La Grange aux Pères - Bourbouillet

After crossing a forest that could have been used as a location for scenes from Tolkien's novels, the return to the ridge runs alongside a necropolis of dolmens.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.70 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 53 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 54 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 215 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 157 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Coming from Lablachère on the D246, a straight section is followed by two wide left-right bends. Shortly afterwards, before a very wide bend to the right, look for a large widening on the right opposite the start of a main road. Park in this space on the right.

(S/E) Take this main road opposite the car park. A little further on, on the left, the Grange aux Pères, now in ruins, has lost its roof. On the right (November 2019), there is an illegal dump (huge tyres, various metal sheets). Behind it is the dolmen, still imposing, even though the slab is missing. Continue along the wide path until it intersects with the Bourbouillet path (yellow and white markings visible on a post a little to the left).

(1) Take the Bourbouillet path on the right. You will come to a clearly marked T-junction.

(2) Take the path on the right (marked). Leave the path on the left, marked with a yellow/white cross, which does not appear on the IGN map (see § Practical information).
The path quickly dips to the right, entering an area of rocks and slabs, often submerged in Tolkien-esque woods. Pay close attention to the markings and the trail, especially in areas with rocks and slabs. You will arrive at the "Réméjadou" hiking sign.

(3) Turn left towards "Bourbouillet". The trail passes through woods and between rocks. Between two large rocks on the left, the sound of deep water can be heard from the trail. After these large rocks, the trail changes direction from south-east to north-east and a small path leads back almost to the left. Please note: the karstic cave de Réméjadou is about 30 metres deep. Caving equipment is required to access it. Approach very carefully (there is no protection) and listen to the sound of water flowing at the bottom. Find the path that gradually emerges from the forest and heads south-east through a cow pasture. You will come to a wide path bordered by a high fence.

(4) Follow this path for about 50 metres south, then look to the right (be careful of the electric fence) for tracks leading down to the Bourbouillet Resurgence. Retrace your steps to return to the path heading south. Cross the Bourbouillet stream, then climb up to a path starting on the right.

(5) Close the fence behind you when you take this path. At the highest point, there is a view on the right of the impressive depression that you are skirting around. Dolmens without lids, but with beautiful remains, line the path on the left. At the "Flandrin" hiking mast on the right, you will find the "Dolmen du Canard" (duck's head, less and less visible on the only remaining slab of the chest).

(6) Keep to the left, join the D246, follow it to the right to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 211 m - Parking on the side of the D246
  2. 1 : km 0.58 - alt. 213 m - Chemin de Bourbouillet
  3. 2 : km 0.94 - alt. 204 m - Les Combes
  4. 3 : km 1.95 - alt. 203 m - "Réméjadou" hiking sign
  5. 4 : km 3.12 - alt. 178 m - Bourbouillet
  6. 5 : km 3.52 - alt. 169 m - Start of the ridge path
  7. 6 : km 4.67 - alt. 196 m - "Flandrin" hiking mast
  8. S/E : km 5.7 - alt. 210 m - Parking on the side of the D246

Notes

(2) The path on the left is described in another hike: "A short walk on the Gras de Perret"

Bring plenty of water in hot weather.

The paths are good, but the ground is sometimes clayey, the limestone slabs are slippery, and there are a few stony sections: good footwear is always preferable.

Worth a visit

In a clearing after the Réméjadou karstic cave, you will find the remains of metalworking equipment once used for charcoal production.

Several other medium and long hikes are described on this same website in the same area.

