Les Trois Poteaux starting from Retournac

During this walk, you will pass near Mercuret Castle and enjoy a panoramic view of Retournac at a place called Les Trois Poteaux. You will then follow the botanical trail. Along part of the route, information boards will introduce you to common local plant species in an engaging way, through stories, symbolism or the uses our ancestors made of them.

Details

32343068
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.06 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 192 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 191 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 671 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 499 m

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the Pont des Droits de l'Homme in Retournac.

(S/E) Turn right along the campsite to reach the sign for the Vert power station.

(1) Turn right onto the track that climbs, then turn right again to follow the Ruisseau de Chenebeyre. Then take a few hairpin bends to reach the Château de Mercuret.

(2) Continue left along the road, passing through the hamlet of Chenebeyre. After a good hundred metres, you’ll reach a crossroads.

(3) Turn left and stay on the road to reach the Revers junction.

(4) Turn left and follow the sign pointing towards the viewpoint over Retournac. Head there.

(5) Return in the opposite direction to the previous crossroads.

(4) Turn left and you will soon reach the junction with the botanical trail.

(6) Turn left downhill and follow the path to its end, at the Ravin du Mazel.

(7) Take the road opposite on the left and join theGRP® des Gorges de la Loire. Turn left onto it to quickly reach the hamlet of La Navette.

(8) Keep left on theGRP®, following the path overlooking the Loire to return to the original junction at the Vert power station.

(1) Turn right and follow the same route as on the way out to return to the Pont des Droits de l’Homme car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 499 m - Car park at - Pont des Droits de l'Homme (Retournac)
  2. 1 : km 0.54 - alt. 507 m - Le Vert crossroads
  3. 2 : km 2.39 - alt. 636 m - Château de Mercuret
  4. 3 : km 3.02 - alt. 632 m - Crossroads
  5. 4 : km 3.94 - alt. 660 m - Revers crossroads
  6. 5 : km 4.5 - alt. 644 m - Viewpoint
  7. 6 : km 5.43 - alt. 666 m - Botanical trail
  8. 7 : km 6.81 - alt. 555 m - Mazel Ravine
  9. 8 : km 7.87 - alt. 524 m - The Shuttle
  10. S/E : km 10.06 - alt. 499 m - Pont des Droits de l'Homme car park - La Loire

Notes

Easy walk; bring a water bottle and sturdy shoes.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
valours
valours
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route alternating between shade and sunshine.

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Nanou31
Nanou31

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Another very enjoyable hike.
Easy with little elevation gain.

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MINETTE42
MINETTE42
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk with some interesting views. Moderate difficulty, mainly on the path running alongside the stream, which is very stony and damp. A sign showing the route would be welcome at the start of the path leading from the power station. The viewpoint over Retournac is impossible to find; it’s probably overgrown.

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CAROLE BELLA
CAROLE BELLA

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A really lovely walk, very well described on Visorando – thank you

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