The statue of the Angel and the Pas du Lièvre at Notre-Dame du Laus

From the D942 road between Saint-Étienne-le-Laus and Chorges, take the D111 to reach the sanctuary of Notre-Dame-du-Laus. At the entrance to the village, park in the tarmac car park on the right (there are other car parks nearby if this one is full).

(S/E) From the car park, walk up towards the village along Grande Rue, ignoring the roads on the left and then on the right. Pass in front of Benoite Rencurel's house. Then leave the main road on the right and continue straight ahead towards the sanctuary. Climb the few steps leading to the Basilica of Notre-Dame du Laus, go around it on the right and continue to a crossroads (sign showing the various hiking trails).

(1) Turn right onto Chemin de l'Ange, which descends slightly to the bridge over the Torrent du Laus. Cross the bridge and continue to the signpost 50 metres further on.

(2) Leave the road and take the path on the left (Chemin de l'Ange 0h45, yellow line and circle) which winds up to the intersection (14th-century cross).

(3) Make a short detour to the right to reach the Angel (statue 70 m away), then follow the path on the left (les crêtes, yellow circle) up to the forest road.

(4) Take it to the left (yellow line and circle, blue and orange lines) towards Puy Maurel. Follow this forest road, ignoring all the paths and trails on either side, until you reach the clearly marked junction. This section offers numerous views of the mountains.

(5) Go up the forest road opposite (orange and blue lines, yellow circle), ignoring the path that descends to the left (orange and blue crosses) and the one on the right (Puy Maurel). Continue along the hillside until you reach an intersection.

(6) Descend the grassy path on the left (ridge path, orange and blue crosses, yellow circle) and leave the forest road opposite. After a flat section, the path descends steadily along the ridge.

(7) Descend the path opposite (orange and blue cross, yellow circle) in small, steep switchbacks to the Pas du Lièvre crossroads (viewpoint over Notre-Dame du Laus).
Continue to the left (yellow circle, ignore the poorly marked trail on the right). The descent in larger switchbacks is a little steep at first, then levels out until you reach a junction.

(8) Descend the path on the right (yellow circle) and ignore the one that climbs to the left (La Grand Pigne, yellow cross).

(9) Descend the path on the right (yellow circle) and ignore the two on the left. After 20 metres, ignore the path that climbs to the left towards the small pond and continue downhill to Notre-Dame du Laus.

(1) Cross the sanctuary to return to the starting car park (S/E) via the same route you took on the way there.

Water point and shelter at the Sanctuary of Notre-Dame du Laus.

Numerous forest passages provide shade in summer.

Difficulties of the route
Be careful! The climb to the statue of the Angel between points (2) and (3) is a little steep. The small switchbacks downhill after point (7) are quite steep and the crumbly schist terrain is slippery for 300 to 400 metres. Be careful in case of rain.

Longer variants
You can continue at point (6) towards the summit of Puy Maurel (antenna) before reaching Pas du Lièvre (7). It is also possible to push on to Col du Tourrond before returning to the sanctuary.

A major pilgrimage site since the 17th-century apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Benoite Rencurel (between 1664 and 1718), a shepherdess from Saint-Étienne-d'Avançon, Notre-Dame du Laus is still home to priests, monks, nuns and lay people today. A land steeped in history, a place of prayer and deepening of faith, this sanctuary has been welcoming visitors for more than three centuries. The basilica's organ, currently in use, dates from 1879.

Part of the trail is marked with a shell, as it is a section of the Way of St James.