Gilhac-et-Bruzac: for lovers of wild mountain landscapes

Not for those allergic to tarmac!
A pleasant and varied hike, some sections of which follow small tarmac roads, as is often the case in the Ardèche. The first part takes place in the forest, where only birdsong disturbs the peace and quiet of the area. The second part follows the^GR®42and^GR®42Btrails, offering beautiful views of the Ardèche mountains, the Vernoux valley and the Rhône valley.
Pierregourde Castle is very close to this circuit.

Details

n°122804

Creation:
26 May 2015

Last update:
23 Mar 2022

Last review:
21 Apr 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 16.22 km
Average duration: 6h 00
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 474 m
Descent: - 475 m
Highest point: 785 m
Lowest point: 355 m

Country: France
Area: Massif central
District: Gilhac-et-Bruzac (07800)
Start/End: N 44.876791° / E 4.774956°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3036OT
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Description of the walk

Departure point: Col de Rotisson car park.

(S) Follow the D232 to the right towards Gilhac for 1.1 km. Pass the entrance to the Grange de Perrot and turn right 200 m further on, opposite the farm, heading north-west, onto a track leading to a place called Les Michauds.

(1) At the first crossroads, continue straight ahead, following the small road (recently resurfaced) towards Gilhac and Bruzac, ignoring the various crossroads leading to several hamlets.

(2): When you reach the hamlet of Chastelou (error on the signpost: Chastelon instead of Chastelou), continue straight ahead towards Gilhac and Bruzac.
At the junction with the D232 in a bend, turn right for a few metres then left onto the road leading to Moulin à Vent, heading north-west.

(3) At this place, go around the building on the right, cross the road, and take the road on the left in the bend. Immediately continue on the road going up to the right, heading north-northwest towards Saint-Julien-le-Roux. Leave a road on the right and arrive at Lierne.

(4) At this crossroads, turn left, heading south towards Col de la Mure - Saint-Julien-le-Roux. From this point, take the^GR®42. Follow the Serre de Barrite (some nice views) until you reach the Font Limouse junction, ignoring the other paths.

(5) At the junction, continue straight ahead on the^GRP® de Vernoux. This will take you to the Col de la Mure: a beautiful panorama from this legendary pass, well known to cyclists.

(6) Retrace your steps to the previous junction.

(5) Turn right onto the^GR®42. Pass by the small house in Chariot, which is currently being restored.

(7) At the next crossroads, Le Combeau mast (water tower), continue straight ahead (south-east). The signposting becomes sporadic, sometimes replaced by very large ochre signposts.

(8) Cross the D266 (at a place called Le Prat) and continue straight ahead, heading south-east. You will reach the Col de Gilhac.

(9). Then take the^GR®42Bon the D266 road opposite, towards the Col de Rotisson. Stay on this^GR® until you reach your destination.

(10) When the road curves sharply to the right, leave it and continue straight ahead to the hamlet of Les Tuilières. At the next crossroads, continue straight ahead, then pass the hamlet of Tromparent.

(11) In a bend, leave the road and turn 90° to the left to follow the^{GR® trail} northwards. Descend to the Turzon stream.

(12) Ford the stream and climb up opposite to rejoin the D232, which you follow to the left to the car park at the Col de Rotisson.

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 427 m - Parking - Col de Rotisson (428m)
1 : km 1.96 - alt. 524 m - Intersection
2 : km 3.45 - alt. 609 m - Directional signpost for "Gilhac et Bruzac"
3 : km 4.42 - alt. 629 m - Windmill
4 : km 5.41 - alt. 750 m - Crossroads
5 : km 7.62 - alt. 756 m - Junction
6 : km 8.11 - alt. 747 m - Col de la Mure
7 : km 9.73 - alt. 661 m - Le Combeau mast
8 : km 11.61 - alt. 552 m - Crossing the D266
9 : km 12.31 - alt. 521 m - Col de Gilhac (520m)
10 : km 13.24 - alt. 535 m - Intersection
11 : km 15.03 - alt. 443 m - GR42B - Start of the path on the left
12 : km 15.5 - alt. 355 m - Crossing the - Turzon (rivière)
S/E : km 16.22 - alt. 427 m - Car park at the Col de Rotisson

Notes

Fording the Turzon stream: can be tricky after heavy rain.

Worth a visit

Pierregourde Castle, from the Gilhac pass (9).

