Gaillard and the Ermitage in Agen

Park between the Centre universitaire du Pin and Avenue de Stalingrad (Pont de la Libération, Route de Villeneuve); access via the Rond-Point des Pompiers.

(S/E) Leave the car park heading towards the canal, cross the Quai de Dunkerque at the pedestrian crossing and take Avenue de Stalingrad as far as the bridge over the canal. Cross the bridge over the canal.

(1) Turn left onto Quai Georges Leygues, then immediately turn right up Rue Frantz Liszt, following the yellow/red signposting. Continue to the end of this street, then turn right onto Avenue de Courpian until you reach the traffic lights at Avenue de Stalingrad, following the red signposting. Cross this avenue at the pedestrian crossing, then you’ll arrive at the entrance to Gaillard Cemetery on Place du Repos.

(2) Turn slightly to the right, passing in front of the little church in Gaillard, and continue along Rue des Deux Rocs, which runs alongside the cemetery on the right. Continue up the long slope of this street until you reach Rue Michel Reine, then carry on to the next junction.

(3) Turn left, leaving Rue de Berlioz opposite you. Continue along Rue des Deux Rocs to the left, following the red markings. At the junction with the N21, cross carefully and take the uphill street opposite, Rue des Mimosas. At the top of the hill, at the end of the street, turn left onto Route de Lavolte, towards Soureille. Pass Rue de l’Atlantique on your right and continue to a fork in the road.

(4) Turn right onto Chemin de Ferrou (street), which curves left as it descends.

(5) Before a hairpin bend, immediately after the house at number 12, take the path below the house to the left,^GR® 652, Rue de Tibet. Continue along this path through the woodland until you reach a road; turn left at the hamlet of Tibet and carry on to the next junction with a transformer on the right.

(6) Turn right onto Avenue Joseph Amouroux, until you reach Rue de Cazemajou, where you turn right, following the red and black markings and the Yellow Cross. Pass through the hamlet of Bufoben and continue along the small road for about 300 m.

(7) Before a telephone pole marked with a Red Cross and a Blue Cross, take the grassy path on the left, below a hedge. At the end of the hedge, turn left for about ten metres towards a small house; then, in front of this house, go down the grassy path on the right towards the woods. At the end of the descent, continue to the left, then follow the path through the woodland to the right. Continue along a hedge towards a house. When you reach it, turn left and continue along Rue de Bellevue until you reach a junction.

(8) Turn right onto Avenue Joseph Amouroux and head down towards Agen, following the red and black markings. After just over 300 metres, you’ll reach a junction.

(9) Turn left onto Rue de la Falaise. At the end of the tarmac section, continue to the right along the path with steps leading down to Avenue de Courpian, which you should take to the right. Continue downhill to reach the Canal de Garonne (formerly the Canal Latéral à la Garonne).

(10) Turn left before the bridge onto Quai Georges Leygues. Continue along the canal until you reach Avenue de Stalingrad. Turn right to cross the bridge over the canal and join the (S/E).

A semi-urban route suitable for winter.

Views of the town of Agen from the heights of the Ermitage.