Circuit around Combret-sur-Rance

Very interesting hike as much for the landscapes (Rance valley, Rougier de Camarès) as for the culture (village of Combret, Notre-Dame d'Orient, numerous crosses).
Some portions on tarmac, but with the magnificence of the small paths and the beauty of the landscape, you'll quickly forget them.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 16.59 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 537 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 533 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 592 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 319 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start : Village square of Combret 12370 (A) (GPS co-ordinates: N 43°50' 32 E 2° 40' 23).
Waymark : Yellow markings are present all along the route.

(S/E) Leave the square by the Rue de la Clede, going down to the left of the Auberge de La Tour (350 m or so).

(1) Follow the road D91 on the left for about a hundred metres, which overhangs the river Rance.

(2) Just before the bridge, turn left on a path and continue North-East until the fork.

(3) Turn left (South-West) on the hairpin bend. The path climbs and allows you to reach a road at the top of the village, the Church Saint-Jean-Baptiste and the cemetery. You can see the remains of terraced cultivation, supported by stone walls called "paredous".

(4) Turn right on the tarmacked road and follow it for 500 m.

(5) At the fork with a path, take the small path on the left (North).

(6) On reaching the house, make a return journey to the left to admire the three Jubilee Crosses. And a very nice view on the village of Combret. Retrace your steps. Then, as you come back to the junction, go to the left on the path which, after having crossed a small brook, climbs towards the church of Sainte-Léonce de Haut-Villar (ruins) (B). Next to it, you will find the statue-menhir of Sainte-Léonce.''

(7) Continue to the right on a wide track which rises and offers you an admirable panorama.

(8) After 570 m, take the track on the left and admire the magnificent view: in the distance the Monts de Lacaune (windmills) and the Rock and the Virgin Mary statue of Roquecézières culminating at 891 m. Carry on the path for 2 Km, ignoring paths coming from left and right until you reach a road.

(9) Cross the road and go straight ahead, ignoring the place called Layrolle on the left, and follow the path in a general Westerly direction.

(10) At the crossroads, go straight ahead and descend towards the Terraignes farm, whose name comes from "terre de feu" (land of fire) certainly due to its red colour. We are in the "Rougier de Camarès".

(11) From Terraignes, a round trip by a solid concrete footbridge over the Rance (the other footbridge, below Saint-Maurice, has been washed away by a flood. Will it be rebuilt...?) allows you to reach Notre-Dame d'Orient (C) (visit strongly advised). Retrace your steps. Then as you come back to the junction, continue to the right (East-North-east) on the small road to the hamlet of Ran, passing by the Château du Grès.

(12) After 1.5 Km, just before the hamlet of Ran, turn right (South) and descend to the level of the Rance to cross it on a very nice bridge.

(13) Just before a small bridge over the Ruisseau de Luzerp (stream), go straight ahead (South) on the small path (you stay on the left side of the stream).

(14) Reach the D91 road that you cross to take the path opposite. By a wood of pubescent oaks, to reach a ridge after 1 Km.

(15) Cross the wide track and continue, slightly to the left (East-North-East), on a small path. Through a chestnut grove and following a very old path lined with low walls, go down to Combret. Very nice views of the village built on a ridge.

(16) Take the D91 on the right (North-East) for 360 m.

(17) Cross the bridge over the Rance (cross on the bridge) and go up into the village. A visit to this beautiful village is well worth it to end this hike. After having visited the "Jardin des Pierres", take a very beautiful calade (cobbled street) going up to arrive at the car park.(S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 383 m - Car park: Place de Combet. Close to the - Rance (rivière) - Affluant du Tarn
  2. 1 : km 0.35 - alt. 367 m - D91, left
  3. 2 : km 0.52 - alt. 361 m - Path on the left before the bridge
  4. 3 : km 0.94 - alt. 375 m - To the left, Sentier des Paredous
  5. 4 : km 1.56 - alt. 417 m - Road to the right, Combret loop
  6. 5 : km 1.95 - alt. 402 m - Small sloping path on the left
  7. 6 : km 2.28 - alt. 401 m - To the left and back (Jubilee Cross)
  8. 7 : km 4.22 - alt. 533 m - Church of St. Leonce
  9. 8 : km 4.79 - alt. 568 m - Left-hand runway
  10. 9 : km 6.81 - alt. 548 m - Road crossing
  11. 10 : km 8.56 - alt. 451 m - Crossroads
  12. 11 : km 9.43 - alt. 360 m - Terraignes
  13. 12 : km 12.44 - alt. 402 m - Junction before the hamlet of Ran
  14. 13 : km 13.43 - alt. 336 m - Straight ahead: narrow path
  15. 14 : km 13.67 - alt. 365 m - Crossing the D91
  16. 15 : km 14.78 - alt. 480 m - Crossing a wide track
  17. 16 : km 15.84 - alt. 375 m - D91 on the right
  18. 17 : km 16.21 - alt. 352 m - Bridge over Le Rance
  19. S/E : km 16.59 - alt. 385 m - Car park: Place de Combret

Practical information

Start : Village square of Combret 12370 (GPS co-ordinates: N 43°50' 32 E 2° 40' 23).
Waymark : Yellow markings are present all along the route.

Parking : Park in the village square of Combret 12370 (GPS co-ordinates: N 43°50' 32 E 2° 40' 23).

Facilities : Notre-Dame d'Orient : picnic area and toilets

Walk translated by Wanderer du Gard originally from the French author pyrene12.

In the nearby area

(A) Combret : village with medieval vestiges, built on a ridge of red sandstone and dominating the meanders of the Rance.
To see :
- the seigniorial justice hall,
- Renaissance houses with vaults, windows and doors, sometimes with double corbelling,
- at the top of the village, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church and its small cemetery,
- the Garden of the Stones : vestiges and statue-menhirs
- Cobbled streets

(B) Church of Sainte-Léonce de Haut-Villar (in ruins)

(C) Notre-Dame d'Orient ("Auriens" original spelling) : baroque church, unique in Rouergue (17th century) :
- wooden ceiling resembling a huge mat made of fern leaves
- magnificent and highly decorated altarpiece (17th century).

  • Numerous crosses:

- cross of the rogations : processions and public prayers taking place in April and during three days to attract the divine blessing on the work in the fields and thus ensure the protection of the harvests against the climatic hazards (hail, drought... etc.)
Today, the farmers will contact their insurer...
- Jubilee Cross

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 3 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.7 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
pyrene12
pyrene12

Thank you for your positive comment.
I'm delighted you enjoyed this walk!
You can find out about other great routes on my profile.
Happy hiking to you!
Marie-Clotilde

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rando81
rando81

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Magnificent walk

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pyrene12
pyrene12

Thank you for this very positive and encouraging comment.

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LULUETULYSSE
LULUETULYSSE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice walk, well signposted, it's a shame that in February the terrain was muddy.
I'll be back in drier weather to admire the beautiful Aveyron countryside, and in some parts the view is very clear, very close to 360°. Magnificent.

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pyrene12
pyrene12

Thank you Lascazes for your comment.
I'm delighted that you enjoyed this walk.
There are lots of other great routes to discover in our beautiful region.
Happy hiking to you!
Pyrene12

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lascazes
lascazes

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Hike starting from Combret sur Rance. Superb views. Well-developed paths. The return trip to Notre Dame d'Orient is a must.
Perhaps avoid in very hot weather.
The village of Combret is well worth a visit

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