Figeyrasse Cave

A short, unpretentious hike along little-used paths on the Gras de Lanas. The cave itself is nothing spectacular, but it is a good destination for a walk and the little valley that leads to it is very pleasant. The rest of the route is a more classic walk on the Gras, but partly on unmarked paths, which are sometimes prettier.

Details

4238717
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.28 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 472 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 469 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,017 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 548 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

The car park is on the right-hand side of the D579 coming from Aubenas, just before the junction with the Vogüé road. The path is signposted ‘Site d’Escalade’ (climbing site).

(S/E) Leave the car park by passing under the bridge, then turn right at the first junction. Follow the old railway line, now converted into a cycle path (Via Ardèche). Turn left and continue until you reach a bridge.

(1) Leave the Via Ardèche on the left to reach a junction. Take the path on the left, which climbs steeply towards the hill. At the junction at the top of the hill, take the path on the left. Continue for two or three hundred metres until you reach a flat area.

(2) Leave the track that continues straight ahead and take a small path on the right. Keeping to the left bank of the stream, you’ll reach a small clearing where the path turns sharply left and crosses the stream, which is usually dry.

(3) To see the entrance to the cave, make a round trip by following the stream bed and then continuing straight on between the two valleys at the confluence. After retracing your steps, rejoin the path on the right and reach a wide track on the right bank of the stream. Take this track to the right to climb the hill.
Ignore all the offshoots to the left, including the motocross tracks, and continue until you reach a tarmac road.

(4) Follow it to the right for about a hundred metres, then turn right onto a path marked with white and yellow signs. Ignore the first path joining from the right and continue until you reach a right-angled junction, just after a section over rock slabs.

(5) Leave the markings and turn right onto a slightly narrower path that winds through the oak trees.

(6) At the first junction, turn right. Here you’ll rejoin the white-and-yellow markings. Follow them to the hamlet of Bannes.
Please note: at a left-hand bend, leave the widest path and continue straight on along a narrower path that runs along the northern slope of the hill.

(7) Walk through the hamlet, then turn right just before the bridge over the Via Ardèche. Walk past a paddock and then a vineyard. You’ll come to a wooden gate. Join the Via Ardèche. After crossing the first bridge, turn right onto the path that leads back to the original junction.

(1) Follow the route back in the opposite direction to return to the car park at the climbing site (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 548 ft - Car park at the climbing site
  2. 1 : mi 0.35 - alt. 574 ft - Junction of the circular loop
  3. 2 : mi 0.72 - alt. 715 ft - Path on the right
  4. 3 : mi 1.03 - alt. 709 ft - Crossing the ravine
  5. 4 : mi 1.5 - alt. 889 ft - Road, on the right
  6. 5 : mi 1.99 - alt. 915 ft - Path on the right
  7. 6 : mi 2.47 - alt. 1,017 ft - Path on the right
  8. 7 : mi 3.38 - alt. 610 ft - Bannes
  9. S/E : mi 4.28 - alt. 548 ft - Car park at the climbing site

Notes

Much of the route is unmarked and some paths, between (2) and (4), are not shown on the IGN map. As is often the case, the OpenStreetMap map is more comprehensive.
Finding the cave and the path in the valley is a good, safe orienteering exercise.
The cave has been explored, notably in 2012, but after a succession of three siphons, it seems there is little of interest further in.

Worth a visit

Of course, before or after your hike, don't hesitate to visit the village of Vogüé on the other side of the Ardèche.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
denisvallee
denisvallee

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Cave not easy to find.

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Xav26D
Xav26D
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A pleasant walk. At point 2, we preferred to continue straight ahead to join the path that follows the riverbed. Between points 3 and 4, we encountered some off-road vehicles.

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mnc
mnc

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short, peaceful afternoon hike in the Ardèche grasslands.
In the description, point 2 says to turn right, but you should turn left at the flat section. There is only one path apart from the arrival trail, which continues straight ahead. The red trail markers confirm the left turn.
At point 4, after 100 metres, there is a sheepdog watching over the flock. It is noisy but not vicious, but it is surprising because you cannot see it in the vegetation.
The cave is just a small hole in the rocks, not accessible inside.
Thank you for allowing us to discover this peaceful place.

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Henrijo
Henrijo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Difficult at first. But a very beautiful route.

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Henrijo
Henrijo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful route. A bit difficult at the beginning.

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janblau
janblau

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant and very pretty walk. Thank you very much.
About half of the route (on the plateau) is in the sun (very few trees). I would not recommend it in hot weather.

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jeanpaul07
jeanpaul07

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
We did the hike in the opposite direction... it's easier; the climb is tough, but in the other direction it can be dangerous for some people. Some of the rocks are high, but it's easier going uphill.

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Mjmguet
Mjmguet

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with beautiful views.

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becan
becan

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The explanations did not enable me to find the cave: it is a bit "vague"!

In point 5, it would be good to specify that the path to take on the right is located a few metres BEFORE reaching the right-angle junction.

Otherwise, it's fine.

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margjean
margjean

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this route at the end of June and didn't see anyone. It was a beautiful walk, partly through wild areas. However, we started from the tunnel entrance on the Vogüé side. There is a car park there. This tunnel was opened as a continuation of the "Voie Verte", a former railway line. It is lit up with an atmospheric lighting system that changes as you walk along.
Thanks to the author.

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