Larroque and Puycelsi loop

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A beautiful hike to discover two picturesque villages in the Tarn: Larroque and Puycelci, a medieval fortress that is also one of the most beautiful villages in France.

Details

n°113939
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.90 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 567 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 568 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 342 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 130 m
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Photos

Notre-Dame des Bois

Description of the walk

(S/E) Departure from Larroque (small car park at the entrance to the village on the D964 road coming from Gaillac).
Cross carefully and take the road that climbs up to the left into the village (Côte de la Barrière). Take the hairpin bend to the right onto Chemin du Vigné, continue to the next hairpin bend and take the road on the right for a few dozen metres.

(1) Turn left to follow the Sentier des Moulins and reach the viewpoint at the top of the cliff.

(2) Enjoy the view of the village of Larroque, then continue straight ahead through the forest to join theGR®46(red and white markings).

(3) Follow theGR®46along the Beudes forest road (Beudes stream on your left).

(4) Leave theGR®46on your left and continue straight ahead for 800m, ignoring the paths on both your left and right.

(5) Turn right at the hairpin bend to follow the beautiful forest road Les Verreries de l'Issart (ruins of the glassworks on the right). Continue to a large crossroads at an altitude of 326 metres.

(6) Turn right to reach the pretty Notre-Dame des Bois chapel, a peaceful spot in this valley. Retrace your steps back to the crossroads.

(6). Then turn right onto the path that crosses a beautiful forest.

(7) You have now joined theGR®46: continue straight ahead on this marked path (red and white), which descends to the Ruisseau de l'Audoulou stream and then climbs back up to Puycelsi. Enjoy the beautiful views of this fortified village.

(8) You are now in Puycelsi: there are benches in the shade for picnics! Go around the walls on the right, then turn left to cross the village.

(9) Exit on the opposite side, on the south side. Cross the road, leave theGR®46which continues opposite and turn right onto the path towards Larroque which descends into the forest to join the D964.

(10) Turn right onto the road, then immediately after the stream, turn right onto the path that climbs uphill.

(11) At the T-junction, turn left, then left again at the next fork. Return to the fork you passed on the way there.

(1) Once on Chemin des Vignes, turn right for a quick tour of the village of Larroque (beautiful half-timbered houses in thefirststreet on the right). Return to the D964 and turn left to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 131 m - Departure from Larroque
  2. 1 : km 0.39 - alt. 164 m - Turn left
  3. 2 : km 0.71 - alt. 229 m - Belvedere
  4. 3 : km 1.79 - alt. 230 m - Junction with the GR
  5. 4 : km 3.39 - alt. 243 m - Straight ahead on the forest road
  6. 5 : km 4.16 - alt. 293 m - Turn right onto another forest road
  7. 6 : km 6.89 - alt. 326 m - Crossroads at elevation 326
  8. 7 : km 8.76 - alt. 294 m - Junction with the GR
  9. 8 : km 10.38 - alt. 276 m - Walls of Puycelci
  10. 9 : km 11.23 - alt. 272 m - South exit, junction for the path
  11. 10 : km 12.16 - alt. 139 m - D964, leave the road after the bridge
  12. 11 : km 12.84 - alt. 210 m - T-junction
  13. 12 : km 14.34 - alt. 153 m - Larroque
  14. S/E : km 14.9 - alt. 130 m

Notes

Bring water and snacks for the hike
Small bar-restaurant at the start in Larroque
Food available in Puycelsi

Worth a visit

The fortified village of Puycelsi will surprise you with its beautiful views of the Vère valley and its Saint Corneille church (blue painted vaults, beautiful painted wooden Baroque altarpiece). A visit is a must, as is a stop at the shaded square!
Larroque and its half-timbered houses: a bar for a break at the end of your hike!

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.

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Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 45 reviews
Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
garnoule
garnoule
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Carried out on 1 May.
Very busy route
Beautiful scenery and views.

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al 31
al 31

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Superb walk, numerous ascents and descents but welcoming.

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lupi001
lupi001

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A beautiful hike, varied, very little asphalt.
Despite the heavy rain this spring, there was very little mud. With a GPS, it's easy to find your way around.
Beautiful views and well-shaded paths.

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Auditheur
Auditheur

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route between two pretty villages, especially Puycelci.
The hike is mainly through the Grésigne forest.
You really need to rely on your GPS to follow the route properly. On leaving Puycelci, it is a little tricky to find your way back.

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Fa54
Fa54

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Completed on 5/4/2024
Description a little sparse, and route a little inaccurate, but easy to follow nonetheless.
The Grésigne forest in the north is magnificent, and the southern part is interesting for the two charming villages of Puycelsi and Larroque, which are worth visiting.
Nice overall.

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FRAMBOISE4
FRAMBOISE4

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

There are far too many errors in the route description.
Comments have been made since 2020 and no changes have been made yet. Who can write them?

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CAPTUSSE
CAPTUSSE

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

With GPS tracking, there were no problems, but with just the explanations, we would have had a few issues
Great trip

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grosselin
grosselin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Perfect and informative.

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Irmae
Irmae

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
We had a little trouble after Puycelsi finding the departure point from the village to Larroque. After the bridge, on the D964, we turned too quickly and missed the end of the hike, ending up on the road.
Otherwise, the route was very good. Thank you

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Frala
Frala
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike along paths and trails in the Gresigne forest with beautiful villages to visit, such as Larroque and Puycelci. Off the beaten track, the small rural village of Mespel is worth a visit.

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rodolphe31240
rodolphe31240

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Please note at the start,
in point (1) that the Moulin trail is not marked under this name, and that you need to turn left after about 80 metres onto a path with a much steeper slope than the Vigné trail. This path is also narrower.

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jonativel
jonativel
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Hike to do: two magnificent villages to discover, very little road, crossing beautiful forests, no particular difficulty for walkers, I recommend it

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PRADILLON
PRADILLON

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

hi

Reconnaissance carried out on Thursday 25 November, with good weather! Very pleasant route, but walking sticks are necessary! Beautiful scenery!
One downside: in Puycelsi, there are no signs indicating how to get back on the trail to return to Larroque! In fact, you have to head towards the forest, following the ramparts below, and the path splits in two. Continue straight ahead and do not turn left towards the forest, heading towards Mespel.

Pierrette Pradillon

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jonativel
jonativel

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful route; well marked but explanations not always very precise.

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Campredon
Campredon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello
There is a small typing error at number 8.
It says to leave the GR46 and turn right. But the GR46 is on the right. Turn right and go 150 metres, and the GR46 will be straight ahead.

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From Larroque, a pretty village with a beautiful red ochre cliff in the background, we cross Mespel and Puycelsi for a lovely walk through the woods. Along the way, you can see beautiful buildings and local heritage sites.

Walking From Larroque to Puycelsi via Mespel and La Grésigne

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↔3.72 km ↗+148 m ↘-150 m ◔1h 30 ▲Easy
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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.