Rochers de Bord

de fr

Along a narrow goat track lined with boxwood forest, this circuit takes you through a wild landscape of gorges, where memories of a pilgrimage to the Virgin Mary remain on the banks of the Chat-Cros.

Details

n°525
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.35 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 202 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 205 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 463 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 333 m
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Photos

Lightning-struck tree
Virgin of the Rocks of Bord
Tardes Viaduct
Virgin of the Rocks of Bord

Description of the walk

(S) In front of the Tourist Office, turn right onto Rue de Verdun, then left onto Rue Saint-Bonnet towards Montluçon. Cross the level crossing.

(1) Take the second street on the left (Les Gagneries), which turns into a path after the power line and descends into the Douleaud valley.

(2) At the crossroads, turn left, cross the footbridge and turn right between the buildings. Walk along the top of the pond and continue straight ahead along the path through the woods.

(3) Further up, turn left and continue climbing until you reach Bord-la-Roche.

(4) Take the road on the left.

(5) At the first houses, take the path on the left which descends steeply towards the Chat-Cros stream.

(6) Cross the footbridge and climb the opposite slope, keeping to the left.
When you come out of the woods, leave the path on the left and continue straight ahead uphill. Continue along the road and take the grassy path that goes around the housing estate and leads to the Montluçon road.

(7) Turn right, cross the level crossing and return to the Tourist Office (E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 461 m - In front of the Tourist Office
  2. 1 : km 0.69 - alt. 454 m - Take the second street on the left
  3. 2 : km 2.75 - alt. 333 m - Turn left, cross the footbridge
  4. 3 : km 3.74 - alt. 426 m - Turn left and continue uphill
  5. 4 : km 4.18 - alt. 446 m - Take the road on the left
  6. 5 : km 4.34 - alt. 442 m - At the first houses, take the path on the left
  7. 6 : km 5.09 - alt. 371 m - Cross the footbridge and climb the opposite slope
  8. 7 : km 6.75 - alt. 454 m - Montluçon road. Turn right
  9. S/E : km 7.35 - alt. 461 m - In front of the Tourist Office

Worth a visit

Along the way:
Tardes Viaduct - Virgin of the Rocks of Bord
In the region:
Evaux-les-Bains with its thermal baths, wellness centre, casino, abbey church, etc.
Chambon-sur-Voueize and its abbey church
Lussat and the Etang des Landes lake.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 18 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
User 20527963

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Most of the hike is through meadows in the sun. The section near the stream is shaded but quite damp and slippery.

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Mimi03
Mimi03

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Quite well marked (only got lost once) and a lovely walk with beautiful views, alternating between uphill and downhill sections, very enjoyable!

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jean-claude Mativet
jean-claude Mativet

actually, I've never been able to download the paths we're talking about. It's incomprehensible to someone who isn't a computer scientist and didn't graduate from Supélec!

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CHAPA
CHAPA

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

great hike

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DaDoRando14
DaDoRando14

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very interesting hike, but not "easy" as indicated. The elevation changes around the Chat Cros stream are quite challenging, so it's more suited to experienced walkers. Clear yellow markings.

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FannyG
FannyG

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pretty, uncrowded hike with perfectly maintained and marked trails (which seems to be the case everywhere in the area).
The Rocher des Bords and its statue of the Virgin Mary are magnificent and peaceful. We didn't see any otters, which was a shame!
Accessible to dogs that are reasonably fit and well-trained (cows nearby, steep paths and wildlife crossing).

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Coutur
Coutur

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb walk with beautiful views. A must-do

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Jean Mignon
Jean Mignon

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant, but sometimes strenuous walk. Very varied: dense forest / wide views / charming little bridges / interesting passages. Not what you would call easy; more like moderate. Try to spot the Madonna along the way

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popoevaux
popoevaux

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 09, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

having reopened this trail in 1980, it is difficult to access for those who do not hike much. There is a very steep climb at the end with little shade in hot weather. ENJOY YOUR HIKE!

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angelique03190
angelique03190

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 25, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk that took me less than two hours,
Very well marked.
A few hills, but nothing insurmountable.

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magali reynaud
magali reynaud

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Please note that this hike is short but not easy! I would say it is of moderate difficulty with a few challenging sections. The sign at the start indicates: "6km loop accessible to experienced walkers due to the elevation changes and steep slopes...". Otherwise, it is very pleasant.

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petits randonneurs
petits randonneurs

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Classified as suitable for experienced walkers by the town of Evaux due to steep slopes.
Lovely views.
On GPS, the track does not follow the actual route, but this is not a major issue.
Thank you.

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doudou03410
doudou03410

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk, cold but sunny on a Sunday afternoon, a very beautiful route with varied terrain.

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MARTIchou07
MARTIchou07

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 31, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

it really is a very beautiful parish-specific to Brittany circuit with lots of lovely forest paths, but we feel that for some hikers this route would be better classified as "moderate" due to the two difficulties in the Valle de la Tarde.
as far as we are concerned, it took us 1 hour 50 minutes to complete, but we used walking poles.
it really is a very pleasant parish-specific to Brittany walk

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mamekiki
mamekiki

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely little walk for a sunny Saturday afternoon. A beautiful spot by the river.

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