Figeyrasse Cave

de fr

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

n°4238717
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.88 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 144 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 143 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 310 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 167 m
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Photos

Aubenas
The cave

Description of the walk

The car park is on the right of the D579 coming from Aubenas, just before the junction with the Vogüé road. The path is marked by a sign for Site d'Escalade.

(S/E) Leave the car park by going under the bridge and then turn right at the first crossroads. Join the old railway line that has been converted into a greenway (Via Ardèche). Turn left and continue until you reach a bridge.

(1) Leave the Via Ardèche on the left to reach a crossroads. Take the path on the left which climbs steeply towards the hill. At the crossroads 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. Staying on the left bank of the stream, you will reach a small clearing where the path turns sharply to the left and crosses the stream, which is usually dry.

(3) To see the entrance to the cave, walk back and forth along the stream bed, then continue straight ahead between the two valleys at the confluence. After retracing your steps, take the path on the right and join a wide path on the right bank of the stream. Take this path on the right to climb the hill.
Ignore all the paths on 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 markings. Leave the first path on the right behind you and arrive at a right-angle crossroads, just after a passage over rock slabs.

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

(6) At the first junction, turn right. You will find the white-yellow markings again here. Follow them to the hamlet of Bannes.
Please note: at a left-hand bend, leave the wider path and continue straight ahead on a narrower path that runs along the northern side of the hill.

(7) Cross the hamlet and turn right just before the bridge over the Via Ardèche. Walk along an enclosure and then a vineyard. You will reach a wooden barrier. Join the Via Ardèche. After crossing the first bridge, turn right onto the path that leads back to the initial crossroads.

(1) Take the same route back to return to the climbing site car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 167 m - Climbing site car park
  2. 1 : km 0.57 - alt. 175 m - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 1.16 - alt. 218 m - Path on the right
  4. 3 : km 1.65 - alt. 216 m - Crossing the ravine
  5. 4 : km 2.42 - alt. 271 m - Road, on the right
  6. 5 : km 3.2 - alt. 279 m - Path on the right
  7. 6 : km 3.97 - alt. 310 m - Path on the right
  8. 7 : km 5.44 - alt. 186 m - Bannes
  9. S/E : km 6.88 - alt. 167 m - Climbing site car park

Notes

Much of the route is not marked and some paths, between (2) and (4), are not shown on the IGN map. As is often the case, the OpenStreetMap is more comprehensive.
Searching for 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 that there is not much of interest at the bottom.

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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