Major geological sites around Saint-Cirq-Lapopie

Park in the free car park on the banks of the Lot, at the bottom of the village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie.

(S/E) As you leave the car park, turn left onto the footpath running alongside the River Lot. Walk past the beautiful Moulin de Ganil; about a hundred metres further on, you’ll come to a crossroads with a footpath.

(1) Turn left onto this path to reach the village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie. Walk through the village, passing beneath the church and above the cemetery, to return to the D8.

(2) Cross the road and, directly opposite, between a small chapel and a metal wayside cross, take the path that climbs steeply. Look out for the sign: on the heights of Saint-Cirq, this is also the^GR®36, marked in red and white. You will then reach a crossroads marked by a cross.

(3) Keep straight ahead on the^GR®, following the road to reach the viewpoint over the Cirque de Vènes.

(4) Turn right and continue along the GR^®. Walk to the cirque, then take the D42 southwards.
Just before the ‘dangerous bend’ sign, turn left onto the yellow-marked path. You’ll soon rejoin the road.

(5) Return to the road on the left for about a hundred metres. At the junction, leave the road and take the path on the left. You’ll soon reach another Y-junction.

(6) Stay on the left-hand branch, following the blue markings for the ‘Chemin qui Parle’. Continue through the woods, then begin a descent to reach the Combe Guilhaine cliff.

(7) Turn slightly to your left onto the small yellow-marked path, follow it down and, when you’re almost at the bottom, take the path that descends steeply to the left (blue markings), ignoring the path that goes straight on, marked on the ground by a red plastic circle. You’ll reach the D8 road.

(8) Cross the road and turn right at the footbridge. Follow the River Lot along its left bank to the Crégols resurgence, which will be very clearly signposted along the way.

(9) Return to the tarmac road and head back up towards the village. Walk up to the church and take the small path leading uphill to its right. Follow it all the way to reach the highest point on the plateau.

(10) Take the track to the right, then turn right again at the next junction (signposted ‘Sentier Karstique’), and you’ll reach the karstic cave of Crégols.

(11) Continue following the yellow markings on the Karstique trail to descend to the cemetery. Then continue along the tarmac road to reach the junction with the Piste des Travers.

(12) Take this track straight ahead, walk past the cemetery and head towards the village of Crégols.

(13) Turn left into Rue du Château to rejoin the D8. Turn left onto this road; at the junction with the D26, keep right onto the D8. You will then reach the Mas de Laval at a bend on the edge of a wood.

(14) Head up the path opposite; this is the Sentier Découverte. After a series of hairpin bends, you’ll reach a high point where the paths cross.

(15) Keep left on the Sentier Découverte and, via a gentle descent, you’ll reach the Y-junction you passed earlier.

(6) Turn left here, retracing your steps to reach the junction with the D42.

(5) Turn left onto the path leading uphill through the woods, following the yellow markings. You will then reach the Sainte-Croix Chapel and descend again to the^GR® junction^.

(3) Take the^GR® to the left to quickly reach the junction by the small chapel, which you also passed on the way out.

(2) Here you have two options:
- turn right and follow the route back in the opposite direction to the car park at Saint-Cirq-Lapopie (S/E).
- continue straight ahead and climb up to the village via the footpath leading to the upper car park to reach the Pigeonnier.

(16) Cross the road and immediately take the path marked in yellow. The path alternates between uphill and downhill sections until you reach the crossroads in the hamlet of Les Estayrals.

(17) Continue along the small road and you’ll then emerge in the village of Bouziès

(18) Head for the left bank of the Lot, where you’ll rejoin the^GR® 36 and^{GR® 46}. Turn right onto these paths and follow them back to the^first crossroads you passed on the way out.

(1) Keep left to easily return to the car park at Saint-Cirq-Lapopie (S/E).

Water points and toilets: Saint-Cirq, Crégols, Bouziès.
Bar and restaurant: Bouziès, Saint-Cirq.
Small grocery shop: La Bodega, Bouziès.
Swimming spot: Crégols.

(S/E) Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
(9) Crégols resurgence
(11) Karstic cave of Crégols
(16) Dovecote