From the Cornus rock to Trou Madame

This circular walk, proposed by the Association 'les pierres vivent' and the commune of Cénevières, winds its way from the valley to the causse, sometimes along small wild paths, sometimes along wider paths, and very few roads.

Along the way, you will discover fountains, caselles, dovecotes, chapels and wash houses, as well as the Trou Madame spring and the château, which is open to visitors

Details

2726447
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.45 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 259 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 254 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 333 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 139 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The route is marked with yellow signs in both directions. You can also start from the castle car park (point 11).

(S/E) From the car park, behind the town hall and grocery store, turn left onto the road. After the café and pétanque courts, turn left onto the D8 road towards Crégols-Cornus. Follow it for about 300 m, then take thefirst path that climbs to the left opposite the water treatment plant.

Go through the gate and continue straight ahead until you reach a wider path. Turn right onto this wide path, which climbs for about 300 metres. At the intersection, turn right onto a path of the same width. Atthe first hairpin bend, take a very small path opposite that leads into the woods. Follow it along the cliff to a viewpoint over the valley.

(1) The path then turns at a right angle to the left. It soon passes between two recently renovated dry stone walls; continue straight ahead until you reach a path coming in from the right.

(2) After 50 metres, you will find the remains of a dolmen on your right, surrounded by box trees. Return to the crossroads.

(2) Then take the path on the right (south-southeast). At the next crossroads, turn left and continue to Mas de Labat. At Mas de Labat, take the small tarmac road opposite, which runs alongside neatly trimmed box trees, for about 200 metres. Take the first unpaved path on the left and you will arrive at a well.

(3) Continue straight ahead (south) for another 200 metres or so. Then turn left onto a very small path and follow it to the road. Follow the road to the left, then very quickly turn right onto a path that leads to the Peyregulière fountain.

(4) Turn left and continue to a small path lined with stone walls on the right before a farmhouse, then take the well-marked path on the right.

(5) After about 300 metres, take a field entrance on the left. A path through the woods leads to a small road (close both passages securely as you may encounter sheep).

(6) Turn left opposite the cross and continue to the hamlet of Saint-Clair.

(7) Turn right to go to the chapel, the wash house and the fountain.

(8) Retrace your steps.

(7) Turn right between the large house and the block of letterboxes. After about 300 metres, take the first path down to the left. Go down and turn left at the T-junction.

(9) After about 50 metres, turn right. Continue north then north-east.

(10) Make a small detour to the right to see the Trou Madame resurgence and its porch. Retrace your steps.

(10) Take the main path (north) until you reach the D24 road. Follow this road, turning left. Opposite thesecond house, climb a steep slope on the right, which quickly levels out. Continue along this path to the castle, staying halfway up the hill.

(11) From the castle, start descending the road and, just before the large gate, take the path on the left that leads back to the village. At the T-junction, turn right and head for the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 145 m - Car park behind the grocery store
  2. 1 : km 1.99 - alt. 255 m - 90° left turn
  3. 2 : km 2.9 - alt. 331 m - Ruined dolmen
  4. 3 : km 4.07 - alt. 294 m - Well-caselle
  5. 4 : km 4.73 - alt. 264 m - Peyregulière fountain
  6. 5 : km 5.36 - alt. 268 m - Entrance to the field
  7. 6 : km 5.99 - alt. 298 m - Fork in the road to the left
  8. 7 : km 6.57 - alt. 296 m - Saint-Clair
  9. 8 : km 6.78 - alt. 290 m - Chapel and fountain of Saint-Clair
  10. 9 : km 7.5 - alt. 264 m - Fork in the road
  11. 10 : km 8.88 - alt. 154 m - Resurgence of Trou-Madame
  12. 11 : km 10.71 - alt. 180 m - Cénevières Castle
  13. S/E : km 11.44 - alt. 145 m - Car park behind the grocery store

Worth a visit

(1) At an altitude of 270 metres above the D8 road linking Crégols to Cénevières lies the Cévenne of Cornus. It overlooks the Lot valley, France's second longest river (485 km). From left to right, you can see the villages of Saint-Martin-Labouval, La Toulzanie, which is a hamlet of Saint-Martin-Labouval, Cénevières, to which Cornus belongs, the Château de Cénevières and finally Calvignac in the distance. In the foreground, two bridges cross the Lot: the road bridge and the disused railway bridge.

(2) Brittany is the region most associated with megalithic monuments, but the Lot department can be proud of being one of the richest areas in terms of monuments of this kind. There are an estimated 600 dolmens on the Lot plateau and around 20 menhirs. The first dolmens in the region date back to around 3,500 BC. They were collective and/or successive burial sites for an average of around 15 people of privileged status in the society of the time. A dolmen was surrounded by a tumulus, made of stones and earth to support and prop up the slabs of the burial chamber. They are very often oriented towards the south-east.

(3) Here is a well-casella, one of dozens in the commune. These wells, which have been in use for several centuries, are more or less dug into the rock and built of Causse stone. A cavity inside was used to store the bucket and its chain. The overhanging stone allowed the bucket filled with water to be placed on it and emptied effortlessly into a jug on the ground.

(4) In Occitan, "font" refers to a fountain or a group of structures often consisting of a basin, a lake and a wash house. In Peyregulière, the spring flows into the basin on the right. The staircase provided access to the water, which was collected manually using buckets. Then, in the 20th century, a pump with a bucket chain was installed. The water could be poured into the trough (nau in Occitan). The trough is carved from a single block of stone. The water in this basin remained clean and uncontaminated by animals. The second basin (on the left), called a "lac" in Quercy, provided direct access to water for the herds returning from pasture. The entrance was more or less paved slanting street (paved slanting street). This space is also a wash house, as evidenced by the butterfly-shaped washing slabs. They are installed at different levels so that they can be used in all seasons, as the water level can vary from 0 to 1.5 metres.

