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Fontolière (rivière) walks
Heritage and landscapes of Montpezat-sous-Bauzon
Thanks to its geographical location, on the border between the southern Ardèche and the Monts d'Ardèche, Montpezat-sous-Bauzon is an ideal place to discover the astonishing lay and religious heritage of the area, from the fertile valley to the wild, rocky pastures, with remarkable views of the mountains and the Fontaulière plain.
As you return to the valley, a rose garden awaits you for a moment of olfactory and visual pleasure.
Chirols - Sainte-Marguerite - Aubignas circular
Starting from the Pont de Veyrières silk mill eco-museum, climb towards Chirols and then the Sainte-Marguerite Chapel, a summit bristling with various antennas and the highest point of the route, offering a magnificent view of the Coiron and the Ardèche Cévennes. Return via the Revescu ridges, with views over the plateau, and descend via the hamlet of Aubignas to the starting point.
La Vestide du Pal in Montpezat-sous-Bauzon - Three volcanoes circular
The ancient Vestide du Pal volcano is what is known as a filled maar crater! Approximately 1,700 m in diameter and 150 m deep, it could be the largest maar crater in Europe.
This route will take you along ancient Roman roads that connect the valley to the plateau, passing through various levels of vegetation.
In addition to this first volcano, there are two others to discover along the way: Lac Ferrand (a maar filled with water) and Le Chambon, which is completely dry.
A volcanic hike, then...
Rieutord circular, Cros du Loup, Les Oulettes, Le Pal, knoll de Bauzon
Around the knoll of Bauzon, a young Strombolian volcano, there are numerous hiking trails.
This route combines the volcanic part of the area with the discovery of a section of the Atlantic-Mediterranean watershed.
From one bank of the Fontaulière to the other
A short walk from Montpezat to the hamlets of Les Grisières and Le Villaret, passing through a chestnut grove - the only slight difficulty on the route - and the humpback bridge, for a family outing.
In search of the lost paths of the Haute Ardèche
From Le Ranc to Aubignas, Aubignas to Le Libonès, and Le Libonès to Les Terrisses, there were once footpaths that were essential for life and trade between these hamlets. This hike offers the chance to rediscover these traces. You may have to search around a bit, either because the paths have been abandoned or because work has altered their course. The path between Cros du Libonès and Les Terrisses, long abandoned, is once again passable with a modified route.
Above Rieutord
A walk that does not descend into deep valleys and offers lovely views in all directions, both of the Mezenc and, in the distance, of the Ventoux.
Montagne Sainte-Marguerite from Saint-Pierre-de-Colombier
This hike provides access to the Sainte-Marguerite Chapel via a less well-trodden route. It passes through several authentic hamlets and offers stunning views throughout the route.
The walk from Robert to Meyras
Robert, aged 86, led this hike around Meyras (December 2017), passing by the châteaux of Ventadour and Hautségur, then through the heights of Neyrac and the Souilhol volcanic flow. The route is a bit winding and involves some road walking, but it reveals a diverse and very distinctive area of the upper Ardèche.
Pink October route around Montpezat-sous-Bauzon
This walk around the village of Montpezat-sous-Bauzon will take you past several of the village’s monuments. The route, which takes you along paths and through woodland, over stone-paved slanting streets and through the village itself, is easy and very well signposted in pink, as its name suggests. It was created by Montpezat Town Hall to mark Pink October, paying tribute to all those fighting cancer.
Montagne Sainte-Marguerite – in the Cévennes of the Ardèche
A circular 2-day tour in the Cévennes of the Ardèche.
About ten kilometres north-west of Aubenas, Montagne Sainte-Marguerite rises to 976 metres. Its summit, bristling with radio masts, is a landmark that cannot be missed in the region. Whilst the summit itself, apart from the breathtaking views, is of little interest, its slopes are truly beautiful.
Holm oaks, chestnut trees, deep valleys, inviting rivers, nestled hamlets, listed churches, castles undergoing restoration, Roman roads – a wealth of natural and built heritage waiting to be discovered.
Viewpoint over the Pont de Veyrières dam
This short walk takes you from the village of Saint-Pierre-de-Colombier to the hamlet of Le Ranc, perched on a steep southern slope of the mountain, before continuing on to a superb viewpoint overlooking the valley and the dam. Return via the same route.
Sainte-Marguerite – via the summit: from the Col d’Aizac to Neyrac-les-Bains
Second stage of the Sainte-Marguerite circular route, which takes you back via a different route to your starting point from the previous day: Neyrac-les-Bains.
The first section is high up, taking you over the summit – the highest point of the two-day walk – offering breathtaking views of the Lower Ardèche, the Tanargue, the Ardèche Plateau and the surrounding valleys.
The second section focuses more on built and/or historical heritage, featuring the village of Niègles, the castles of Vantadour and Hautségur, and the Via Domitia.
Sainte-Marguerite – western slope: from Neyrac-les-Bains to the Col d’Aizac
The first stage of the Sainte Marguerite circular route, which takes you from Neyrac-les-Bains, a spa town on the banks of the Ardèche, to Aizac, a small village in the Ardèche Cévennes, a stone’s throw from Antraigues-sur-Volane.
Leaving behind the lowland holm oaks, you head into the heart of the chestnut groves! From the banks of the Ardèche, you follow three of its tributaries: the Fontolière, the Bourges and finally the Besorgues, which flow along the valley floor and at the foot of picturesque villages. A very sunny walk.