The Langeadois Mines

A former mining area, with a few remains but above all a long, flat path that used to be a railway line.

Details

38797
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.55 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 407 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 397 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,946 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,637 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) Start from the Quai Voltaire car park in Langeac. With your back to the Allier, turn left onto Rue Jean-Joseph de Brun. At the roundabout, turn left onto Avenue Danton then Avenue du Gévaudan towards Saugues.

(1) Turn right towards the recycling centre and continue along a flat ‘Yellow’ path. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead (on your left, you’ll see some ruins with chimneys).

(2) At the end of the path, turn right onto the road. At the bend, turn left onto the small path in the middle of the meadow that leads uphill. At the top, turn left onto the road then right onto the D116.

(3) At the next crossroads, turn left towards Jahon, a very pretty village with its Maison de la Béate.
Continue through the village, cross the stream and turn right to follow the signs for Langeac. Join the D116 and follow it to the left.

(4) When you reach the junction with the D590, go straight on, go round the house, then turn left onto the path leading downhill.

(5) At the bottom, turn right onto Rue du Mont Mouchet, then right again onto Rue André Olivier and cross the railway line.

(6) In the town centre, turn left onto Boulevard Charles de Gaulle, then take the second right. Turn left onto Rue Marengo and continue to Place de la Liberté. Cross over to Rue de l'Allier and turn right onto Quai Voltaire to reach the car park (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,640 ft - Quai Voltaire - Allier (rivière)
  2. 1 : mi 0.99 - alt. 1,716 ft - Turn right towards the recycling centre
  3. 2 : mi 2.71 - alt. 1,860 ft - On the right
  4. 3 : mi 3.52 - alt. 1,831 ft - D116
  5. 4 : mi 5.31 - alt. 1,850 ft - Junction D116 - D590
  6. 5 : mi 5.86 - alt. 1,719 ft - On the right, Rue du Mont Mouchet
  7. 6 : mi 6.24 - alt. 1,657 ft - Turn left onto Boulevard Charles de Gaulle
  8. S/E : mi 6.55 - alt. 1,640 ft - Quai Voltaire

Worth a visit

Places to visit in Langeac: the church, the old town, the Mère Agnés museum, Île d'Amour.

Reviews and comments

3.7 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
3.1 / 5
User 14647365

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 11, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Starting from the Ile d’Amour in Langeac, this walk will allow you to immerse yourself in the region’s history. You’ll discover the remains of old fluorspar mines as you pass through pretty villages typical of the Haute-Loire

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JeffK
JeffK

We're not going to get into a long debate, but I maintain that this route is worthless... and other hikers have expressed the same opinion.

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gilbonson
gilbonson

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

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JeffK
JeffK
• Edited:

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

This route is an example of what not to do... It starts with a long walk along a busy road (more than 2 km, heavy lorry traffic) which could have been avoided by following the GR 470 on the Île d'Amour.
The remains of the mines are almost non-existent (a chimney and two bridges).
Most of the route is on tarmac roads and there is very little shade...
This is typically the description of a route that you would give if you absolutely had to describe one, for example to please a tourist office or local councillors.
Incidentally, there is no promotion of the local heritage, which is nevertheless relatively significant.

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bcg243
bcg243
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Far too much tarmac – about two-thirds of the route. A few interesting views. The little village of Tahon is well worth a visit. The route description is incorrect before the section through a pasture (the path indicated veers off the route). Fortunately, the app’s guidance is reliable, as there are no markings to help you find your way on the ground.
Disappointed to have travelled 40 km for this hike, around Langeac, which is a very beautiful spot.

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mr.tyssap
mr.tyssap

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

After the village of La Bretogne, the route takes a path that climbs up through a meadow; however, it appears that this land is private, so there is a fence along the path, and the meadow contained cattle, including a bull, when we passed through. :

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Marc Campagnolo
Marc Campagnolo

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

Incorrect signposting (2): “At the bend, go up to the left” – the first path that goes up to the left is not the right one; fortunately, the route is correct on the map.

A completely uninteresting walk; we wasted our time travelling all the way to Langeac and wasted our time walking on tarmac for two-thirds of the time, and the remaining third walking on a track used by fast-moving vehicles kicking up thick clouds of dust

and where are the mines?

The only positive thing was that we stuffed ourselves with blackberries,

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Laurent Marescal
Laurent Marescal

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

There’s far too much (more than half) tarmac on this walking route

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Christine pradojaviol
Christine pradojaviol

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

An easy route, but far too much of it is on roads with traffic and roadworks, which can make the route dangerous at times.

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Bérard Nath
Bérard Nath

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, though a bit too much tarmac. The little village of Jahon is really charming. On the way back to Langeac, it’s nice to finish the walk on the Île d’Amour.

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bibi
bibi ★

Sorry to hear about that unpleasant experience... Do you have any idea where you got lost? Did you have the map with the route marked on it, as well as the route description?

Best regards

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lpmbbp
lpmbbp

Overall rating : 1.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 03, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

The information about the hiking route wasn't detailed enough; we got lost as we weren't familiar with the area

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Pascaletclo
Pascaletclo

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2014
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

A lovely walk, a good path along the old railway line, and the pretty village of Jahon, but too much tarmac for the last few kilometres.

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