The Viaur Gorges and Lake Bages

Hike at the gateway to Lévezou and the deep, narrow Viaur valley.

Details

n°3840350

Creation:
16 Aug 2020

Last update:
12 Sep 2020

Last review:
25 Apr 2026

Activity: Walking
Distance: 15.20 km
Average duration: 5h 30
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 416 m
Descent: - 411 m
Highest point: 828 m
Lowest point: 606 m

Country: France
Area: Massif central
City: Pont-de-Salars (12290)
Start/End: N 44.278351° / E 2.729459°
IGN map(s): Ref. 2439SB, 2440SB
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Photos

St Gorges de Camboulas: Romanesque church

St Georges de Camboulas: Romanesque church

Description of the walk

Park at the bottom of the village of Pont-de-Salars, on the banks of the Viaur, next to the Tourist Office.

(S/E) Go up the main street on the left, following the white/red markings of^{the GR®62}.

(1) Turn right, then immediately left to climb up into the residential area, following Rue de l'Ede then Coste Vieille. Once you reach Route de Saint-Joseph, turn left, then left again about 50 metres further on to join Avenue de Rodez.

(2) Cross the road carefully (no protected crossing) and follow a passage between two houses (stairs) opposite. At the end of the passage, turn left, then take the first right and go straight down to the D911.

(3) Go under it and descend to the Viaur.

(4) Follow it until you reach a power line.

(5) Continue along the path that leads away from the Viaur and joins the road to Saint-Georges de Camboulas. Continue to the left.

(6) Immediately leave the path on your right, which you will take later, and continue to the Romanesque church of Saint-Georges with its oratory and sarcophagi carved into the rock.

(7) Turn back.

(6) Take the ^GR® trail, veering to the left.

(8) Leave the^GR® trail on your right and follow the "Tour des monts et lacs du Lévezou" (Lévezou Mountains and Lakes Tour) on your left, marked in yellow and red. Pass an access road to the Estribes farm on your right and you will reach a T-junction.

(9) Turn left and continue straight ahead until you reach the tarmac road.

(10) Cross the road and continue straight ahead on the old Roman road to reach the ridge and the wind turbines. Reach the crossroads at the water tower.

(11) Turn left towards Les Intrans. From there, follow the yellow markings, which are more or less visible.

(12) Cross the D56 and Les Intrans to head towards Lac de Bages and the hamlet of Trappes. Cross the hamlet, continuing straight ahead.

(13) Take the road on the left. Pass La Devèze, cross the bridge over the Ruisseau de Buscaylet and join the D56. Turn right and follow the road carefully.

(14) Pass under the bridge of the bypass, go past the Combette buildings and arrive at a three-way junction.

(15) Leave the road and turn left onto a sunken lane that leads to Pont-de-Salars and Avenue de Millau.

(16) Follow this avenue to the left and return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 683 m - Car park - Viaur (rivière)
1 : km 0.56 - alt. 718 m - Turn right, then left
2 : km 1.19 - alt. 746 m - Avenue de Rodez
3 : km 1.54 - alt. 712 m - Bridge on the D911
4 : km 2.15 - alt. 665 m - Path running alongside the - Viaur (rivière)
5 : km 3.26 - alt. 658 m - Power line
6 : km 3.97 - alt. 715 m - Junction: A/ straight ahead - R/ left
7 : km 4.23 - alt. 707 m - Saint-Georges de Camboulas
8 : km 5.3 - alt. 620 m - Abandon °°GR®°°, junction °°GRP®°°
9 : km 7 - alt. 768 m - T-junction, left
10 : km 7.93 - alt. 815 m - Tarmac road
11 : km 9.41 - alt. 826 m - Water tower
12 : km 10.83 - alt. 777 m - Les Intrans (view of Lake Bages)
13 : km 12.94 - alt. 751 m - Traps, on the left
14 : km 14.33 - alt. 757 m - Bridge on the D911 bypass
15 : km 14.66 - alt. 745 m - Sunken path on the left
16 : km 14.89 - alt. 705 m - Avenue de Millau
S/E : km 15.2 - alt. 683 m - Car park on the banks of the Viaur

Notes

Hiking boots and possibly walking sticks: the path is sometimes muddy along the Viaur.

Worth a visit

(7) Saint-Georges de Camboulas:
- Romanesque church (12th century).
- Around the church, sarcophagi carved into the rock (10th century).
- Oratory (16th century).

Near the Viaur:
- Old Camboulas castle built on a rocky ridge.
- Ancient Roman road between Millau and Rodez.

