The Don Volcano from Marcols-les-Eaux

Yellow and white markings

(S/E) From the town hall square, go up the Mézilhac road on the right. At the first intersection on the right (just above the retirement home), follow the sign for "Rocher de Don".
Climb above the village via a paved slanting street (part of the old road that linked Privas to Le Cheylard). At the next three-way junction, turn left. At the next junction, follow the path on the left that winds through the broom.

(1) Join a wide forest track and take it on the right.

(2) Shortly afterwards, at a right-hand bend, take the path on the left (shortcut from the forest track).

(3) At the next junction with the forest track, follow the left-hand track leading to the Ribiers farm.

(4) Shortly before the farm, take a path on the left: signposted "chemin de randonnée" (hiking trail) (slight variation between IGN and terrain). This shortcut joins a track. Follow it to the right.

(5) At the next crossroads (directional mast), continue straight ahead in a northerly direction towards "Don". Ignore the various paths to the right and left of this long track passing above the Sagnette farm.

(6) At a hairpin bend, turn left and continue to a gate. Go through it and walk along the ridge, through the broom (slight variation between IGN and terrain). Leave the path leading down to the Don farm on your right. Reach the foot of the rock. (Explanatory panel about the geo-site completely dilapidated).
Go through the gate and start climbing straight ahead towards the summit and the ruins of an old castle.

(7) From the summit (orientation table), retrace your steps.

(6). Take the track on the left and join the small road to Saint-Genest Lachamp.

No markings

(8) Follow this tarmac road to the right for about 2.5 km. It is well shaded at the beginning, then gradually opens up to reveal views of the valleys.

Yellow and white markings

(9) On the right, you will reach the junction with the track leading down to Curins and Crouzet. The track gives way to a small tarmac road. Walk alongside the hamlet of Curins-le-Haut. Continue along the road to the hamlet of Crouzet.

(10) At the first houses in Crouzet, follow the road to the right. Walk along the hamlet to the end of the road.

(11) A track follows, crossing a stream. Further on, at the next signpost, continue straight ahead towards La Baraque. Follow the track uphill to reach the Col de Pendey (not marked on IGN maps).

(12) A few metres after the pass, ignore the two tracks on the right and descend to the left along a small path towards Albon and Marcols.

(13) At the next junction, follow the path on the right towards Marcols (slight variation between IGN and terrain). Further down, the path joins a track. Follow it to the right. Join the small tarmac road that follows it, leading to the hamlet of Monteil.

(14) At the next crossroads, turn right and cross the hamlet, following the yellow and white markings. Alternate between paths and small sections of tarmac.

(15) Reach and walk alongside the cemetery, pass in front of the church, descend to the D 102, follow it to the right to the town hall square (S/E).

Second option, shorter and without roads:
- From the summit of Don (7), retrace your steps to the point (5). From there, follow the marked route towards "Crouzet" until you reach a crossroads of tracks, take the leftmost track, then further on, descend via the left-hand path (sign: Crouzet).
Join the section shared with the route described above: when you reach the forest track leading to the Col de Pendey (12), at the directional mast, follow the signs for "La Baraque" on the right. Finish in the same way as the first option.

Originally named Marcovolos in Gaulish, used until the 11th century, then Marcouls in the 12th century, the commune became Saint-Julien-d'Orsival (Val des Ours). The commune then became Marcols in 1790, then Marcols-les-Eaux in 1912, due to its mineral water springs on the banks of the Glueyre, which were exploited from 1880 to 1970.

The La Neuve silk mill, built in 1860, can be seen in the vaulted room with the mills installed in 1937, which ceased operation in 1967.

Two ancient volcanoes dominate the village: to the south, La Graveyre, accessible by road (beautiful view), and to the north-west, Le Don, where the ruins of an ancient medieval castle (12th century) remain, offering a view over seven departments on a clear day. Geological curiosity: the permanent presence of water in a well at the summit (probably due to a volcanic vent).

The ruins of Le Don castle, former Protestant stronghold of the Counts of Launay d'Antraigues, held by Jean-Pierre Descours, squire, and destroyed in 1633 by the troops of Captain Antoine Chabalier, Lord of Le Cheylard. Some interesting references:

https://www.ardeche-guide.com/patrimoine...
http://www.geopark-monts-ardeche.fr/deco...
https://www.marcols-les-eaux.fr/Historiq...