Gilhac & Bruzac is a geographically large commune with no real community, as it has no village in the strict sense of the word.
It was formed around two hamlets that gave it its name: Gilhac, near Pierregourde, and Bruzac, near the windmill. The town hall is an isolated building, lost in the middle of the woods.
The inhabitants of Gilhac-et-Bruzac are called Pierregourdains and Pierregourdaines.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5

Based on 29 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5

Route interest
4.3 / 5

maran04

21 Apr 2025 at 09:39 7200 • Edited: 21 Apr 2025 at 09:39 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

We were afraid of doing "too much asphalt", but in the end it wasn't a problem and the hike was wonderful. We enjoyed this hike with its truly beautiful views of the Ardèche countryside.
We took a detour to the Château de Pierre Gourde, which meant we ended up doing 19 km in total. This detour added about 2.5 km to the original route.
I would recommend it to everyone.

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Emmanuel26

08 Apr 2024 at 13:09 7200 • Edited: 08 Apr 2024 at 14:11 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A slight concern at the start of the hike, which is along the road and not particularly interesting apart from being exposed to the mistral wind. The^second part is a little more interesting (paths), but there are no viewpoints. You have to wait until the^third part to be rewarded, as the space opens up and the view of the Vercors is magnificent. Be careful when crossing the stream about 1 km before the end: the flow can be strong and the gap between the stones that allow you to stay dry is wide.

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Pat059

08 Mar 2024 at 15:53 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed today (8/03/24) in somewhat gloomy weather, which was a shame as the views of the Vercors would have been magnificent. An easy hike to follow along small roads and paths that are not difficult to walk on.

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bergib

29 Jan 2024 at 09:55 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route with stunning views, particularly at the Col de Mure, overlooking the Eyrieux and Rhône valleys. The final section is a little rough going to reach the river and the last climb to the finish. The route description is spot on.

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visorandoapan

07 Aug 2023 at 21:41 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Not at all what the title suggests. Not wild, or even very wild, as it is often on roads. No total immersion. The views from the passes are views of roads. Only the section towards Turzon, a dry stream, was a pleasant trail. A shame, as the Three Peaks and the Rhone Valley accompanied us along the way.

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celestine

15 May 2023 at 09:25 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike. Beautiful views. A bit of tarmac but very quiet road.

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désapointé26

08 May 2023 at 11:26 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

This hike, which we have done several times, is always enchanting. The landscapes are magnificent, and when we reach the Col de La Mure, where we stop for lunch, the view on a clear day is breathtaking.

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Thierryb26

07 Mar 2022 at 18:55 3600 • Edited: 07 Mar 2022 at 19:00 3600

I have been there several times on foot or by mountain bike, most recently yesterday. It is regularly used by mountain bikers, trail runners and hikers. However, when you look at the land registry, there are no roads marked, and you have to cross private plots of land. At the entrance to the small bridge crossing the stream, there is an old open gate and a private sign. It is possible to avoid this gate by going to the right, where a steep path leads down to the stream, which you can ford and then rejoin the path opposite.
A long time ago, crossing the stream was not so easy, with large broken branches, but the area has since been cleared.

Edit to my message: I've just noticed that this is the end of the hike suggested here:
https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-col-...

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ardechom

07 Mar 2022 at 10:07 3600

This alternative solution seems interesting to me. We will need to see how it works in practice (private properties, etc.). I will take a look when I have the opportunity or see what someone who is familiar with this area has to say.
Thanks in any case for the information.

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Thierryb26

06 Mar 2022 at 20:56 3600 • Edited: 06 Mar 2022 at 21:03 3600

Yes, the roads are quiet, but it's not the same pleasure as the dirt tracks.

Between the start and wpt2, there is an "unofficial" alternative route with very little tarmac, which involves taking the path that descends the north-east flank below the Mountot greenhouse, crossing the stream and rejoining the marked network opposite, via Gatou, Les Fauries and Serre de Chastelou. However, this adds a little to the journey

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ardechom

06 Mar 2022 at 20:42 3600

Thanks for the information. It was already quite a long way, so now there's no point in even thinking about it. What a shame...

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Thierryb26

06 Mar 2022 at 18:39 3600

Just to clarify, between wpt1 and wpt2 (and even a little further on to the point at an altitude of 600 m where we touch the RD232), there is no longer any dirt track; the road is entirely paved.

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georgespo

08 Feb 2022 at 04:57 3600

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

A bit too much tarmac for my liking... a few scenic spots here and there, but nothing particularly memorable... you can avoid a lot of road by heading a bit further north at the start, towards Roupiac and Chastelou. The same applies from the Col de Gilhac, passing by the Perrot mill. Worth a try...

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papa

29 Nov 2021 at 09:46 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

There are quite a few paved sections, but given the beauty of the landscape, you quickly forget about them. I recommend this hike

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Léo Truglia

09 Jun 2021 at 15:16 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A route full of greenery with some beautiful views of the ridges. Finally, you get the chance to cross Le Turzon at the end of the walk to cool off! A bit of walking on asphalt roads and lots of electricity poles, unfortunately...

I recommend it for a breath of fresh air!

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