Lacaune - La Salvetat-sur-Agout

This is the longest stage of the route, but it presents no particular difficulties.
Most of the route runs through the Lacaune National Forest.
The Rieufrech Stream will accompany you with its crystal-clear murmur almost all the way along the path.
You might want to stop for lunch by the stream, next to a small bridge.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: A journey of discovery through the Monts de Lacaune

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.85 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,772 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,054 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,793 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,185 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Leave your car in the car park by Lacaune Church.

(S) Walk round the church to reach the village centre. Cut across Avenue Gambetta and head up towards the town hall. Cross Place de la Vierge and walk past the statue.

Yellow PR® signposting for Montalet - Yellow and Red GRP® signposting for the Hautes Terres d'Oc

Keep to the right and head up Rue de la Murette. Just before the end of the street, turn left onto Chemin des Castels; there is a signpost at the corner of the path. Ignore a path leading down to the left and you will come to the entrance of a large white house.
Go round the house and climb up the track to its left. A junction marks the end of the climb. Look for a narrow path nearby on the left.

(1) Make your way along the narrow path, cutting across the Plo de Pinel track, and climb up to the Roc des Écus. The climb is steep at the end of the path.

(2) Viewpoint over the Monts de Lacaune valley. Continue the ascent towards the Sagne du Loup. Reach the wide, gravelly cross-country track.

(3) Follow it to the left and climb up to the Plo des Parcs, 1,155 m.

Yellow markings: “Following the Enfant Sauvage”

(4) Leave the gravel track and follow the Enfant Sauvage path.

(5) Leave the GRP® Hautes Terres d'Oc and continue to follow the Enfant Sauvage. Cross the Pont de Lunès. The track descends gently towards two Y-junctions, very close to one another. Take the two right-hand branches.
Follow the yellow markings and keep the Rieufrech stream on your right.

(6) At this reverse fork in the road, continue straight ahead. Continue to follow the Rieufrech stream, heading generally south. Ignore a path branching off to the left, then another to the right. You will reach a three-way junction.

(7) Take the right-hand fork and head straight on towards a small bridge on the right.
Cross the small bridge over the Rieufrech. You will reach the Rieufrech farm.

(8) In front of the farm, turn left and follow the D62B which leads to the Tastavy Rectory. Enter and leave Les Barthèzes without turning into the village. Pass a wayside cross, then arrive at a bend with a white track on the right.

(9) Turn right. After a steep climb, you’ll reach the Col d’Empy.

(10) At the next junction, follow the yellow markings leading to the Col du Pradel. This PR® route leads to La Végende. Enter and leave the village via the D105E5.

(11) Follow the D-road, pass through Grualgues and join the D150.

(12) Cross carefully and walk along the left-hand verge of the road. Look for a small grassy path and follow it. There is a lovely view of the Vèbre from the medieval bridge that crosses it. At the end of the bridge, cross a small road and continue along the path opposite. Follow the yellow markings, which turn right at the next junction.

(13) Cross the small road. The track continues straight ahead to the tarmac road marking the arrival at La Salvetat-sur-Agout. At the junction with the Lot-le-Tarras path, with a farm machine on your right, turn right. Follow it to the end and turn right into Rue Barri Campemar.

(14) Go round the wash house and head straight up to the left. You will find some wide steps 30 m further on, to the right.
Climb the steps leading to Rue de La Poterne and La Pergola (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 2,608 ft - Car park at Lacaune Church - Église Notre-Dame de l'Assomption (Lacaune)
  2. 1 : mi 0.76 - alt. 3,028 ft - Narrow path to the left
  3. 2 : mi 1.48 - alt. 3,448 ft - Roc des Écus - Roc des Écus
  4. 3 : mi 2 - alt. 3,497 ft - T-junction, gravel track
  5. 4 : mi 3.13 - alt. 3,783 ft - Leave the gravel track, follow the Enfant Sauvage
  6. 5 : mi 3.84 - alt. 3,671 ft - Y-junction, turn right
  7. 6 : mi 5.1 - alt. 3,310 ft - Fork in the road, continue straight ahead
  8. 7 : mi 6.16 - alt. 3,005 ft - Junction
  9. 8 : mi 6.48 - alt. 2,936 ft - Rieufrech - Tastavy Vicarage
  10. 9 : mi 7.75 - alt. 2,710 ft - Turn right - Presbytère deTastavy
  11. 10 : mi 8.27 - alt. 2,999 ft - Col d'Empy
  12. 11 : mi 10.03 - alt. 2,477 ft - Departmental road D105E5
  13. 12 : mi 10.71 - alt. 2,195 ft - Junction. Towards the - Vèbre (rivière)
  14. 13 : mi 11.37 - alt. 2,320 ft - Cross the small road. Near the Vèbre (river) – a tributary of the Agout
  15. 14 : mi 11.67 - alt. 2,224 ft - Wash house
  16. E : mi 11.85 - alt. 2,320 ft - La Pergola Hotel

Notes

Accommodation in La Salvetat
Communal pilgrims’ lodge.
The La Pergola hotel, where I had stayed on every visit and which is the destination.
Utile mini-market, just below La Pergola.
Bakery, near the wash house, at 22 Rue Le Tour des Hortes.

Worth a visit

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

3.7 / 5
Based on 2 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.5 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
christoff34
christoff34
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The first part of the route does indeed follow the GRP.
However, the second part clearly does not; it was only towards the end that I was able to rejoin the GRP de l’Enfant Sauvage.
Tip: if you want to follow the actual route, don’t use the track provided on the website, but rather the official GPX file.

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Laurent.saccomani0344
Laurent.saccomani0344
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

You can set off from the tourist office, particularly on Sunday mornings when there is a market in the church square.
Simply follow the yellow and red markings of the GRP MLHL. Point 5 advises you to leave this GRP, but you should not do so; instead, follow the very clear yellow and red markings.

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