The Grand Tour of Lamonzie-Montastruc

The local council has created this route, which takes you past two majestic castles and picturesque hamlets away from the main roads. The route alternates between roads, forest tracks and woodland paths.

Details

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Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.89 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 938 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 932 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 541 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 197 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

The meeting point is opposite the town hall, situated on the D21, by the hiking information board: parking is readily available.
Follow the pink (poorly maintained) and yellow markings.

(S/E) Head in the opposite direction to the village, walking along the left-hand side of the D21 for about 200 metres. Turn left onto the Route de la Jolivie at the foot of Bellegarde Castle. At the next junction, turn right onto a forest track to reach the hamlet of La Croix Vieille.

(1) From here, take the Impasse de la Croix Vieille, walk past the Versannes neighbourhood and then, before reaching the D32, turn left onto the Chemin des Versannes. Cross the road and take the footpath opposite. When you reach another road, follow it to the left to reach the hamlet of La Jolivie.

(2) Opposite No. 1130, turn right onto the track to reach the hamlet of La Barabie further on. Turn 90° to the right onto Route des Femmes. Continue straight on until you reach a Stop sign at the junction with the D32.

(3) Cross the departmental road with care and continue straight ahead along Impasse du Lac de Lacroix, then follow the forest track to the left after the last detached house until you reach a track. Turn right and follow this track for a few hundred metres until you reach a yellow and pink marker.

(4) Turn left and follow the track. At the next Fork in the road, keep left and head for the crossroads at a place called Bouyssonnat.

(5) Turn left, keep going straight on and join the D32.

(6) Cross it again with care and continue straight on to the hamlet of Le Cluzel. At the top of the hill, after house number 575, carry on along the track to the left of the stone pillar (the appearance is misleading; it looks as though you’re entering private property). Shortly afterwards, the path descends to the right, into the valley. Turn right at the next junction, take the path, pass through a poplar grove and cross the river Louyre. After the river, take the rough path that climbs to the right.

(7) Once at the top, turn left and shortly afterwards right to pass through the hamlet of Lartigue. Walk past a house to join the signposted path, which becomes visible to the right of the shed. Continue until you reach the tarmac road known as the Voie Romaine.

(8) Turn right onto it, passing in front of the Château de l’Escot. Continue along a track here, following the ridge overlooking the Louyre valley. After a short climb, you’ll reach the Eyssal crossroads. Please take care here: make sure you spot the sign for Eyssal on a signpost on the left, as it is positioned facing away from the direction of travel (there are letterboxes on the right).

(9) Turn left and head towards the hamlet of Eyssal. Cross the hamlet following the track and join the D21, the road to Vergt.

(10) Turn left onto it for about a hundred metres, then cross the road with care. At the next junction, turn right, then right again to reach the hamlet of Monsacou.

(11) At No. 1075, turn slightly right onto the forest track. Enter the woods, continue straight on and head for the livestock farm. Walk past the cattle pen and reach the shed on the right.

(12) Turn right immediately after the shed, continue for about a hundred metres, then turn left onto the path between the meadows to reach the Monsacou road at the top of the hill.

(13) Carry on straight ahead along the grassy path towards the yellow marker (no sign at the road). At the edge of the woodland, follow the path on the right until you reach the Route du Penlet.

(14) Carry on straight ahead, passing the Caisses d’Envol de chasseurs (2 sites), and continue to the next junction.

(15) Turn right and carry on for about a hundred metres. Be careful not to miss the next junction. Turn left onto the path leading downhill (hint: just at the entrance, 10 metres to your right, you’ll find a spring shelter). Continue to the Route de Maillol and cross with care. Carry on straight ahead, pass through the hamlet of Mareyssal, then reach the hamlet of La Nauze.

(16) Turn left in the centre of the hamlet and head down Route de la Crabouille. Turn right into Impasse de Fonrouge (the second right). Continue along the path that follows it, running alongside the fence of the large estate, until you reach a Y-junction.

(17) Take the path on the left and walk up the hill to the hamlet of La Martigne.

(18) Carry on straight ahead towards the Prieuré’s carriage entrance, then follow the road past an old bread oven. After the two tobacco sheds, turn right and head back down the road (take a moment here to enjoy the view of Bellegarde Castle on your right, 400 m away), until you reach Montastruc Castle.

(19) Turn right onto Route de Maillol towards the D32, cross the road with care and head for the church. Turn right and return to the town hall car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 210 ft - Town hall car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.8 - alt. 371 ft - La Croix Vieille
  3. 2 : mi 1.46 - alt. 364 ft - La Jolivie
  4. 3 : mi 1.84 - alt. 384 ft - D32 road
  5. 4 : mi 2.33 - alt. 371 ft - Forest track
  6. 5 : mi 2.85 - alt. 407 ft - Bouyssonnat Trail
  7. 6 : mi 3.39 - alt. 292 ft - D32 road
  8. 7 : mi 4.53 - alt. 292 ft - Lartigue - Louyre (ruisseau) - Affluent du Caudeau
  9. 8 : mi 4.94 - alt. 358 ft - Roman Road
  10. 9 : mi 6.01 - alt. 423 ft - D21 road
  11. 10 : mi 6.62 - alt. 236 ft - Route de Vergt (D21)
  12. 11 : mi 7.3 - alt. 367 ft - The hamlet of Monsacou
  13. 12 : mi 7.81 - alt. 499 ft - Farm shed
  14. 13 : mi 8.1 - alt. 541 ft - Monsacou Road
  15. 14 : mi 9.04 - alt. 489 ft - Route du Penlet
  16. 15 : mi 9.78 - alt. 486 ft - Y-junction
  17. 16 : mi 10.53 - alt. 446 ft - The hamlet of La Nauze
  18. 17 : mi 11.31 - alt. 240 ft - Hairpin bend
  19. 18 : mi 11.75 - alt. 253 ft - The hamlet of La Martigne
  20. 19 : mi 12.51 - alt. 203 ft - Château de Montastruc
  21. S/E : mi 12.89 - alt. 210 ft - Town hall car park

Notes

(S/E) The market hall behind the town hall offers shelter from the elements, with a picnic area.
(18) The bread oven in the hamlet of La Martigne provides shelter for a few walkers.
Between (19) and (S/E): a toilet block is situated behind the boules court.
(10) and (11) Shelter is available in the hamlets of Eyssal and Monsacou.

Worth a visit

(S/E) Bellegarde Castle, visible on the hill at the start.
(18) The bread oven in the hamlet of La Martigne.
(19) Montastruc Castle (8th century) and the Church of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption (12th century).
(S/E) The renovated village of Lamonzie-Montastruc is particularly worth a visit.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 3 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
FABRE Hélène
FABRE Hélène

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route with some beautiful paths, but a few sections where you have to cross or walk alongside the road.

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th.postel@cegetel.net
th.postel@cegetel.net

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant paths and tracks that are easy to follow, through lovely countryside, though there are no particularly striking views. The best bit is the final stretch into the village.

Machine-translated

O13G
O13G

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, long circular route with very little tarmac, mainly through woodland and along paths.
We did this walk as a group with our dogs in 5½ hours at a leisurely pace, taking breaks to give the dogs a drink.
There are a few sections of uphill walking, but nothing particularly difficult.

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