The loop from Vinezac to Merzelet

This pleasant hike takes you along beautiful paths from the old village of Vinezac to the hilltop hamlet of Merzelet through a varied environment (terraces returned to natural vegetation, pine forests, but also areas cultivated with vines, olive trees, and fruit trees). The distant landscape is magnificent, particularly at the top of the loop. The entire route is very well marked in yellow and white, with often recent markings.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.35 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 259 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 259 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 407 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 186 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Town Hall car park.

(S/E) Return to the car park entrance, take the road on the right heading south, then the first road on the left and again the first on the left (signposted "Les Alobres").

(1) When you see the next hamlet (Les Auverges), keep to the right and go straight through the hamlet. Continue on the Route des Auverges, take the left turn, then about 50 metres after the last house, take the path on the right marked "Lavoir" (you can see the old wash house) until you reach the Route du Devez.

(2) Follow the road to the right, continuing straight ahead at the intersections. At the end of the tarmac road, take the small path on the left at the three-way junction. Descend to the confluence of two streams. Cross the two concrete footbridges and continue straight ahead, then at the three-way junction, take the right-hand path uphill. You will arrive at a large crossroads (hiking signpost "Les Alobres").

(3) Take Chemin du Serre opposite, a small road on the ridge. Continue straight ahead until you reach a house on the right. Continue along the road for about 200 metres.

(4) Leave the tarmac road via a path that continues straight ahead while the road turns right. The path widens and becomes passable by vehicle after a house, then returns to tarmac at the "Les Amandiers" hostel. Pass these buildings and you will arrive at a crossroads (hiking signpost with arrows pointing towards Merzelet).

(5) Turn left towards Merzelet, cross a housing estate, leave the tarmac road and take a path that crosses a valley.

(6) At the small road, turn right for 50 metres, then right again onto the D103, then right again onto the quieter small road signposted Coustillon, which then rejoins the D103.

(7) Cross the D103 with caution. Opposite, take Chemin de Combe Vieille, which leads into a beautiful pine forest. In the first large bend on the right, look for the path that descends to the left, crosses a stream, then becomes steeper and stonier as it climbs. On the left, a large section of the pine forest has been burned. Return to the wide path (elevation 397).

(8) Turn left and pass under the hamlet of Merzelet.

Alternative: stay on the right and follow the wide forest path of Combe Vieille, which is a little longer but a little more comfortable.

(9) At the end of the hamlet, turn left onto the path that descends towards the south-west. Follow the tarmac road for 100 metres, then turn left again (blue signpost and arrow) onto the path that cuts across the hairpin bend to rejoin the road. Continue down the road, turn right onto Impasse de Coudouysse, which joins the D103 but is not accessible to vehicles.

(10) Carefully cross the D103 again. After 100 metres, take the street on the left. It continues along a path in the same direction. At the end of the vineyards, look out for the markings to take the small path below that follows the stream, then turns at a right angle to the right, running alongside the vineyards on the right. At the end of the vineyards, climb a little to the left up a steep slope that leads to a field of olive trees. Follow it to find a small road (Chemin de Courte Oreille, Crozes hiking mast).

(11) Follow this small road to the right, then turn right again onto the Route des Crozes, then take the first left (Route de la Fontaine). When the road turns at a right angle, continue straight ahead along the Chemin de Lembras. At Lembras, continue straight ahead along the road.

(12) At the vineyard, take the path downhill on the left (yellow/white and blue markings) to reach olive trees and a wide path. Follow it to the right and rejoin the tarmac road at Vianes. At the crossroads, take the wide path slightly to the left. Keep to the right of the road. Return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 254 m - Town hall car park
  2. 1 : km 0.47 - alt. 244 m - Turn right towards Les Auverges
  3. 2 : km 0.77 - alt. 225 m - Turn right at the road
  4. 3 : km 1.83 - alt. 199 m - "Les Alobres" mast
  5. 4 : km 3.08 - alt. 249 m - End of the tarmac road
  6. 5 : km 4.49 - alt. 261 m - Soudournas
  7. 6 : km 5.04 - alt. 266 m - Junction with small road
  8. 7 : km 5.44 - alt. 275 m - Coustillon
  9. 8 : km 6.51 - alt. 397 m - Wide path junction
  10. 9 : km 6.91 - alt. 403 m - Merzelet
  11. 10 : km 8.02 - alt. 288 m - La Vernade
  12. 11 : km 9.09 - alt. 266 m - "Les Crozes" mast
  13. 12 : km 10.2 - alt. 270 m - Lembras
  14. S/E : km 11.35 - alt. 254 m - Town hall car park

Notes

The trail is very well marked in yellow/white and also has blue markings on the return leg.

One section is a little rockier, so good hiking boots are useful.

There are a few small streams to cross, so avoid this hike after heavy rain.

As everywhere in Ardèche, avoid hiking in excessively hot weather.

Worth a visit

Take the time to stroll through the narrow streets of the beautiful old village of Vinezac and visit the church.

There are numerous information boards both in the village and along the hike.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 18 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
ramsaminette
ramsaminette

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike without much difficulty, perfect for getting back into walking in September and stretching your legs. There is little shade, so remember to bring hats and water. Don't forget to visit the church in Vinezac.

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alarg
alarg

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

A hike with little interest apart from the slight incline, which makes for a good walk

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karkad
karkad

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely little route, Vinezac is worth spending some time in. With its varied scenery, we enjoyed walking through the pine forest. Thank you for this circular route.

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mdre
mdre

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a beautiful hike with stunning, varied views that makes you want to come back and walk in this region again.
everything is very well described and there are plenty of options if you want them.
Pretty vineyards on the hillside

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jpbrun
jpbrun

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike
Easy to follow through the vineyards. Woods and olive groves

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ANMATROM
ANMATROM

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A route that allows you to explore the entire area. It offers a variety of landscapes.

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Kwiss07
Kwiss07

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy walk with great views and well signposted. It's always a bit sad to see beautiful landscapes ruined by inconsiderate people turning their land into rubbish dumps.
Thank you for this hike

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saint victor
saint victor

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, varied and easy hike. The village of Vizenac is well worth a visit. Thank you for this lovely route

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GERVASONI
GERVASONI

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, very well marked.

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bernard38v
bernard38v

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We stayed in the beautiful village of Vinezac, where we received a very warm welcome
A very pleasant walk with all types of terrain and greenery typical of the Ardèche.
Everything was perfect in the description of the route and in autumn it wasn't too hot

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abeauville
abeauville

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk through the typical landscapes of southern Ardèche: vineyards, broom, chestnut woods... perfect for a half-day outing. The village of Vinezac is well worth a visit.

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batarando
batarando

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Point 2 states: at the end of the tarmac road, take the small path on the left at the three-way junction. Today, the tarmac road continues after the three-way junction, but the small path is well marked.
Batarando

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daniele hector
daniele hector

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike in glorious sunshine.
We didn't see the blue arrow on the way back to Vinezac and ended up on the D103 well upstream. Otherwise, it was fine.
Thank you

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jeromeisabelle
jeromeisabelle

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike where you pass through multiple landscapes. I highly recommend it.

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patrick.bormann
patrick.bormann

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 10, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

hike completed today despite unfavourable weather conditions. Overall, a beautiful hike; the beginning is less interesting; you pass by gardens that their owners have turned into scrap yards; a shame for the people of Ardèche. After point 4, the hike becomes more pleasant; the crossing of the pine forest that burned down a few years ago is really beautiful, and the return trip is very enjoyable.
Thanks to the author of this hike

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