Saint Cirq Lapopie From La Truffière campsite in Bouziès towpath

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Eight-shaped loop through the Cirque de Vènes and the village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie. Remarkable towpath to Bouziès, then return via the Causse and the Chemin de Croix.

Details

n°139457
Creation:
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.37 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 469 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 465 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 354 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 128 m
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Photos

View of the Lot from the fort of Saint Circq Lapopie
Bird's eye view of Saint Circq Lapopie
Arrival in Bouziès
Towpath

Description of the walk

(S/E) When leaving La Truffière campsite, take the D42 road towards Saint-Cirq-Lapopie. As you descend, take the second path on the right that runs alongside the large meadow. Keep heading north-east then north, ignoring all the paths on the right and left. You will come back to the D42.

(1) Follow the road, then take the path that branches off to the right into the woods below the road. Return to the D42 and turn right towards the Cirques de Vènes.

(2) Beautiful view of the Lot valley. From the Cirque de Vènes, cross the road to join the path opposite, which climbs towards Saint-Cirq-Lapopie. Follow the path until you reach the Chemin de Croix crossroads.

(3) Turn right and descend to the village, following theGR®36(red and white markings).

(4) In Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, head to Place du Sombral and the Tourist Office. Take the small path that descends to the right of the restaurant Les Terrasses, continuing to follow theGR®36(red and white).

(5) At the bottom of Saint-Cirq, turn left onto the small road that runs alongside the Lot towards Bouziès.

(6) Further on, still following theGR®36, leave the road at Castan and turn right onto a path that approaches the Lot, then continue to the left.

(7) Pass a lock and continue along the towpath. Then continue along the Lot to Bouziès.

(8) Retrace your steps along the same path

(7) After the lock, pass the hamlet of Ganil and take the path that climbs to the right, marked in yellow, towards Saint-Cirq-Lapopie.

(9) Further on, at an intersection, turn left. You will pass through the hills, keeping eastward.

(10) Further on, you will come to a road. Continue straight ahead to reach Saint-Cirq-Lapopie at the Bancourel car park.

(11) Follow the footpath along the road and enter the village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie.

(4) Back near the Tourist Office, take the path you came on to Saint-Cirq (GR® 36, red and white markings). Follow it eastwards.

(3) Leave the path you took on the way there and follow theGR®36, climbing to the right until you reach the Sainte-Croix Chapel and beyond. You will come to a road. Follow it for a few dozen metres.

(12) At the first crossroads, turn left towards Pech de l'Air.

(13) At Pech de l'Air, turn left onto the road. At the next intersection, you will see the campsite on your left (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 335 m - Camping la Truffière
  2. 1 : km 1.74 - alt. 248 m - D42, on the right
  3. 2 : km 2.38 - alt. 235 m - Cirque de Vènes
  4. 3 : km 3.12 - alt. 280 m - GR36
  5. 4 : km 3.53 - alt. 212 m - Tourist Office - Saint-Cirq Lapopie
  6. 5 : km 3.96 - alt. 135 m - Road on the left
  7. 6 : km 5.03 - alt. 138 m - Path on the right
  8. 7 : km 5.73 - alt. 133 m - Lock
  9. 8 : km 7.07 - alt. 129 m - Port of Bouziès
  10. 9 : km 9 - alt. 182 m - Turn left at the intersection
  11. 10 : km 9.63 - alt. 181 m - Junction with a road
  12. 11 : km 10.36 - alt. 258 m - Car park
  13. 12 : km 11.83 - alt. 338 m - Path on the left
  14. 13 : km 12.69 - alt. 354 m - Pech de l'Air
  15. S/E : km 13.37 - alt. 334 m - Camping la Truffière

Notes

Water points at the campsite, in the village and in Bouziès.

Worth a visit

Cirque de Vènes
Village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
Towpath
Port of Bouzies
Chapel of Sainte-Croix

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 41 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
alcaline 33
alcaline 33

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

In a group of 25 people, we were able to walk quietly between a little water that fell from the wall.
It was a very beautiful walk.

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User 2410518

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hiking tour to discover St Cirq Lapopie and the towpath, which is well worth a visit.
The start/finish point, away from busy roads, allows you to breathe in the fresh air.

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virgule
virgule

Hello,

very busy on Monday 22nd or yesterday, Sunday?

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didier thibault
didier thibault

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant and interesting route. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. A visit to St Cirq Lapopie is a must, but it is very busy! The descent to the towpath is quite difficult, but that is the only downside to this hike..

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User 17736422

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

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

Review the route in Saint Cirq Lapopie. There are no markings, and I spent an hour driving around the village before finding an alternative.
Other than that, it's still a great walk.

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User 14015889

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike
It doesn't get any better than this.

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User 14015889

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike
You can't ask for anything better

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User 12501072

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful places but very busy hiking trails. A lot of walking on roads

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carameldu29
carameldu29

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Given the weather, not very busy. An easy hike if you follow the route on the app, as the markings are difficult to see or non-existent at the start. Picnic possible in Bouziès (tables) halfway along the route. Thanks to the person who posted the hike.

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virgule
virgule
• Edited:

Hello,

This route was popular along the section running alongside the River Lot. Given the beauty of the site, it's easy to see why.

We often read that places are popular because they are exceptionally beautiful. But people don't just turn up on their own; they are attracted by tourist office advertising, TV programmes (such as France's favourite village), tourist blogs and "influencers".

Saint Cirq Lapopie was beautiful long before Stéphane Bern discovered it. The crowds arrived after it was featured in the media. So it's the media coverage that makes it so popular, rather than the beauty of the place itself.

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joe 46
joe 46

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A wonderful walk with no difficulties, except for one small comment between points 5 and 6: take the path along the river instead of the road, it's so much nicer! Thank you!

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Patrick Duchamp
Patrick Duchamp

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This route was popular along the section running alongside the River Lot. Given the beauty of the site, it's easy to see why.
Rather than returning via the towpath, you can continue to the port of Bouzies and make a loop by turning left after the car parks onto the "tourist route" and then taking the Chemin de Pech Larvive until you reach point 7.

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Catherine Du Fayet de la Tour
Catherine Du Fayet de la Tour

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike.
In January, there were obviously far fewer people, but the towpath was still busy, as was the village of Saint Cirq Lapopie.
There was some uncertainty at the end of the route, but it was easy to find our way.

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guy.pilka
guy.pilka

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

the trail from point 2 to point 3 in the village of Chemin de Croix is parish specific to Brittany and very difficult when you encounter other hikers, as is the climb back up, so be careful. The markings are easy to follow.
the elevation gain is still significant for young children.

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CG2513
CG2513

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant hike that takes you gently to St Cirq Lapopie with beautiful views along the way.

As previous reviews have mentioned, at the very beginning it's not easy to know which is the right path (Y-junction) even with the map, GPX track and description, but you find it fairly quickly.
You can turn right just before point 6, which is signposted.
The towpath is very pleasant, although very busy. The arrival in Bouziès isn't worth the effort, but there's shade for a break by the water.
The return trip is also pleasant, leaving the crowds behind. There is a slight climb (up a road that is not very pleasant in hot weather!) but it is perfectly doable.
The path from point 7 on the way back is not visible; we missed it and then had trouble finding it. It is very narrow and not very well maintained. But you are alone on this path, which is nice.
The arrival back in St Cirq Lapopie is also a little different with the existing developments, the shortcuts that lead to the car parks, etc., but it's easy.

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