Pic du Lizieux and the Meygal Massif

Head to the village of Montbuzat (or sometimes Montbusat), west of Mazet-Saint-Voy.
Parking is available in the small square behind the Temple.
Important: if there are not enough spaces, it is recommended to park at the Lizieux car park; to do so, head east and take the road leading up into the village. Follow the road uphill to the left, leaving the village.
You’ll come to a junction with a road.

(S/E) Take the road north and you will soon reach a T-junction with another road.

(1) Follow it to the right, then take the road going uphill to the left towards the forest. You will reach an area with a large car park; this is the^second car park mentioned above.

(2) Yellow^PR® markings

It is possible to start the hike from this car park if there is a lack of spaces in the village.
Follow the flat stony path to reach a junction with wooden tables on the left and a signpost for Pic du Lizieux. Take the path on the right heading east.
The path winds through the forest and climbs over the rocks to reach the summit of the Pic.

(3) Follow the yellow markings through the rocks. Descend via a series of bends to reach the forest. On the descent, follow the markings carefully, ignoring the paths on either side.
You will reach a junction with a main path.

(4) End of the yellow markings

Follow the path to the left.
At the next junction, continue straight ahead on a gentle descent. A few hundred metres further on, ignore a path coming from the right (elevation 1218). After a gentle descent curving to the left, you will reach a junction with a path coming from the right (elevation 1188) and a water catchment area on the left. Carry straight on. The path curves to the left and then climbs steeply until it reaches a flat area and a crossroads with four paths.

(5) Yellow^PR® markings

Take the path on the right. The route is flat then descends slightly towards a road and the houses of Arnissac. Follow the road to the left for 100 m then take it downhill, passing between the houses. Ignore two roads on the right in succession. Pass close to a fountain on the right.

(6) Yellow markings

After the fountain, take the grassy path opposite. You’ll reach a road. Continue for 100 m. Ignore the road branching off to the right towards the farm and head left instead. After 150 m, the road turns into a path; follow this until you reach a road coming from the right. Follow the road towards the village of Recharinges, keeping the church in sight. Pass the church and you will come to a crossroads.

(7) Yellow markings

Take the road on the left into the village. Follow it out of the village, where it turns into an uphill track. The track heads left to reach a road. Take the road leading downhill to the left for 200 m. At Les Rioux, walk past a house on the left. Before reaching a second house, take the path leading uphill to the right. Reach a crossing path and follow it to the right. Climb round a bend to the left through the forest. You’ll reach a crossroads. Ignore the paths leading down to the right and up to the left, and follow the one straight ahead which climbs. The path curves sharply to the left to reach another crossroads. Take the path on the right at a right angle. You’ll arrive at a large clearing with a junction of tracks and paths.

(8) End of yellow markings

Follow the forest track heading to the right. After 400 m, at the first junction, take the path on the left at almost a right angle. Reach a road and follow it to the right for 250 m. Look out for a path slanting to the left and follow it. After 150 m, the path crosses a path coming from the right.

(9) ^GR®40red and white markings

Take the^GR® on the left, which winds its way up through the forest and then climbs more steeply towards the scree slopes. Reach the summit of Testavoyre. Descend, following the markings all the way. Arrive at a car park and the road taken earlier. Cross the road and head towards a simple wooden shelter. Stay on the^GR® by heading to the right of the shelter. Wind your way through the forest to reach a junction of four paths.

(10) End of red and white markings. Start of yellow^PR® markings

Leave the^GR® on your right and take the^PR® on your left^{. Ign}ore the paths on either side. Reach a meadow on your right. Continue until you come out onto the D
15 at La Grangette, a busy road.

(11) Cross it with the utmost care.
Walk along the verge running alongside the road, then head east towards the last building. Reach a road and take the path opposite. Follow it until you rejoin the D 15.
Cross it again, again taking the utmost care.
Take the path opposite, running alongside a house on the right. Reach a road and cross it towards the Lac Bleu car park.

(12) No signposting

Do not enter the car park but take the path opposite which runs alongside it on the left. Reach a road at Bélistard and follow it to the left for 200 m. Ignore the road on the right. After the farm buildings on the right, turn right at a right angle onto the grassy path between stone walls. On the right, you will see a small cemetery overgrown with vegetation. Walk past a building on the right. You will reach a road opposite a house.
Follow the road downhill to the left. You’ll reach a main road at a place called La Chaux de Carle. Turn left onto it for 100 m.

(13) Walk alongside some buildings, then past them, and take the road branching off to the right. First ignore a road branching off to the left, then another branching off to the right. The road turns into an uphill path after passing a large house on the left. You’ll reach a road at a place called Les Abreuvoirs.

(14) Follow the road to the right. Ignore a road going uphill to the left. At the next junction, near a farm shed on the left, take the path going uphill to the left towards the village. Continue until you reach the Montbuzat car park (S/E).

There are no designated water points along the route.
Tables and benches are available:
(2) at the car park and before the climb to Pic du Lizieux,
(after 3) towards La Violette,
(7) in the village of Recharinges near the church,
(between 8 and 9) at Testavoyre car park.
Please note: In spring and summer, handle stones with care as reptiles are common. Avoid sitting on piles of stones.

(Between 2 and 3) Pic du Lizieux at 1,388 m with panoramic views of the knolls and Mont Mézenc. Note: on the Pic, the flat rocks rattle underfoot.
(7) The village of Recharinges and its church with its characteristic porch.
(Between 8 and 9) Summit of the Testavoyre at 1,436 m
The entire walk passes through a large forest area ideal for mushroom picking, but please respect private property.
In this Protestant region, you’ll spot graves here and there in the open countryside.
Nearby: the towns of Yssingeaux, Mazet-Saint-Voy, Chambon-Sur-Lignon and Saint-Julien Chapteuil.