The rock of Arlempdes

This walk offers a beautiful view of the hilltop village of Arlempdes (pronounced "Arlende"). Listed as one of "The Most Beautiful Villages in France", it occupies a stunning site on a rocky spur overlooking the wild gorges of the Loire.

Details

5828
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.23 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 216 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 213 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,003 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 806 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S) With your back to the Arlempdes car park, take the road on the right that descends towards the Loire. 300 metres further on, after the bend, take the path on the right. Pass a cross.

(1) The path joins theGR®3. Take this path, going up to the right. On the plateau, at the first crossroads, opposite a small wooden house, take the path on the right. Panoramic view of Arlempdes.

(2) At the Ligueyre intersection, ignore the first path leading off to the right. Cross a road and continue almost opposite. Continue straight ahead until you reach another road.

(3) Turn left and immediately after, turn right. At the first intersection, go straight ahead. You will reach a road. Turn right. Another intersection. Go straight ahead. You will reach Les Chaumeilles.

(4) Cross the Rd54 to go straight ahead towards Masclaux.

(5) At the next intersection, turn right. Ignore two paths leading off to the left and pass in front of a house. The road becomes a track. After 100 metres, follow a small path on the left that descends into the Loire Valley.

(6) You will reach a viewpoint offering a view of the gorges and the Château d'Arlempdes.

After enjoying the view, head back up to the village to return to the starting point, passing in front of the large entrance gate (E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 832 m - Arlempdes car park - La Loire
  2. 1 : km 0.66 - alt. 864 m - Intersection GR3
  3. 2 : km 1.62 - alt. 918 m - Intersection of Ligueyre
  4. 3 : km 2.37 - alt. 947 m - Left-right
  5. 4 : km 3.83 - alt. 959 m - Intersection with the D 54
  6. 5 : km 4.37 - alt. 958 m - Intersection
  7. 6 : km 5.47 - alt. 866 m - Belvedere
  8. S/E : km 6.23 - alt. 835 m - Arlempdes car park

Notes

Please wear walking shoes.

On your return, you can enjoy a drink on the terrace at the Le Manoir hotel restaurant.

Worth a visit

Arlempdes Castle. Open to visitors from 15 March to 15 October. Closed on Mondays. You must go to Le Manoir (bar-restaurant-rooms), the only business in the village, to obtain your admission ticket and the key to the castle. Each visitor has their own key, which they must use to enter and then close the door behind them. The key is then returned to the reception desk at Le Manoir.
Guided tours (30 minutes) in July and August (2pm to 6pm). Please confirm visiting times by calling +33 (0)4 71 57 17 14.

Prices: adults: £6 - children (aged 12-18): £4 - adult groups: £5. Free for children under 12.
Group rates for 10 people or more.

The Rural Heritage Museum in Arlempdes

At the foot of the rock, the Loire with its pebble beaches. Swimming is prohibited.

 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.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 26 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
Kinould
Kinould

We had difficulty finding the start of the hike; it would be helpful to specify the car park where the hike begins.

Machine-translated

Gargantua
Gargantua

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Things to do in spring... beautiful views of the Loire... take time to visit the castle
A little too much tarmac...

3.5 out of 5

Machine-translated

Christian de la HV
Christian de la HV

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Very beautiful views of the Loire and Arlempdes and its castle

Part of the road is paved, which is a bit too long for our liking, but it's fine

Machine-translated

Faubourg
Faubourg

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant hike with views of the village.
Shade and sunshine. A bit of tarmac in the middle of the walk. Very pleasant hotel terrace at the end. Welcome coolness from the Loire.
No major difficulties. Short steep climb at the start.

Machine-translated

papi rené
papi rené

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy, pleasant hike followed by some exceptional views

Machine-translated

agnesmamangâteau
agnesmamangâteau

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

At point 5, you have to walk 400 to 500 metres to find the small path.
We got a little lost at the beginning, so we crossed Freycenet with its beautiful wash house.
There are beautiful views of Arlempdes and the Loire Gorges at the start and end of the hike.

Machine-translated

iojcg
iojcg

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,
This is an easy route, assuming you have a map and a smartphone. The trails are mostly local paths (used for farming, etc.) and sometimes even paved roads. The narrowest and least obvious part of the trail is shortly after the start (there were nettles when I went) and the path along the Loire, in the undergrowth, is quite stony. It leads to and from the viewpoint, which is one of the most interesting parts of the hike, taking you halfway to the open plateaus.

Machine-translated

Didier.Ouillon
Didier.Ouillon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Shaded and peaceful route

Machine-translated

michem
michem

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice hike. Beautiful panoramic views. Just a little more detail in the description would be welcome at the start. For example, the passage in front of the cross is not "immediately" after the start.

Machine-translated

randonannie
randonannie
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent walk with beautiful views of Arlempdes and the Loire, both at the start and end of the route. A varied circuit: a gentle climb at the start, followed by a fairly steep descent to the viewpoint and plateau with panoramic views of the village.
Two small sections that are a little tricky to follow from the description: 1) at the top of the initial climb, follow the GR trail after the cross, without turning right; 2) after point 2, follow the description carefully: there are many intersections (at the road, turn right, do not head towards Montcoudiol).
The colours are splendid in autumn! Highly recommended at this time of year.

Machine-translated

veralex
veralex

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This is our second time visiting Arlempdes... the castle and the hotel where we are supposed to pick up the keys are still closed (?)

Machine-translated

ClaireCéline
ClaireCéline

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

For your information, this hike no longer exists... At the starting point, two hikes are indicated.

This corresponds to the hike: "La roche des bonnes dames du bois" (The rock of the good ladies of the woods). We followed the signs and arrived at the places called Montcoudiol and then Mascaux, which were not mentioned in the description of our hike.

In the end, we covered 9.9 km and it took about 3 hours. This is the PR 154.

The scenery is magnificent. However, the hike ends with a fairly steep descent with large rocks, so you really need to wear walking shoes. In our opinion, this hike is not easy but rather of medium difficulty and is not suitable for everyone.

Machine-translated

dblefebvre
dblefebvre

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 04, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A not too long hike that allows you to discover a very beautiful site, in a northern country atmosphere.
The views are remarkable.
Finish with a descent to the banks of the Loire and/or a visit to the castle (closed in winter).

Machine-translated

danmarc38
danmarc38

a very beautiful hike completed in September 2018 with elderly people (aged 80). Minor difficulties around point 6.

Machine-translated

chimette&lesloulous
chimette&lesloulous

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

a beautiful hike in magnificent weather
from point 3 to point 5, the route was a bit boring, but after the descent, there was a superb view of the village and the castle
the reward for this hike
and a refreshing break at the inn with my kids
a walk to recommend

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.