The hillsides of Marciac

Numerous ridge paths reveal Marciac and its two bell towers from different angles. The valleys unfold through varied and enchanting landscapes...

Details

292023
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.89 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 193 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 193 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 226 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 143 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Marciac (32230)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.524025° / E 0.161018°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1743SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Town Hall Square.

(S/E) Head towards the corner of the square with the post office. Walk along Rue de Juillac for 50 metres, then turn left into Rue des Lilas. Continue straight ahead along this street, then along the path that extends from it to the old wash house.

(1) At the old wash house, walk along the poplar trees, cross the stream on a footbridge, then pass the irrigation lake and follow the path to the Castay houses. Go straight up the hill opposite, pass under the power line and cross a farmyard. Continue along the small road to the next crossroads.

(2) Turn right onto the 2.5 km communal road (ridge path) overlooking the Bouès and Arros valleys. Pass close to the Château de Guitou. Pass under the high-voltage power line again, staying on the heights. After passing Gélion, the road becomes a path. Continue along the heights until you reach the buildings of Panjas, where the tarmac reappears.

(3) Ignore the road that descends to the right, but take a path that descends to the right at the next buildings (Bayle). The path joins the D255, which you should take to the right. At the next intersection, turn left, then right to reach a crossroads with a calvary.

(4) Turn left onto a good path, cross a first stream (the Laüs) then a second (the Bouès) before reaching the D3.

(5) Cross the D3 with caution and take the path opposite that climbs towards the hamlet. At a small road, turn left, then left again at the next intersection, leaving the church of Tourdun on your right. Continue for 200 metres along this small road and, at a place called Talabère, turn right and descend for 750 metres along a small path. When you reach the Lys valley, turn right and climb back up to a local road.

(6) Turn right, pass in front of Tourdun Town Hall, then at the next intersection, turn left onto a small road on the ridge. Opposite the Acunca fitness centre, turn right down the path. Keep right at the first intersection, then turn left at the houses. Continue downhill before turning right to join the D3. Follow this road to the left for about 50 metres.

(7) Cross the D3 and immediately turn right onto a path that runs alongside the lake, keeping it on your left. Once you reach the leisure centre, take the footpath on the right that leads to the centre of the bastide and the town hall square (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 153 m - Town Hall Square. Close to the - Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption (Marciac)
  2. 1 : km 0.7 - alt. 151 m - Wash house
  3. 2 : km 2.61 - alt. 203 m - On the right, at the municipal road
  4. 3 : km 4.78 - alt. 198 m - Panjas
  5. 4 : km 6.7 - alt. 144 m - Calvaire, path on the left
  6. 5 : km 7.69 - alt. 146 m - Cross the D3, after the - Bouès (rivière) - Affluent de l'Arros
  7. 6 : km 9.43 - alt. 192 m - On the right, at the municipal road
  8. 7 : km 11.56 - alt. 150 m - Crossing the D3
  9. S/E : km 13.89 - alt. 153 m - Town Hall Square

Worth a visit

In Marciac, a village famous for its jazz festival, you can visit the Musée des Territoires du Jazz and the lake.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Laurent. A
Laurent. A

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk with beautiful views of the Gers hills and the Pyrenees. The description is incorrect at the start, as you have to go around the old wash house on the left, walk along a path lined with plane trees rather than poplars, and the footbridge is not where it is said to be.

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LORTO47
LORTO47

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Apart from the start in Marciac, but just follow the instructions, the route is marked in yellow from the ruined wash house. You need to go around it on the left, which is very visible except in the fields.

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skargo
skargo

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful sunny hike, still muddy paths and broken trees
lovely view
skargomically

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danyy
danyy

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A beautiful hike through fields, farms, ridges and hillsides. We were delighted to arrive at Lake Marciac.
It was not very busy due to the date we walked (10 October).
Thank you for this well-detailed route.

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pettyfrance
pettyfrance

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A very rural hike without heritage appeal. We were even made to avoid the church in Tourdun.
If you are lucky enough to have a view of the Pyrenees, then it's a winner!

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Dill
Dill

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful circular loop for the first part on flat ground with a gentle climb, followed by a second part on the slightly steeper slopes of Tourdun. A beautiful finish around Lake Marciac.

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stlavga
stlavga

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Beautiful viewpoint overlooking the Pyrenees mountain range.
Well-marked and freshly mown path, peaceful and relaxing countryside.

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

Thank you for your feedback.

There was just one sign missing (yellow marker) at the crossroads by the buoy.

Visorando does not recommend markings as they can be changed or erased, whereas information on the ground is stable.

However, the information on the Visorando page helped us find the right path.

Excellent reflex, Visorando provides a free detailed description (which can be improved) and a 1:25,000 IGN map.

See you soon!

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Carole. Lucasthibault
Carole. Lucasthibault

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

There was just one sign missing (yellow marker) at the crossroads by the buoy, but the directions on the Visorando website helped us find the right path.
Beautiful views of the Pyrenees from both hillsides when the weather is clear.

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ritournelle
ritournelle

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hello;
The trail is well marked but needs serious mowing in terms of grass growth. Be careful when climbing the trail due to ruts left by motocross bikes (risk of falling or spraining your ankle).
Best regards

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Tchoupi32
Tchoupi32

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Easy parking in Marciac square. A pleasant, easy walk, but be careful: we encountered several dogs, one of which bit a jogger that very morning.

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