The Col de Rigaudon

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A very pleasant hike criss-crossing the sunny and shady sides of this mountainous area, offering two contrasting types of vegetation and views of the Alps that will have you stopping regularly to take in the scenery.

Details

n°42115974
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.19 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 670 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 670 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,365 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 784 m
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Photos

Boundary marker between Provence and the County of Savoy dating from before 1804
Return trail
Baisse du Cros de Laurent mountain range
Farm ruins

Description of the walk

Park in the car park in front of marker 153 on the Col de Saint-Raphaël road.

(S/E) From marker 153, proceed cautiously eastwards along the Route du Col de Saint-Raphaël (D2211a) for approximately 300 metres until you reach marker 154.

Yellow markings

(1) Turn right towards the Col de Besseuges, a very pleasant wooded path that climbs gently. On this section, two other unnumbered signs indicate the Col de Besseuges.

(2) Cross the narrow tarmac road called Chemin de Besseuges and continue on the path opposite.

(3) Follow the tarmac road climbing from Besseuges. This low-traffic road leads to marker 280 just before Col de Besseuges.

White and red markings

(4) Turn right onto theGR®510towards the Col de Rigaudon. Walk along the fence on the left. This slope, located on the sunny side of the Baisse du Cros de Laurent, offers south-facing views of the wooded mountains of Cheiron. This will take you to marker 283.

(5) Then follow the direction of Col de Rigaudon, still on the GR®. Shortly after this marker, the path turns right to meet marker 283a. Follow the ascending path, still on theGR®, until you reach Col de Rigaudon (altitude 1367).

(6) There is a stone engraved with a Savoy cross on one side and a fleur-de-lis on the other, dating from before 1804, which marked the border between Provence and the County of Savoy, whose capital was Turin. From this pass, enjoy views of Entrevaux and its citadel, as well as the Alps.
Continue descending on theGR® trail until you reach the trail junction at marker 149.

Yellow markings

(7) Leave theGR® and turn right towards Le Bruyet. This long, sometimes steep trail is pleasant, passing through a beautiful rainforest on the north-facing slope of the massif.

(8) Small clearing with the ruins of a house. Just after these ruins, turn left and the trail continues through the woods.

(9) Walk past a beautiful ruin, which is also in a clearing. Continue across the fields, following the direction indicated by a wooden sign. The trail turns into a downhill carriageway. Follow it through the woods to reach marker 153 at the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 786 m - Car park at marker 153
  2. 1 : km 0.35 - alt. 808 m - Beacon 154
  3. 2 : km 1.46 - alt. 965 m - Crossroads of trail and tarmac road
  4. 3 : km 1.59 - alt. 986 m - Tarmac road from Bresseuges
  5. 4 : km 2.25 - alt. 1,057 m - Marker 280 - Col de Besseuges (1056m)
  6. 5 : km 3.45 - alt. 1,052 m - Beacon 283
  7. 6 : km 5.37 - alt. 1,363 m - Engraved stone - Col de Rigaudon (1367m)
  8. 7 : km 6.47 - alt. 1,153 m - Trail junction - marker 149
  9. 8 : km 7.7 - alt. 1,193 m - Ruins of a house
  10. 9 : km 8.48 - alt. 1,057 m - Farm ruins
  11. S/E : km 10.19 - alt. 786 m - Car park at marker 153

Notes

Hike accessible all year round.
Hiking boots and walking sticks recommended. Rocky terrain.
No water source.

Pastoral areas. Be cautious and behave appropriately to avoid any incidents.

Worth a visit

Entrevaux and its citadel are worth visiting.

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

4.8 / 5
Based on 14 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you, Piter, for this review. It is indeed a beautiful panorama
best regards, B.

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Piter
Piter

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It's a great idea to push on to the summit. It doesn't take long, even if you have to search a little for the trail, but the view is definitely worth the detour.

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Hello RQLP
Thank you for your review
good call on the picnic at the summit, the views were spectacular
best regards, B.

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RQLP
RQLP

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike, to which we added a picnic at the summit of Gourdan-Est to enjoy the 360° panorama from Gréolière les Neiges to the entire Mercantour mountain range.
The south face, which we follow between the Besseuges and Rigodon passes, is particularly impressive.

The car park is located as indicated on the route and can easily accommodate five cars. The trail does not present any particular technical difficulties. However, the 730 metres (including the summit) over just 11 kilometres involve some fairly steep climbs, and the trail is difficult to see through the boxwood and broom between the Rigodon pass and the summit of Gourdan-est.

This is a mid-season hike, as the south face is likely to be very hot in summer.

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you for this information, Philippe_M-06---
A beautiful hike indeed
Best regards, b.

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Philippe_M-06---
Philippe_M-06---

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We parked 150 metres after the pass on the D27, where there are a few spaces on the left on a widened section of the road.
then we took the Besseugue Pass road to join the trail at the combes.
Alternatively, there is a small platform opposite marker 153, a little further down.
A very beautiful hike with varied landscapes.
worth doing again in the autumn.

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Hello Jiaime
Thank you for your review (which, for once, appeared today
Indeed, a very beautiful 360°
best regards, B.

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Jiaime
Jiaime
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 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, with a 360° view once you reach the pass.
I really enjoyed it, done in March with beautiful weather and snow-capped mountains.

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Jiaime
Jiaime

Hello,
I have done several hikes with Visorando, but I can never seem to post a review.
I don't know why
Thank you

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you, Nelly J, for this comprehensive review.
Best regards, b.

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NELLY J
NELLY J

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The car park at the start is difficult to find, then you have to walk 300 metres along the side of the road, with no pavement, and cross over to reach the steep path. There are numerous fairly challenging climbs, but the Col de Rigaudon rewards our efforts. Superb views and historic boundary marker between the counties of Provence and Savoy. Very few visitors.

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you, bebegyslaine, for this review. This area is indeed very pleasant
best regards, B.

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bebeghislaine
bebeghislaine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 29, 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 autumn hike. We climbed the small peak of Gourdan, covering a total of 11.48 km with an elevation gain of 763 m. For me, it was moderately difficult but a good walk.

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you Ernestou for this review
best regards, Rando B.

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ernestou
ernestou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

superb hike with a 360° view from the summit of Gourdan. The return trip is very pleasant as you cross through a beautiful forest

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