Le Chapeau du Gendarme du Toufache

de fr

This short family walk through pine and oak woods will take you to the unmissable Chapeau du Gendarme, where you can stop for a picnic if you wish. The walk ends along the little Toufache stream, with a few small fords to cross.

Details

n°5180552
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.18 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 129 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 127 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 314 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 186 m
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Description of the walk

The walk starts at the car park of the Blache municipal hall.

(S/E) Start the hike to the left of the hall, following the marked path. You will reach the tarmac road of Les Blancards.

(1) Take the road on the right for about 20 metres, then leave it and follow the path on the right. Continue straight ahead in the same direction.

(2) At the cross, turn left onto the tarmac road.

(3) At the "Delbara" hiking signpost, turn right towards "Montréal - Toufache". You will come to a junction with a sign on a stone: turn right towards "Source Toufache, Mas Gauthier".

(4) At the "Toufache" hiking signpost, turn right onto Chemin des Bois, towards Montréal. Continue straight ahead, heading south-east.

(5) At the "le Monteil" hiking signpost, turn right towards Laurac and you will reach the Chapeau de Gendarme spring.

(6) You can relax at the picnic area by the spring. Then turn left at the small garden house, along the Ruisseau du Toufache stream. Continue to the second bridge where you will find the "paved slanting street" hiking signpost.

Turn right to cross the bridge towards Rosières. At the top of the paved slanting street, turn right onto the road that will take you to La Blache and the car park behind the cemetery (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 203 m - Salle de la Blache - Cemetery
  2. 1 : km 0.72 - alt. 250 m - Les Blancards
  3. 2 : km 1.65 - alt. 291 m - Cross
  4. 3 : km 1.96 - alt. 291 m - Delbara
  5. 4 : km 2.88 - alt. 312 m - Toufache
  6. 5 : km 3.87 - alt. 266 m - Le Monteil
  7. 6 : km 4.41 - alt. 204 m - Chapeau du Gendarme
  8. S/E : km 5.18 - alt. 202 m - Salle de la Blache - Cemetery

Notes

This hike is easy to follow if you stick to the trail, which is marked in yellow and white with signposts at intersections.

Worth a visit

(6) The Toufache garden with its picnic area.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 15 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
User 15430476

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

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m.marcais
m.marcais

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This hike is not very easy.

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daniquad58
daniquad58

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Yes, it's a very beautiful hike, especially with children when it's hot because there's plenty of shade. 👍
I highly recommend this walk. 😀👌

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Dorothée Briand
Dorothée Briand

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The hike was a bit boring at first, but we enjoyed it more once we reached the picnic area with its beautiful mosaic tables and the trail along the Toufache.

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Lilly30160
Lilly30160

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful walk.
Although advertised as easy, there are a few tricky sections (rocky passages, sudden drops) that may be difficult for some people.
Overall, the landscapes are very varied and shaded, the highlight being the famous gendarme's hat, not to be missed...

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bonnefoy robert
bonnefoy robert

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

first part pleasant and easy. Second part average, too many rocks and steep descent towards the Pic Nic corner
the exit from the stream to reach the cemetery is poorly marked. I would rate it as average plus.

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Alpirando57
Alpirando57

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

A lovely little hike that's great for families, even those with small children, with no particular difficulties.
Between points 3 and 5, the vegetation has grown back well after the fire. A very pretty little bucolic stream to follow at the end of the hike is perfectly shaded and provides plenty of coolness. However, it is not after point 5 at Le Monteil that you reach the spring, but after point 6 below the picnic area.
I agree with Batarando's comment of 26 February 2021 regarding the change of direction at the MONREAL and LAURAC signs
Thierry, Alpirando

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Zimba
Zimba

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy and very pleasant hike. The explanations given were clear. A breath of fresh air!

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ISANAUD
ISANAUD

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The landscape changes throughout the hike. To be repeated in spring.

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Azimut71
Azimut71

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Between the start and 1, the paved slanting street, lined with low walls, is superb.

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roraiima
roraiima
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

A short, easy route this autumn. The Toufache section is very pretty, but unfortunately between bridges 3 and 5 everything has been burnt down, probably in a recent fire, as I haven't seen any comments about it. It's a real shame.

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maritel
maritel

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Disappointed by the gendarme hat, which we saw at the last minute and didn't match our expectations at all... So I would say disappointing for the gendarme hat, but good for the hike as a whole.

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Ally07
Ally07

I'll try to change that... if I can

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ramsaminette
ramsaminette

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant short hike from start to finish. Varied landscapes, shaded in places, well-maintained low walls and paved slanting streets, and a very rural arrival by the stream. We recommend it! Agree with Pascal about the directional sign 😉

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Didier 07
Didier 07

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant walk accessible to all (5.5 km) through varied landscapes.
The last part, starting from the source of the Chapeau de Gendarme, is particularly pleasant.
Worth doing again and again.

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