La Tourille from Montpezat

A short family walk to discover the agricultural landscapes that have evolved over the centuries in line with practices and history.

Details

1561383
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.97 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 100 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 94 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 163 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 79 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Montpezat (30730)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.850825° / E 4.157471°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2842OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Monpezat car park located below the church at the bottom of Rue Laparant.

(S/E) Walk down the street, skirting the village on your right. Follow the yellow markings.
Turn left twice onto the tarmac road that descends rapidly towards the valley (Chemin de Calvisson). Pass in front of a magnificent wash house, then cross a ford.
Continue along the tarmac road which winds upwards.

(1) At the top of the hill ("La combe Obscure" altitude 130 m), take the stony path on the right towards "Aurouge 1.3 km". Then, 50 m further on, follow the very narrow path on the right and go downhill. It winds through heath of cades, holm oaks and arbutus trees.

(2) At the bottom of the path, at the crossroads, turn left onto the stony path.
After 100 metres, turn right onto the narrow path that climbs back up into the woods (yellow mountain bike sign). Fork slightly to the left at the fork.
At the end of the path, you will arrive at a field where you can enjoy the magnificent view of the village of Montpezat on your right.
Turn left. The path runs alongside three successive fields of fallow land on your right, with the magnificent view of the hilltop village of Montpezat still behind you.
At the three-way junction, keep right and climb up into the small woods.

(3) At the Aurouge sign, head towards the "Tourille 1 km" bridge on the right, along a wide, downhill gravel path. Leave the barely visible "Moulin de Tourille" mill on your right.
When you reach the D22 road ("Route de Sommières"), turn right and follow this road for 100m (for your safety, walk on the right-hand side of the barrier) then immediately turn right onto the path.
50 metres further on, at the three-way junction, turn left and go up a fairly steep little road (Chemin du Moulin à Vent). Pass in front of a pretty drystone shelter, go around a small olive grove to reach the ruins of the old windmill. From the mill, enjoy a beautiful 180° view of the valley and, below, a table to understand how the landscape has evolved over the centuries under the influence of climate and humans.

(4) At the top of the hill, after a small coniferous wood, just before the main road, take the tarmac road on the right (Chemin de Cours Toujours) which will take you back to the village.
When you reach the village, turn right onto the dirt track towards "Place de la Garenne 0.6 km".

(5) Turn left and after 100 metres, take the wooden log staircase to cross the village (splendid view of the keep). Continue along Rue des Dougues for about 20 metres on the left, then turn right. Climb the pretty stone steps on a paved slanting street and pass under an arch. Continue along Rue de la Tour, walk past the castle tower on your right, then turn right onto Rue du Four, which will take you to Place de l'Église.
Cross this square and note the magnificent Rue de la Paved Slanting Street on your right. Continue along Rue des Platanes to return to the car park at the start (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 156 m - Car park below the village
  2. 1 : km 0.82 - alt. 126 m - Stony path on the right
  3. 2 : km 1.14 - alt. 115 m - Stony path on the left
  4. 3 : km 2.38 - alt. 108 m - On the right, a wide stony path
  5. 4 : km 4.4 - alt. 114 m - On the right, the "Cours Toujours" path
  6. 5 : km 5.6 - alt. 142 m - Wooden log staircase
  7. S/E : km 5.97 - alt. 155 m - Car park below the village

Worth a visit

Places to visit:
- The Romanesque church, restored in the17th century. The bell tower is topped with a Gothic spire.
- The14th- and16th-century castle, a veritable stronghold.
The circulade: the concentric layout of the streets around the castle. Paved slanting streets and crossroads lead to the gates of the ramparts.
- The windmill on one of the hills above the village and the landscape reading table.

Good to know:
Villa Alsatis in 994, Castrum Montispesati in 1156 and Montpesat in 1435. The bull of Adrian IV dated 10 December 1156 already lists the castle of Montpezat among the possessions of the Bishop of Nîmes.

