Toum Tatre, the Monk's Rock

From Cléron, through a beautiful, cool forest alternating between fir and deciduous trees, ideal for a hot summer's day, you will visit the gentle monk Toum Tatre, a monolith resembling a tonsured Capuchin monk, watching piously over the Norvaux valley from the top of his cliff. You will return through the Plain Mont forest to two unsecured viewpoints, one overlooking Castel Saint-Denis and the other overlooking Cléron and its castle.

Details

532322
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.81 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 215 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 214 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 567 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 369 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the top of Cléron and Rue du Mont, near the water tower. Good quality yellow and blue markings. The second half is unmarked.

(S/E) Go up the small road reserved for residents. Turn around for a view of the castle and the rocks overlooking the Loue and, on the right, the ruins of the castle. Immediately upon entering the forest, leave the road and climb the wooden steps on the left in the embankment that lead to the path into the woods. Further on, you will reach a small tarmac road, which you continue to climb on the left.

(1) When it stops climbing, it becomes stony and you will soon come to three paths: take the middle one, which passes in front of a large hunting lodge and quickly becomes a beautiful forest path, sparsely marked but well laid out, crossing a beautiful, cool forest with alternating fir and deciduous trees. At a signpost, you will come to a wider path at a right angle, where you will turn left, walking alongside a beautiful pile of stone gathered from fields of mossy stones.

(2) Shortly after the high-voltage power line, look for the signpost marking a path that winds to the right through a gap in the pile of stone gathered from fields, leading you to the Belvédère du Rocher du Moine, a magnificent , unsecured viewpoint overlooking the Norvaux valley. Retrace your steps to the signpost.

(2) Turn right towards Amancey.

(3) At the foot of a signpost, in a 90° bend in the path, look for a new path that branches off to the right towards a second viewpoint, which is unsecured, so take care on the valley.
Retrace your steps to the signpost.

(3) Continue straight ahead. You will soon come to a crossroads; continue straight ahead. Follow the signposts, which are now clearly visible, along this well-marked path. You will come to a gravel path, which you should take on the right.

(4) You will soon reach a crossroads. Leave the gravel path and continue straight ahead on the forest path opposite, which joins another gravel path a little further on. Take this path on the left, leaving the signposts behind. Continue along this path for a long time.

(5) When you arrive under the high-voltage power lines, which you will hear buzzing, take the grassy path on the right that runs alongside the pylons to reach an unprotected viewpoint over Castel Saint-Denis, somewhat spoiled by the power lines that cross the Ravin de Valbois nature reserve at this point.

(6) Turn back, passing a little beyond the second pylon to take the path on the right that enters a fir forest and runs along the ledges.

(1) You will return to the starting point just before the hunting lodge. Despite the yellow and blue cross, don't hesitate to take the path slightly before the '15% gradient' sign, which branches off to the right for a short return trip to a superb viewpoint over the Cléron valley, its castle and the rocks carved out by the Loue river. Return to the road and descend to the right to the water tower, passing in front of a strange fountain with three basins (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 369 m - Near the Cléron water tower
  2. 1 : km 0.74 - alt. 489 m - Hunting lodge and viewpoint over Cléron
  3. 2 : km 1.88 - alt. 532 m - The Rocher du Capucin
  4. 3 : km 3.57 - alt. 539 m - Lavoutre viewpoint
  5. 4 : km 5.04 - alt. 566 m - Stony path
  6. 5 : km 7.79 - alt. 512 m - Plain Mont
  7. 6 : km 8.7 - alt. 502 m - Valbois Ravine
  8. S/E : km 10.81 - alt. 369 m - Near the Cléron water tower

Notes

The route includes cliffside paths and unsecured viewpoints. The paths are rocky and slippery in places. Sturdy footwear is essential and walking sticks are recommended.

