: padlocked gate + 2 signs (private property - no trespassing). This is undoubtedly the result of inconsiderate walkers.
So, when you reach the road, turn left and follow the road that joins the lake path at point 10, about 400 metres further on.
Thanks to Visorando and contributors.

Machine-translated

AxP
AxP

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with our children, as the distance and elevation gain were perfect for them. The facilities around the tower were a great reward after our 2+ hours of walking, and you can swim in the lake when you arrive. Thank you for sharing this hike with us, we had a wonderful time!

Machine-translated

messerschmidt
messerschmidt

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk through the woods, very shady, ideal in hot weather, no notable difficulties. Peaceful, a little busier on the way back along the lake shore. Recommended.

Machine-translated

Pierre11
Pierre11

To the author of this hike

I also planned a similar route, which I did not publish due to the first lockdown, which prevented me from leading this hike for my club last Pentecost.
I would like to know if the crossing of the Figeaguet stream has been improved (in case of rising water levels): I mentioned a warning about this passage in my hike, which is ready to be published if I resubmit it for Pentecost 2021. It can be viewed via this link: https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-/268...
Thank you for your feedback.
Pierre11

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.