The two slopes around Chartron

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Route revised on 17/08/2023 to avoid paths that may be blocked by vegetation.
This route runs along both sides of a ridge, partly following the Way of St James. On one side, you’ll enjoy a stunning view of the town of Lauzerte. On the other side, you’ll visit the magnificent Chapel of Saint-Serrnin du Bosc and its old cemetery, situated at the bottom of a wild valley. As you cross from one side to the other, you’ll see a remarkable dovecote opposite the beautiful Chartron residence (a former priory).

Details

n°4655348
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.18 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 177 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 173 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 223 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 120 m
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Photos

View of Chartron from point 3
Reservoir
Arrival at the church of Saint Sernin du Bosc
Dovecote at Chartron

Description of the walk

No signposting for this walk. GPS recommended.

To reach the start: the start and finish of the circular route are at the junction of two roads between the hamlets of Pétronil and Le Chartron, about 400 m from Le Chartron. You can easily park on the verges.

(S/E) Take the path that starts in the woods opposite the return road. After about a hundred metres, you’ll see a sign on the left indicating that you’re on the Way of St James. There is a bench where you can sit and admire the magnificent view of the town of Lauzerte. The path, which is steep and rugged at the start, gradually becomes less steep as it descends towards the tarmac road (D81).

(1) Take the tarmac road to the right and enjoy the magnificent view of Lauzerte. Continue for about 1,200 m until you reach the hairpin bend where a path climbs up to the right. This right-hand hairpin bend is situated just before the start of a path on the left marked by a letterbox.

(2) Take the path which climbs initially through the woods and then continues through the stunted vegetation typical of the Quercy region, until it meets a tarmac road. At this junction, follow the road to the right for about 100 m until you reach the start of a path which descends to the left.
It is in the vicinity of this spot that you will find a beautiful dovecote and the Chartron residence.

(3) Take the path that descends on the opposite slope towards Lauzerte and follow it to the bottom of a wild valley where you’ll find the beautiful church of Saint-Sernin with its adjoining old cemetery. Don’t forget to step inside the restored chapel for a delightful moment of coolness, beauty and silence (make sure to close the door properly when you leave).

(4) Leaving the chapel, head towards the stony path that climbs steeply. After about fifty metres, take the dirt track on the right, which initially runs alongside farmland on the right and a wood on the left. Next comes a reservoir on the right, then the path continues a little beyond the dam to a fork.

(5) Take the path that branches off perpendicularly to the right. Follow it to the tarmac road at Le Grès.

(6) Turn right onto this road and follow it to the starting junction (S/E), ignoring all roads branching off to the left and right.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 214 m - Car park between the hamlets of Pétronil and Chartron
  2. 1 : km 0.99 - alt. 120 m - Junction with the D81
  3. 2 : km 2.4 - alt. 208 m - Start of the path towards Chartron
  4. 3 : km 2.61 - alt. 222 m - Start of the trail towards Saint-Sernin-du-Bosc
  5. 4 : km 3.45 - alt. 154 m - Start of the route to the lake – Saint-Sernain-du-Bosc Church (Lauzerte)
  6. 5 : km 4.18 - alt. 131 m - Start of the path towards the Route du Grès
  7. 6 : km 4.66 - alt. 151 m - Junction with the Route du Grès
  8. S/E : km 6.18 - alt. 214 m - Car park between the hamlets of Pétronil and Chartron

Worth a visit

  • Between (S/E) and (2), enjoy the beautiful view towards the town of Lauzerte.
  • At (3), admire a beautiful dovecote built on four pillars and situated opposite the splendid Chartrons mansion. This mansion, now privately owned, was a priory in the 15th century. The name Chartron derives from the Carthusian religious order. You can find more details here: https://lechartron.pagesperso-orange.fr/....
  • At (4), visit the restored Chapel of Saint-Sernin du Bosc and take a stroll through its old, abandoned cemetery. This chapel, whose origins date back to the 11th century, lies on the Way of St James and is open to visitors. You can find more details here: https://monumentum.fr/monument-historiqu...

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 6 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.8 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
User 10301434

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very pleasant route with beautiful views and a pretty chapel. The only downside is the final descent towards Lauzère after the Charton dovecote on the St Jacques path. A huge rut has formed over the years and is very tricky, especially in wet weather

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meybeck
meybeck

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Rather than heading back up to Chartron by road, I decided to walk the GR 65 again in the opposite direction. The chapel of St Sernin du Bosc is very pretty...

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Occitan_82
Occitan_82

I reviewed and checked the route on 17 August 2023 to avoid any paths that might be blocked by vegetation.

Enjoy your walks.
Kind regards.
Occitan_82, author of the description.

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nicodaime
nicodaime

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Please note that there are two junctions which are difficult to spot as they are overgrown with brambles: at point 2 and point 5. You need to be careful. The distance has not been confirmed, but we have our doubts...

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lucdj
lucdj

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route, very peaceful. Ideal for exploring and enjoying the countryside around Lauzerte.
At No. 5, it was impossible to see the path to follow as it was completely overgrown. A GPS is essential! Between 5 and 6, you have to make your way through rose bushes.
A lovely walk, but apparently not very popular.

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jeannemarilou
jeannemarilou

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An interesting route with lovely views and beautiful monuments. It follows some pleasant sections of the Camino de Santiago. A small mistake regarding the path that winds steeply uphill: it’s just before the road on the left, not just after it as noted. Without a GPS track, we had a bit of trouble after the lake, but it was a great walk and there were very, very few cars on the tarmac sections. Thank you

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Occitan_82
Occitan_82

Hello. I’m the creator of this walk. I find @chantal.duperchy’s comment a bit harsh. First of all, we mustn’t forget to mention that the dovecote and the Chartron house are also well worth a look!

That said, it’s true that about half the route is on tarmac roads… but they’re very narrow, with hardly any traffic. The other half consists of paths that are often pleasant and all correspond to routes shown on the IGN map. Whilst some sections are less clearly marked (the descent to the lake), the GPS track clears up any ambiguity.

Give it a go anyway... you won’t regret it!

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chantal.duperchy
chantal.duperchy

Overall rating : 2.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : Yes

Apart from the chapel, there’s not much to see. Lots of tarmac and a section that isn’t really a path.

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