Country:
District:
Parking at the church in Mouthier-Haute-Pierre. Good quality yellow and blue markings.
(D:A) Visit the church, then go around it on the right, taking the Chemin des Vignes (Route No. 6, Sentier du Mont Germain). It is a dead-end road, but don't hesitate to enter the car park of the house (at No. 2), crossing the small lawn via the paved path to find the chicane and enter the grove. Go down a little to the right to follow the edge of the wood, soon coming to a fence, then turn right until you reach the small tarmac road.
(1) Cross over and take the gravel path between nos. 2 and 4 (towards La Baume). Shortly afterwards, the path forks; continue to the right along this beautiful path set between mossy walls. You will enter a fir forest and at the fork marked by a signpost, continue up the steep climb to the right along a steep and sometimes slippery path. When you reach the cliffs, walk along them on the right to reach the ridge.
(2) A signpost marks a fork in the trail. Continue straight ahead towards the beautiful sunny valley of La Baume (Route No. 5). This is an ideal spot for a picnic break, with superb views of the Loue Gorges. When you leave the woods, cross the pasture to find a marker post opposite and go down the grassy path on the right. After going up and down through a pine forest, the path forks as it approaches the pastures. Continue along the forest path on the right. View of the Roche de Haute-Pierre.
(3) You will come to a wider path which you follow downhill to the right until you reach the RD67. Cross it carefully and continue downhill towards the Loue river on the path opposite, which can also be slippery in wet weather. At the first fork, take the gravel path on the left. A little further on, there is another fork. Descend via the wider path on the left, which will take you to the Grotte des Faux-Monnayeurs.
(4) You will come to signs for "Source du Pontet, Source de la Loue" inviting you to descend. However, continue straight ahead, climbing up towards the beautiful rocky passage. After this, on the left, a small iron ladder leads you to the cave, which opens up in the vertical rock face. After your visit, retrace your steps for about a hundred metres, then descend to the signpost in the direction of "Source du Pontet, Source de la Loue".
(5) After a 200-metre descent, at a new fork in the path marked by a sign, take the left-hand path down to the Pontet spring and its small waterfalls, set in the rock. Its wooded surroundings provided the setting for Courbet's "Remise au Chevreuil". The Pontet joins its big sister, the Loue, by turning back and taking the left at the previous sign. A first footbridge takes you across the Pontet, a second one crosses the Loue. On the other bank, a bench invites you to take a short rest. Then head right towards the power station, crossing the Loue and following the tarmac road.
(6) Take the unmarked path that descends to the left between the metal railings. You will rejoin the marked, stony path and continue downhill, passing the Syratus waterfalls. You can descend to the banks (towards the picnic tables) for a lovely view of the houses along the river.
(7) At the wooden calvary, climb to the right towards the village via the grassy Crouzier path. Turn left at the stairs, joining the D67, stopping for a moment to enjoy the view of the old priory overlooked by the Roche de Haute-Pierre. Then turn left, leaving Rue du Chapitre, and climb up to the right into Grande Rue with its beautiful statues, the first at the corner of Rue Saint-Antoine, the second at No. 24 (15th-century statue) and a Virgin Mary at No. 30, embedded in the façade. At the crossroads with Rue des Corvée, continue right along Rue Robert Dame to the fountain-wash house and its beautiful renovated medieval houses. Return to the crossroads and turn left towards the church, taking the time to look up at a face carved into the façade of the house on the left (D:A).
The route includes ledge paths and unsecured viewpoints. The paths are rocky and slippery in places. Sturdy footwear is essential and walking sticks are recommended.
erfectly marked
Visorando member
Difficult 
Association / Club / Walk leader
Easy 
