Las Planques, Short Version

A beautiful, small but challenging unpaved circuit for a half-day of physical exertion.
Although classified as moderately difficult, you will need to be reasonably fit to tackle the rollercoaster ride of the Viaur.
Woods, water, views and old stones are here for your viewing pleasure.

Details

550128
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.15 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 399 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 399 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 428 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 289 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the small car park on the left-hand side of the D888. It is located approximately 250 m from the old Tanus Bridge when arriving from Tanus.

Yellow markings

(S/E) Head towards the Tanus Bridge. After 100 m, the trail begins on the right. It is narrow and grassy at first, but becomes wider and stony. It climbs steadily until it leaves the woods. At the road, turn left and walk past the Sicardie farm for about 30 m.

(1) Turn left onto the grassy path in the hollow. The path widens and becomes flat until the next crossroads, which you should ignore. The path remains wide but becomes stony and begins to descend towards the Viaur. At the bend, enjoy the view of the Viaur from Roc de l'Aigle.

(2) From Roc de l'Aigle, the descent forms a loop to the banks of the Viaur. The river is already visible when the trees have no (or no longer have) their foliage. Reach the Viaur.

(3) Walk along it and enjoy the calm presence of the water. The dirt path, lined with greenery, lends itself to the serenity of the place. After crossing the Ribassès stream, there is another climb towards the Travers du Viaur, then a slight descent and another climb, until you reach the red and yellow markings.

Red-yellow markings + yellow markings

(4) At the junction ofthe PR® andGRP®, continue straight ahead. At the next crossroads, take a sharp left turn to descend towards the Claude Riveno footbridge.

(5) Cross the footbridge to return to the path on the left bank. Turn right at the first junction; the path climbs in a loop to the rear of the chapel. After the viewpoint, retrace your steps a little and head right towards the entrance to Las Planques.

(6) Another viewpoint at the front of the chapel. Set off again through the wooden gate and go down the steps to the crossroads with the stone cross.

(7) At the crossroads, take the path on the left towards Tanus. Cross the Rieu Caut stream and continue, ignoring the paths on the right.

Yellow markings

(8) End of double markings. Continue straight ahead on the path that leads to the small bridge over the Viaur tributary.

No markings

(9) Leave the Vieux Tanus trail (marked in yellow) by turning left onto the stony path that descends to the D888 and the Tanus Bridge. Cross the bridge and return to the starting point 250 m away (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 301 m - Parking available along the D888
  2. 1 : km 1.17 - alt. 419 m - Climb the path on the right
  3. 2 : km 1.68 - alt. 382 m - Roc de l'Aigle
  4. 3 : km 2.18 - alt. 296 m - Right bank of the Viaur
  5. 4 : km 3.63 - alt. 401 m - PR and GRP junction
  6. 5 : km 4.52 - alt. 289 m - Claude Riveno footbridge - Viaur (rivière)
  7. 6 : km 4.91 - alt. 334 m - Entrance to Las Planques - Chapelle de Las Planques
  8. 7 : km 5.02 - alt. 319 m - Crossroads at the Croix de Pierre
  9. 8 : km 6.07 - alt. 428 m - End of GRP markings
  10. 9 : km 7.62 - alt. 349 m - Turn left onto the stony path
  11. S/E : km 8.15 - alt. 300 m - Parking available along the D888

Notes

Hiking equipment and footwear recommended

Worth a visit

Numerous viewpoints over the Viaur and Las Planques Chapel
The chapel can be visited inside every day except Wednesday.
To do so, remember to borrow a key from the Café des Sports in Tanus.

 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

4.8 / 5
Based on 18 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
godfroid
godfroid

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We loved this walk, which was easy and varied, and took place on 18 May in glorious weather.
The start of the walk isn't exceptional and you can hear the noise of the RN88 road, but as soon as you start descending towards the Viaur, the magic begins

Machine-translated

Vendinielle
Vendinielle

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route, best enjoyed in good weather. The return journey is on the north-facing slope, which means it will be cool and damp, so bring a jumper at the end of November. The colours are magnificent, especially the chestnut trees, but it's touch and go: in a week's time, it will probably be much more bare.

Machine-translated

lascazes
lascazes

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike with a few climbs. Best done in good weather as the return journey from the chapel is entirely through woodland. The chapel is truly beautiful in its green setting.

Machine-translated

Pascal-81
Pascal-81

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An interesting hike, like all those in the Viaur Valley. The abandoned village of Las Planques is a must-see in this area and is of great interest. We didn't encounter anyone else on the hike, which we did with our dog, who found plenty of water sources to cool off.

Machine-translated

ValR
ValR

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A very beautiful, shaded walk with interesting and varied points of interest.

Machine-translated

madydou
madydou ★

Thank you for your enthusiasm

Machine-translated

bergpaden
bergpaden

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant walk. The chapel site is magnificent.
thank you.

Machine-translated

Augusto vincent
Augusto vincent
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike, beautiful views. We had a wonderful time. You can picnic at the chapel. A really enjoyable hike
Be careful at the end, the path goes up with a sign for Tanus, another goes down to the left with a cross... you have to follow the cross to get back to the bridge that crosses the Viaur and return to the car park. There is a yellow mark, but I saw the cross first... otherwise, it is very well marked all along and the GPS guidance is impeccable.

Machine-translated

madydou
madydou ★

Hello Perdigal,
Thank you for your feedback and for sharing your experiences with us.
I'm delighted to hear that you were able to visit everything as planned.
All the best!

Machine-translated

Perdigal46
Perdigal46

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 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 walk around the Viaur. Four climbs and four descents in the heart of the green countryside. An easy path to walk on, almost always side by side, without too many stones!
We didn't meet many people, except for a runner, a fisherman, a drone and Madydou, the author of this hike! Everyone stopped for a chat, which was very pleasant and also gave us a chance to catch our breath.
We continued on to the modified Old Tanus circuit to see the other viaduct up close. We climbed above the viaduct, passing close to Laval on the small road, then descended back into the valley. Magnificent view of the iron bridge glistening in the sun!
Thank you, Madydou!

Machine-translated

Laur31
Laur31

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 03, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely little walk in the countryside with beautiful scenery and a beautiful chapel

Machine-translated

asker
asker

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Mountain bike race in the opposite direction on 15 August! But no problem; mutual courtesy and caution.
Beautiful circuit, a classic, well-maintained path.
Pleasant shade in summer.
Signposting OK; useful to read the road book carefully from Las Planques onwards.

Machine-translated

grandin
grandin ★

Thank you, this right/left error has been corrected

Machine-translated

Matthieu Pégart
Matthieu Pégart

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

There is an error in the route description. After the Las Planques chapel, to return to the path towards Tanus, you should not turn right (towards Pampelonn) at the fork, but left (marked but not signposted).

Machine-translated

PatGilles34
PatGilles34

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with plenty of shade, making it pleasant even when the weather is hot. Far from monotonous, with its ups and downs! Numerous viewpoints.
Be careful at the crossroads with the stone cross (7): take the path on the left, not the one on the right towards Tanus.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.