The Devil’s Well in Les Coulmes

Park in the car park at the Faz cross-country ski centre.

(S/E) Walk past the centre and take the small path leading down to the right towards the south.

(1) At Chamfra, head left towards the Refuge du Serre du Sâtre: yellow/green markings. Cross the D31 and continue for about a hundred metres.

(2) Leave the yellow/green markings and take the path climbing to the right. A steep, unmarked climb of about 350 m to rejoin the markings.

(3) Head straight on towards Les Croisettes, following a path that is initially muddy and then becomes stony. You will reach the Les Croisettes car park.

(4) Continue straight on towards the Refuge du Serre du Sâtre, following the same markings. You will reach a crossroads.

(5) Turn right and follow the markings to the refuge, which no longer exists as it has burnt down: a picnic table remains.

(6) Continue straight ahead along the small path towards Beauregard.

(7) Pass through Serre Playe, with huge limestone boulders at the side of the path. Continue straight on until you reach a fork.

(8) Head down to the left for 150 m and you’ll find the Puits du Diable on your left: be careful, don’t get too close. A few metres further down, on the path to the right, there’s another large hole. Turn back to the junction.

(8) Resume the route to the left. Follow the signs for Pré l'Étang and Beauregard.

(10) At Pré l'Étang, continue straight on towards the Fontaine de Pétouze and Beauregard. There are two signs pointing in opposite directions, and you can avoid the road if you wish. Pass through Beauregard, turning right towards the Fontaine de Pétouze and passing above the Grotte de Pré l'Étang, whose entrance you can admire by following the sign on the path. Continue downhill to reach the Fontaine de Pétouze.

(11) Take the path leading uphill opposite it, towards Le Faz. Pass Paquetière and continue to the crossroads at Combe de Ravassière.

(12) Turn right and head up the path, which is circular and returns to the path towards Le Faz.

(13) Leave the path for an unmarked detour to see a superb karstic cave and a fountain in a spot where charcoal burners once lived: there are no signs, so follow the GPS on the route.

(14) Return to the path.

(13) Continue climbing to the left until you reach the path towards Le Faz.

(15) Turn left onto a small path laid out a long time ago: no markings. Follow this barely marked path carefully to see the spring and its pools. The path seems to end, but you’ll find it again by heading west and then south to the spot marked on the Étoile map: there are no signs on the ground. The path descends and rejoins the markings you left behind some 300 m earlier.

(16) Turn right towards Le Faz. Take another short detour to the right to follow a barely marked path to see the Grotte des Bœufs, about 150 m away.

(17) Return to the path and continue the descent to the right. Take one last short detour to the left to see the karstic cave. Return to the path towards Le Faz and you will soon reach the junction of the circular path.

(1) Head straight on to reach the cross-country ski centre and then the car park (S/E).

On this route, there is water at the Fontaine de Pétouze and occasionally at the spring near the Étoile. The area around the karstic caves can be slippery; do not get too close – it is better to walk around them.

Look out for the karstic caves and other sinkholes or wells, as well as the fountains. Many ruins bear witness to the area’s past as a charcoal-burning site