Inthe 12th century, the village was a stronghold occupying a strategic position on the first foothills of the Cévennes. Its warlike appearance has left a strong mark on the landscape. Its location allowed the lords to impose high tolls on goods and travellers using this road.

Montpezat, like many towns in this region, had its share of misfortunes. During the Wars of Religion, around 1570, the Protestants of the surrounding area, attacked by Marshal de Damville, took refuge within the castle walls, but a final assault took place and all the men were massacred.

In 1851, the population density of Montpezat exceeded 100 inhabitants per km². Inthe 17th century, the Hautes Cévennes were more densely populated than the plains of the Basses Cévennes, perhaps due to the presence of chestnut trees in the higher elevations where they thrive. In the lower plains, it was the development of mulberry trees from the beginning of the18th century that accompanied the population growth that began in the17th century.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 12 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
Pedibusien
Pedibusien

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 01, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Route disrupted by a wild boar hunt.
We had to turn back and find an alternative to the initial route in its first section.
Yellow markings sometimes difficult to see
Fording the stream over stepping stones: watery but no problem crossing.
Wash house was clean but of no particular interest.

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Pedibusien
Pedibusien

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 01, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Route disrupted by a wild boar hunt.
We had to turn back and find an alternative to the initial route in its first section.
Yellow markings sometimes difficult to see.

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REVIENDREZ
REVIENDREZ

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Despite some initial hesitation, the walk is well worth it.
The hilltop village is worth lingering over and turning back from time to time to admire it from afar. The wash house (sadly littered with beer bottles), the ruins of the mill, the very informative orientation table and the pretty drystone shelter offer beautiful views at every turn.

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Mireille Majac
Mireille Majac

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant short route with lovely views of the village. Wear waterproof footwear in wet weather (it rained three days before we went and we had to cross streams and some sections of the path had turned into rivulets!).
Incomplete signage, we were glad to be able to follow the trail with GPS.
But glad we did it.

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yvesbou
yvesbou

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

pleasant little walk

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Chollet Alain
Chollet Alain

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, varied route, best done in the morning.
Not always easy without a map.
As is often the case, the route is marked by people who know the area and don't have the perspective of a "discoverer".

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josianeV
josianeV

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The start of the hike is a little unclear, it should be specified: 50 metres after the car park, on the left.
Otherwise, the route is well marked with yellow signs. Montpezat is a hilltop village that is clearly visible along the walk. For us locals, this route is similar to many others in terms of vegetation and terrain.
Nevertheless, it is pleasant. However, the end of the route is a tarmac climb, which can be a bit hard on the legs after the walk, depending on your fitness level, of course. A pleasant experience. The old mill is also interesting, as is the sign recounting the village's former life. Thank you.

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mamounette30
mamounette30

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant and easy hike, with beautiful views of the hilltop village. The village is also worth a visit.

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carlogeni
carlogeni

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy and interesting route with some beautiful views. The village of Montpezat is very pleasant and worth a visit.

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jackie Blondin
jackie Blondin

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk starting from Montpezat. There was a north wind, but we were sheltered by the village and the woods. The old mill with its stone wheels is very interesting and offers a great view.

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Ledirlot
Ledirlot

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

First trip with my sweetheart on an easy route to discover the neighbouring villages and this route system. Well signposted, the route was very pleasant. I enjoyed the stop at the mill with its panoramic view, its historical information sheet on the building, not to mention the interior of the mill.
However, it is absolutely essential to explore the village. A "narrow street" that starts with steep steps gives the feeling of being in the hills above Nice in the hinterland. What's more, the medieval village is exceptional to discover in the beautiful spring season. I recommend it for families and curious visitors.
Thierry C.

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Veroquimarche
Veroquimarche

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We had a little trouble finding the start of the hike from the car park, but once we set off, everything was very clear! An easy, very pleasant route in the heart of nature, ideal for getting some fresh air.

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