(8) Saint-Clair (commune of Cénevières) was formerly known as Saint-Clair de Cabanac or Saint-Clair de Tréligots. This modest little church has been remodelled several times. The construction method, using small rectangular stones, dates back to the 11th century, while the south chapel appears to be from the early 18th century, judging by the date 1708 above the door. Other work was carried out at the end of the 18th century, as evidenced by the date on the keystone of the chevet, and finally, the date 1839 seems to indicate later work on the west side. Ancient texts mention the small cemetery adjacent to the church as early as the 13th century. Fifty metres away, there is a spring that was once believed to have therapeutic properties. It was renowned for treating eye diseases and was long the object of popular devotion.

(10) The Tour Madame resurgence feeds a small canalised stream, the Girou. Depending on the season, the route can be challenging and you may come face to face with divers returning from their exploration of this long (2,987 metres mapped to date) and complicated site (eight siphons to cross). In the past, there was a mill at the small bridge that spans the Girou further downstream, and it is said that two days after a heavy storm, the local inhabitants would come there to grind their grain!

(11) Although the castle's construction dates back to the 9th century, it was in the 12th century that it became a true medieval fortress, then, under Italian architectural influence, a Renaissance palace in the 16th century. The castle has been classified as a historical monument since 1957. The Braquilanges family organises guided tours to showcase its unique features: the famous alchemy cabinet with its paintings on Ovid's Metamorphoses, the guard room, the old kitchens, the dungeons, the chapel, the Renaissance section with its gallery, the lounge with its painted ceiling, and more.

Views over the Lot valley.
Chapel, wash house, dovecote, caselles (stone huts), fountains.
Emergence of the Trou-Madame.
Cénevières Castle (open to visitors).

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 20 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
User 2410518

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

This lovely country and nature walk allows you to discover this corner of the Lot from different viewpoints.

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Piot39
Piot39

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

I left from the Chill Lot campsite, 15 minutes from the village. Ideal for a few days' rest, beautiful setting, on the banks of the Lot, opposite La Toulzanie.
Otherwise, the hike is a beautiful loop that's not too difficult. It climbs at the beginning but you get to beautiful viewpoints over the valley. There's lots to discover along the way, stone walls and houses, wells, chapels, etc.
We had a little picnic by the stream at Trou Madame. I didn't get to visit the castle as I arrived after closing time, but the building is really beautiful.

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Sylvain-Virginie
Sylvain-Virginie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A splendid, varied route in a very wild area, allowing you to pass through some incredibly beautiful and peaceful spots. No particular difficulties, everything goes smoothly. The route is signposted all the way, many of the paths have been mowed, truly one of the most beautiful hikes in the Lot region....

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SM BISCHE
SM BISCHE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb walks with lots to see: fountains, well houses, dovecotes, wash houses, viewpoints, the Trou Madame resurgence, often with short explanatory signs. And at the end of the circuit, the pretty château of CENEVIERES.
I highly recommend this hike and thank the author of the route.

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jlo68
jlo68

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy hike ending with a visit to the castle (very friendly owners).

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Pasco 87
Pasco 87

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk with no real difficulty.
Varied and interesting sites and landscapes, including a farmhouse, chapel, wash house, fountain and the Trou Madame resurgence at the end of the trail. A visit to the Château de Cenevières rounds off the day in style.

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Pasco 87
Pasco 87

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk, but with some lack of detail, for example in finding (point 2) the Cuzoul de Monclar.
Another difficulty at point 8: the large natural limestone steps on the yellow and green marked trail are slippery in wet weather and tricky to navigate in places for some people.
A very pleasant hike with a wide variety of sites and landscapes.

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Lulustucru47
Lulustucru47

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very well marked trail. No difficulty along the way. Pleasantly surprised throughout this lovely hike. Worth doing again and again!

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gegemomo8241
gegemomo8241

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful views, very pleasant hike on well-marked and well-maintained trails.
We will happily do it again.

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jo1703
jo1703

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike under a beautiful blue sky and surrounded by nature adorned with beautiful autumn colours. There are many remarkable examples of small heritage sites that bear witness to life in the past in this corner of the Causses, where pastoralism was the mainstay of the local economy.
No difficulties on the route, which I followed using the Visorando app on my smartphone. Thanks to the author of this trail.

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VincentBleher
VincentBleher

Hello,
Thank you for your feedback.
A dolmen – almost in ruins – is clearly marked on the route...
But there are many beautiful dolmens in the surrounding area (Lugagnac, Saint Chels, etc.) that can be reached via other hikes

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celine_dl
celine_dl

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2021
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 completed with two children aged 7 and 10 in less than three hours. Lots to see, fairly shaded, and plenty of blackberries for little foodies . We were just disappointed not to see the nearby dolmens marked on the map.
There are yellow markings along the entire route, so there's no problem finding your way.

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Kerenoc
Kerenoc

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This walk offers beautiful views and several heritage sites along the way.
Well-maintained and signposted path

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Jean-Pierre_Dombes
Jean-Pierre_Dombes

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,

We had a lovely 3½-hour hike this morning. We had no problems with the signposting, but you do need to pay attention.
As a little bonus, we stopped for lunch at Le Paradou when we arrived in Cénevrières. Good food and a very warm welcome.

Many thanks to those who created the route.

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VincentBleher
VincentBleher
• Edited:

Hello,
To my knowledge, there have been no changes to the route or signage on the circuit.
I will check soon to see if any markers are damaged or missing. (Checked on 29 March, the markings are clear between Labat and Les Ygots).
It is true that between 5 and 6, the passage through old meadows is not perfectly clear.

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