The Cabrerets plateau and the Célé valley

Discover the Causse and the beautiful Célé Valley around the superb Pech Merle Cave.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 19.70 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 552 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 555 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 295 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 135 m

Description of the walk

In Cabrerets, leave your car in the car park opposite the Tourist Office.

__GR®®651trail markings__

(S/E) Walk down the village's main street towards the banks of the Célé. Take the first street on the left before reaching the quays.

(1) Cross the peatland, a river that flows into the Célé just after. Continue along this street to reach the banks of the Célé, the D41. Turn left. Continue along this road to the hamlet of Bout du Lieu.

(2) Turn left to cross the hamlet higher up, parallel to the Célé.

(3) 150 m further on, turn left (before coming out onto the D41 again) onto a path that winds upwards and turns into a trail. Continue along this trail, which climbs up onto the causse through shrubby vegetation. At each intersection, follow the clearly visibleGR®® markings straight ahead.

(4) You will come out onto a road at a place called Cavirande.

(5) Shortly afterwards, turn right onto a path. Continue along this beautiful path to the small hamlet of Espinière.

(6) The path turns into a small road which you follow downhill to the junction with the D40. Take a wide path opposite which goes uphill and continue along this path, ignoring all other paths to the right and left. You will come to a small road.

(7) Turn left and continue to the Château de Cluzals (eco-museum).

(8) Turn right onto a path that heads back and enters the undergrowth. To visit the Château de Cuzals, turn left.

(9) 600 m further on, still following theGR®® markings, leave the path and take a trail on the right. This trail descends gradually, then more steeply. It leads to a small road.

(10) Take this road on the left. You will soon reach the first houses of Vieux Sauliac.

(11) Return to the car park (S/E) by following the same route as on the way there.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 145 m - Cabrerets - Grotte de Pech Merle
  2. 1 : km 0.15 - alt. 142 m - Cross the - Sagne (rivière)
  3. 2 : km 0.58 - alt. 154 m - Turn left into Bout du Lieu after the - Célé (rivière)
  4. 3 : km 0.8 - alt. 146 m - Before the Bout du Lieu exit, turn left.
  5. 4 : km 2.9 - alt. 269 m - You will come out onto a road in Cavirande.
  6. 5 : km 3.11 - alt. 275 m - Take the path on the left.
  7. 6 : km 4.33 - alt. 228 m - Espinière stopover lodge
  8. 7 : km 6.56 - alt. 223 m - Take the road on the left.
  9. 8 : km 7.39 - alt. 251 m - At the eco-museum, take the path on the right. - Chateau de Cuzals
  10. 9 : km 8.18 - alt. 242 m - Take the path on the right.
  11. 10 : km 9.6 - alt. 194 m - You will reach a small road.
  12. 11 : km 9.86 - alt. 205 m - Vieux Sauliac
  13. S/E : km 19.69 - alt. 145 m - Cabrerets

Notes

Hike of moderate to difficult difficulty as it is quite long. Standard hiking equipment.
It gets hot on the Causse plateau in summer. Bring water, a hat and sunglasses.

It is of course possible to do this hike as a one-way trip, leaving one car in Cabreret and one in Vieux Sauliac.

Worth a visit

Discover more hikes in this area with descriptions or the Visorando app here

(S/E) Pleasant village of Cabrerets.

Absolute tranquillity on the Causse.

(11) Vieux Sauliac. The old village was built on the side of a cliff. You can see the remains of troglodytic dwellings and information panels guide visitors along the narrow street. From these heights, there is a beautiful view of the new village of Sauliac below and the Célé Valley.

The Pech Merle cave is a must-see. The decorated cave is very well known and is superb with its paintings of animals and negative handprints. But Pech Merle is also a superb geological cave. The whole site is exceptional. Please note that the number of visitors is limited: remember to book your ticket in advance, especially in summer.

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

4.5 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
User 13596714

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Enjoy your hike!

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Berenice37
Berenice37

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A beautiful hike that is easy to follow. It is best to start early in hot weather, as there is very little shade along the way. We returned via the valley to enjoy the cool air and finished with the circular Montclar hike, arriving at the swimming spot before the unusual crossing by walking across the river.

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Maryse DRITSAS
Maryse DRITSAS

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Accurate description. Not very busy route. A few points of interest.

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BER’ARD
BER’ARD

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Route taken only in part from Cuzals to reach Gourbous (Cavirande)
Very quiet path, but be careful during hunting season, as it can be quite stressful if you don't trust the hunters too much

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artifice
artifice

On 28/05/2020, Jean Pierre and Dani followed the circular route: going up the River Aveyron:
and at point 3, which says to go up to the village of Mergieux, there is an error; continue the route,
which descends to Gasquie.
This is just a minor detail. The route is superb. Well done!

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caro7c
caro7c

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

I made the outward journey in beautiful sunshine and there was little shade at the start of the route. So I got quite hot.
It was pleasant, but not varied enough for my taste. I made my way back along the road, following the Célé river, which allowed me to see other cliffs.

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Yvan47
Yvan47

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A very pleasant hike on the Causse. Be warned, however, that this route is quite challenging in my opinion, especially in hot weather (which was the case for us). Don't forget to bring plenty of water!
Staying at the municipal campsite in Cabrerets, we enjoyed being able to take a dip in the Célé on our return...

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manharez
manharez

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 13, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

semi-shaded route, which is appreciated in this hot weather

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