Pont-de-Salars:
- Sloping village
- Pont de Salars Lake (190 hectares).

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5

Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5

Route interest
4.3 / 5

pyrene12

25 Apr 2026 at 08:40 7200

Hello Jack42,
Thank you for your enthusiastic comment.
Feel free to check out some of the other circular walks I’ve posted on Visorando by clicking on my profile.
Happy hiking!
Pyrene12

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Jack42

24 Apr 2026 at 14:04 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 24, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike along the trails (Viaur Gorges) and then along country lanes.
Plenty of shaded sections and a stop at the beautiful Romanesque church of St Georges.
A slightly tricky descent (loose stones) to Pont de Salars.

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pyrene12

10 Sep 2024 at 07:37 7200

Hello Franz49,
Thank you for your enthusiastic comment.
You can discover other circular patterns that I have published on Visorando by clicking on my profile.
Enjoy your hikes!
Pyrene12

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Franz49

09 Sep 2024 at 22:57 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike once you have completed the first paved section.

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Nadège12

02 Jan 2023 at 21:14 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The start of the hike is very interesting, but should be avoided in rainy or frosty weather as it is very slippery due to the stones and leaves.
The end of the hike is not very interesting because from number 9 onwards, it consists of wide paths and roads.
Between points 8 and 9, a forest path has recently been cleared and crosses the route, causing us to miss a turn-off.
There is Lake Bages at the end and a small waterfall.

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Bertrand Farisse

05 Feb 2022 at 21:25 3600 • Edited: 05 Feb 2022 at 21:27 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Watch out for dogs at the bottom of La Valette (at the start of the hike, on leaving Pont-de-Salars). Normally they are locked up, but... Also watch out at the very end, on the shortcut at the start of the final descent leading to the finish. At first it seems very passable, but then the slope increases in a sort of stream and it becomes a bit tricky. In case of rain or frost, as was the case when we passed through, I think it would have been better to follow the road, even if it meant walking an extra 300 metres. The rest is very good and relatively well marked. Use the map if in doubt. The highlight of the show is, of course, St George's Church. If you have several cars, short-circuit the route section by parking one vehicle at each end. There is no point in crossing the village, and you will avoid the dogs of La Valette.

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PatGilles34

22 May 2021 at 16:08 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thanks to the author for this hike. The landscapes are varied, we really enjoyed the stretch along the Viaur. At the Romanesque church of Saint-Georges, we had a chat with a representative from Scoot de France who was there and told us a little about the history. He showed us where the carved sarcophagi are located.
For your information, at point 8, the direction indicated is correct, but the signpost "tour des Monts et lac Lévézou" does not exist; instead, it says "passerelle de Péligri GTML". The hike took 5 hours including breaks and a picnic.

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pyrene12

29 Mar 2021 at 09:56 7200

Hello Raven 81340,
Thank you for your message and comments.
Since publishing this hike, I have had the opportunity to return and walk down to the bridge: it is a magical place!
I remain, of course, at your disposal and invite you to discover and comment on my other hikes published on Visorando.
All the best and happy hiking!
Kind regards
Marie-Clotilde

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Raven 81340

28 Mar 2021 at 18:12 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant hike, particularly the first part in the Viaur Gorges, which we would have liked to continue for longer.
The hamlet of Saint-Georges and its church are worth seeing, a very beautiful building.
Don't hesitate to go down to the bridge, even if it means making a slight detour... it's worth it.
We had a picnic at the foot of the bridge.
Once we left the gorges and reached the wind turbines, I found it less interesting.
Fortunately, at Lake Bages, you pass a nice little waterfall where you can take a break.
After Bages, it's all tarmac until you reach your destination It's a shame there isn't a little path to take on the way back.
Beautiful scenery on the Levezou throughout
Completed in 5 hours with a detour to the bridge and a picnic break.

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pyrene12

21 Oct 2020 at 20:25 7200

Thank you for your enthusiastic comment, and happy hiking!

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Huerga

21 Oct 2020 at 08:51 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A long walk with no difficulty whatsoever. Most of the walk is in the shade with a long stretch along the banks of the Viaur. It's a dream destination for summer. The variety of landscapes (pastures, wind turbines, old villages, etc.). The detour via Saint Georges is a must. We went as far as the old bridge, which is superb. I think a version incorporating this element would be a plus.

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Author

pyrene12
16 Walks

Visorando Member

City: Réquista (12170)

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