Bell tower trail

Lovers of bucolic landscapes will be enchanted by this walk through vineyards and woods.
The rural panorama is punctuated by views of the bell towers surrounding Técou.

Details

266073
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.51 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 170 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 176 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 319 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 206 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Técou (81600)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.842782° / E 1.950017°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2242SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park below the Técou cemetery.

(S/E) Leave the car park and head towards the Cadalen road. After 100 m, take the track on the right which climbs through the woods to the D6. Cross it and continue straight ahead for 50 m.

(1) Take the path on the right, between the vineyards, until you reach the crossroads.

(2) Turn left to descend towards Manavit Haut. At the exit of the hamlet, at the T-junction, turn right and continue to the Croix Fourcher.

(3) Turn left and, immediately after 25 m, continue on the path on the right which descends and climbs up to the Cruzel farm.

(4) Continue straight ahead on the road. This leads to Le Rouquet via Bessède. At the end of the hamlet, stay on the road on the left towards Fourti-Haut.

(5) At the fork, turn left onto the gravel track.

(6) 500 m further on, before reaching Pioch de Moncassin, take a path on the right. Follow the signs to a crossroads. Continue straight ahead to Le Bousquet. After Le Bousquet, at the junction with the D6, cross the road and continue straight ahead to the next junction.

(7) Turn onto the wide grassy track on the left and take the left at the next junction.

(8) Turn right just before La Tapie. 500 m further on, cross the D16 and head opposite towards the horse farm, passing it on your left.

(9) Turn left to return to Técou. Take the left-hand path that leads back to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 245 m - Parking below the Técou cemetery
  2. 1 : km 2.15 - alt. 284 m - Path on the right between the vineyards
  3. 2 : km 2.56 - alt. 313 m - Turn left towards Manavit Haut
  4. 3 : km 3.27 - alt. 278 m - On the left, at the crossroads
  5. 4 : km 4.55 - alt. 244 m - Continue on the road opposite
  6. 5 : km 5.64 - alt. 285 m - Gravel track on the left
  7. 6 : km 6.18 - alt. 302 m - Path on the right before the Pioch de Moncassin
  8. 7 : km 7.87 - alt. 242 m - Grassy track on the left
  9. 8 : km 8.85 - alt. 226 m - Before La Tapie, on the right
  10. 9 : km 9.84 - alt. 207 m - Left towards Técou
  11. S/E : km 10.51 - alt. 244 m - Parking below the Técou cemetery

Notes

The route, which is aPR®(public footpath), is very well signposted.
(2) You can turn right towards Saint-Jean-du-Vigan for a view of the surrounding countryside.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 48 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
ak81im
ak81im

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 02, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very pleasant route

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Sénéquier 83
Sénéquier 83

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 25, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, easy hike. Very reasonable climbs. Some views. Completed in 3 hours. Hike taken after a long period of rain... The paths were very muddy, especially in the woods.
Thank you, Mady.

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madydou
madydou ★

Thank you, User 28135599, for your encouraging feedback.
Happy hiking!

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User 28135599

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The quality of the description and layout is very well done.

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Randosy
Randosy

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk through beautiful woodland with lovely views of the plain and hills.

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User 27914463

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pretty views, lovely walk, beautiful weather.

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User 27914463

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pretty views

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User 19564893

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route consisting of paths and small roads with little traffic.

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User 19564893

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Lovely hilly route, little traffic on the small roads encountered. Very pleasant hike.

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User 3432677

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a pleasant and varied circuit of approximately 10 km, well signposted, duration: approximately 2½ hours, passing through shady woodland and along small country lanes.

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Clo31130
Clo31130

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Very beautiful hike with splendid views. Nice long climb through the woods at the start to reach a beautiful viewpoint.
The signposting is adequate.
However, the end of the route is a bit tedious, with several kilometres of tarmac.

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Patou81
Patou81

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An interesting loop through fields and woods with unobstructed views of the Tarn countryside. Not too muddy in early spring. Well-described route. Very good signposting. Completed in 3 hours vs the 3½ hours advertised

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Pascal81
Pascal81

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk, a little late in the season to admire the colours of the vineyards (which are not very extensive, however). The view from Saint-Jean-du-Vigan is very pretty, so take the time to leave the trail at point 2. This loop was a little long for our group; we could have cut between points 3 and 6.

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calaya
calaya

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a very pleasant hike, with hillsides, forest paths, along sunken lanes, and a few sections of paved road. The variety of this route and the beauty of the Albi countryside make you forget the time and your fatigue.

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jibbi49
jibbi49

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The hike was as enjoyable as ever and very well marked.
However, I have two comments:

  • the first concerns the condition of the paths in the woods, which are increasingly damaged by mountain bikes and motocross bikes, as evidenced by the "hooks" around the "holes" left behind,
  • the second (no doubt temporary) relates to the path being cut off near the finish line at point 8 due to the presence of two Patous dogs guarding a herd of Angora goats. We therefore decided to go around them by heading back up towards La Tapie farm and rejoining the Cadalen-Tecou road via the old path... through the grass.

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