On the way back, rather than turning back towards Lablachère, continue along the D246 towards Saint Alban Auriolles. A short distance away, a car park and a viewpoint have been set up under the label "Chemins et Dolmens" (Paths and Dolmens) with explanatory panels.
The viewpoint overlooks the Fontgraze stream. The Font Méjeanne resurgence is nearby. Several restored dolmens can be seen on the other bank.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 15 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
fabienne.fender
fabienne.fender

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

nothing to report

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Serge V
Serge V

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this walk suggestion! It's a lovely walk without too many difficulties, with a few steps about 40 centimetres high but nothing too challenging.
The starting point is easy to find (barrier, information board about the clean-up carried out in recent years) and there is a small car park opposite the path.
I agree that the end of the route is not particularly interesting, but the beginning is very pleasant, shaded and varied.
It is important to emphasise the danger of the faults for children and, of course, the area around the karstic cave, as only signs indicate the danger (the karstic cave is 30 metres deep!).
To date, most of the route is marked in white and yellow.

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Perrye83
Perrye83

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, very easy short hike. Please note: towards the end, during the descent, I missed the passage on the right that was closed off with wire to keep animals out. With a little care... you'll turn at the right moment!
Thank you and congratulations to the author.

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Agab
Agab

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Very good. Shady hike with a very interesting environment (dolmens, vegetation, etc.)
Be careful with young children, however (many holes).

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Laetitia L
Laetitia L

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A very beautiful route up to the resurgence, but the end of the circular is much less interesting (track and road), apart from a few dolmens.

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Mins
Mins

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Overall description is accurate, except at the start. It is very difficult to find the car park and the starting point, which is not clearly marked. Do you have to count the bends? It would be better to give a landmark: before you reach the Frandin house, take the path on the left, which is closed off by an iron barrier.

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mano2607
mano2607

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

lovely family walk

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Annie Gerckens
Annie Gerckens

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely shaded walk, except for the last part.

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abeauville
abeauville

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 07, 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 with interesting sights: dolmens, the Réméjadou karstic cave, the Bourbouillet resurgence. Allow around 2 hours 15 minutes for the walk and visits.
One comment: at (4), we had some trouble finding the resurgence (which is well worth the detour!): the path to get there from the main trail is quite long (~150m) and veers to the right.

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André 07
André 07

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Possible improvements to the description:

  • why not give the distance in kilometres between Lablachère and the starting point? I have never been able to work it out for sure, despite several attempts. On the other hand, the Flandrin house is easy to find, so why not make it the starting point for the hike?
  • why not mention that there is a short marked trail between points 3 and 6? This would create two possible circular loops: a fabulous one to the south with dolmens, a resurgence and a "Tolkien" forest, and another to the north that is less interesting.
  • i didn't see the landfill at the start
  • why not mention the well-marked trail that heads north between points 3 and 4 and leads in a few minutes to a basin completely submerged in lichen-covered boxwoods - impressive?
  • the indicated duration does not include exploring the various unmarked trails that are available and make up a large part of the appeal of the hike.

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André 07
André 07

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Aleliora

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PatPros
PatPros

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Only the starting point lacks precision, as counting the turns is difficult given their number, whereas it would suffice to suggest the first convenient car park on the right after the long straight section.
No visitors given the date.

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ric07
ric07

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Great course, no difficulty. In the middle of winter, we only encountered two families with children.
It's a great playground for children, with dolmens to explore and trees covered in moss.
Be careful at the Réméjadou karstic cave, even if its name makes you want to explore it.
Fortunately, there is only a short stretch of tarmac road to cover.
it makes you want to explore the walks around Lablachère and Joyeuse.

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faurie/jeanclaude
faurie/jeanclaude

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Looking at the map and the weather forecast, I decided to do it backwards.
Although I didn't print point 6, I had no trouble getting back on track. The map is accurate.
Very beautiful, I really enjoyed the karstic cave, the caves (or rock shelters)

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diabloqueur
diabloqueur

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike this morning before the current heatwave set in. It allowed us to discover the Réméjadou karstic cave, which was impressive! We were also able to explore the cave at the Bourbouillet resurgence. We also enjoyed walking along the trail through the forest in the first part of the hike, where there were lots of insects to observe, including a beautiful specimen of a Lucarne kite! The only downside was the walk back to the car on the road in the last part of the hike, a harsh return to civilisation...

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