Between (5) and (6), there are ticks. Wear protective clothing to protect yourself.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 12 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
P2M25
P2M25

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A somewhat difficult start, but an easy hike once we reached the hunting lodge.
A beautiful view from the monks' rock, but the return trip is less pleasant, along a stony, very straight path with no end in sight.

Machine-translated

pnuninger
pnuninger

Hello @Delasu...
I'm so glad you enjoyed the hike.
Have a great day!

Machine-translated

Delasu
Delasu

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant hike. A bit muddy at this time of year.
We had a really good time.

Machine-translated

BabSeb
BabSeb

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Departure from the beautiful village of Cléron, with a view of the castle. It is advisable to start from the centre of the village to warm up. The only difficulty is at the start, with a climb up to the plateau. Two superb viewpoints, then a hike through the woods and along dirt tracks. The last viewpoint overlooking St. Denis Castle is a little tricky with stones and brambles, so only attempt it if the path under the pylons has been cleared. A very beautiful hike.

Machine-translated

syletphil25
syletphil25

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike to do in good weather to enjoy the viewpoints. Access along the high-voltage power line to the viewpoint at Castel Saint Denis castle is very well maintained (12/05/2023). The paths are well marked. You can take a break at the hunting lodge (tables and chairs under the high wind).

Machine-translated

clauclau
clauclau

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Forest hike, best done in summer.
The Rocher du Moine viewpoint is truly beautiful.
Two things to bear in mind:
The path at the entrance to the forest (S/E), which is preferable to the road, is impassable due to fallen branches.
We missed the unmarked trail to follow at the crossroads (no. 4), continued walking following the yellow and blue markings and had to turn back.
Confusing: this unmarked trail in one direction is marked in the other direction!!!

Machine-translated

Chachapiou
Chachapiou

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, quiet route through the woods, ideal for a hot summer's day.
There are some beautiful views of the two neighbouring valleys.
Note that access to the viewpoint at Castel Saint Denis, following the high-voltage power line, is now completely paved and easily accessible.

Machine-translated

richardd
richardd

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A NICE SHORT HIKE TO EASILY GET BACK INTO WALKING AFTER LOCKDOWN. LOTS OF FOREST TRAILS WITH LUSH NATURE AT THIS TIME OF YEAR AND 3 GREAT VIEWPOINTS.

Machine-translated

francois.biichle
francois.biichle

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A beautiful hike that offers a panoramic view from one ravine (Valbois) to another (Norvau).

Machine-translated

rich_a
rich_a

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Grassy area under the pylons at point 5 infested with ticks. Wear long clothing. Castel St Denis was covered in scaffolding. Otherwise, a rather pleasant hike.

Machine-translated

cnu25
cnu25

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 05, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

At the start, avoid taking the steps; it is better to take the road because the shortcut is barely passable.
A very beautiful walk if you want to enjoy the coolness of the forest.
The viewpoint located under the high-voltage power line is difficult to access: tall grass and brambles... lots of ticks...

Machine-translated

octorando
octorando

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

During the week, there may be problems with the designated parking area. The area around the reservoir is
largely occupied by stacks of firewood from a forestry operator. Having done this route (partially)
on a Sunday, I was able to park my car there.

Machine-translated

Ange1979
Ange1979

Thank you for this correction.
Have a good weekend.

Machine-translated

tonnoguh
tonnoguh
• Edited:

Thank you, Ange.
I had written: "turn left onto the grassy path on the right", which I admit is slightly contradictory. I have corrected it.
Claude

Machine-translated

Ange1979
Ange1979

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 05, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hello, I just wanted to let you know that a few minor changes to the description are needed. Specifically, between waypoints 3 and 4, it should be noted that the markings have almost disappeared due to forestry work that has significantly widened the stone path...
Then, at waypoint 5, note that you need to turn right under the high-voltage power lines, not left, and take the grassy path that runs to the left of the pylon...

Apart from these minor inconveniences, this hike is quite pleasant.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.