From Cérou to Zère via Saint-Hippolyte

A varied hike through woods, fields and meadows that joins the Zère, a tributary of the Cérou, passing by the Château de Saint-Hippolyte, built in the 14th century and since restored.
Two medieval villages offer an interesting heritage: Monesties, one of the most beautiful villages in France, and Salles-sur-Cérou with its picturesque red sandstone houses.

Details

4888676
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.15 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 218 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 223 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 316 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 188 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park opposite the retirement home, Place du Foirail, next to the post office.

(S/E) From the car park, turn right onto Rue Place de la Poste and continue to the intersection of three streets.
Turn right onto Avenue du 11 Novembre 1918. Cross the Candèze bridge.

(1) Leave the path on the right, which will be the return route, and continue to the police station. Turn left, then right after 100 metres, and follow Route de La Bouysse uphill.

(2) At the entrance to the hamlet of La Bouysse, descend to the right along a stony then grassy path that crosses a stream and then climbs back up to Esparbarié.

(3) Turn left at the hairpin bend and climb towards the ridge until you reach a road junction.

(4) Take the stone path opposite, which descends towards La Thomasié, passing ruined buildings. Climb back up towards Saint-Hippolyte on the ridge opposite. Stay on the stone path without entering the castle grounds.

(5) After passing Saint-Hippolyte Castle, turn right onto a wide path towards the woods between the cedar trees. Continue down this path, following the Zère river and then crossing it.

(6) Take a wide path markedPR® on the right, which follows the Zère valley. The path joins the D27, which you follow for a few dozen metres to the right.

(7) Descend to the right, following thePR® markings, towards a quiet road through a small wood.

(8) Turn left onto this road, which joins the D27. Follow it to the right to reach the village of Salles.

(9) At the corner of the church, turn left into Rue de l'Eglise. At the end, follow Rue des Pierreux to the right. Atthe first crossroads, turn left and, at the next crossroads, turn right to cross the Cérou.

(10) Turn right onto Rue du Pont. You will come out onto the D91. Follow it to the right, walking along the grassy verge on the left-hand side. Follow the red and white markings ofthe GR®36.

(11) At the village exit sign, take a wide path on the right, which is an old railway line. ThisGR® trail takes us to Monestiés.

(12) After the retirement home, turn left towards Monestiés for a few metres. Very quickly, descend to the right towards the gardens and follow a small path that runs alongside the Cérou.

(1) At the road, turn left and cross the bridge. Turn
left again to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 210 m - Car park near the post office. Towards the bridge - Cérou (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.19 - alt. 204 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : km 1.79 - alt. 295 m - Entrance to La Bouysse
  4. 3 : km 2.44 - alt. 255 m - Hamlet of Esparbarié
  5. 4 : km 3.04 - alt. 316 m - Road crossing at the crest.
  6. 5 : km 4.28 - alt. 310 m - Château de Saint-Hippolyte
  7. 6 : km 5.99 - alt. 208 m - Junction with the PR
  8. 7 : km 6.89 - alt. 222 m - PR on the right towards the woods.
  9. 8 : km 7.05 - alt. 197 m - Small road
  10. 9 : km 8.5 - alt. 190 m - Église Saint-Sauveur (Salles)
  11. 10 : km 8.73 - alt. 189 m - Cérou (rivière)
  12. 11 : km 9.33 - alt. 193 m - Path on former railway line - GR
  13. 12 : km 14.66 - alt. 207 m - Retirement home
  14. S/E : km 15.15 - alt. 208 m - Car park near the post office.

Notes

Public toilets in Monestiés and Salles-sur-Cérou.

Picnic tables in Salles (currently unavailable due to flooding).

Worth a visit

Visit the villages of Monestiés and Salles-sur-Cérou.

During the season, you can visit the exhibition of polychrome statues of the Entombment at the Saint-Jacques Chapel.

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 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
3.8 / 5
User 11226676

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A lovely little walk along the old railway line, providing pleasant shade when the sun is shining.

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Fa54
Fa54

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The first half is quite pleasant, but the second half is very boring. I suspect that a previous route followed the Cérou more closely, but now it is a very wide path far from the river and uninteresting

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VIMABA
VIMABA

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike, interesting for its landscapes and villages.

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Pedro12
Pedro12

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

Poorly marked at the start and on the first part of the hike. Second part uninteresting along an old railway line.

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JLB81
JLB81

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The first half of the route is very interesting. The second half follows the old railway line near the Cérou river to Monestiés, and at times it can be a bit boring. So we pick up the pace!

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jab31
jab31

Good evening,

This is a route I really like, through the little gardens along the river!

You don't necessarily have to follow the GR 36!

Have a good evening, best regards,

JAB31

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Frala
Frala

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello

At the end of the hike, upon entering Monestiés from point 12, the trail no longer follows the GR 36, which winds its way down to the campsite. I cannot explain why, as the path does follow the GR 36 and does not border the Cérou at all, as indicated on the trail (no crossing at the bridge).

Otherwise, everything is fine!

Best regards

François

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marc-martine
marc-martine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route, with the added bonus of a visit to the village of Monestie.

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MACHUT
MACHUT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with few tarmac roads.

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grobodovisorando
grobodovisorando

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Varied hike (some tarmac and paths, forests, etc.). Be careful not to turn right before point 3 (check your GPS to ensure you are on the right track).

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