Tournemire and the cliffs of Larzac

A beautiful hike on the Causse du Larzac to admire the Cirque du Brias, commonly known as the Cirque de Tournemire. It is surrounded by one of the most beautiful cliffs on the western edge of the Larzac, from the top of which you can enjoy a vast panorama. The best time to visit is May/June to admire all the flowers on the causse.
Continue towards Viala-du-Pas-de-Jaux with its magnificent restored hospital tower.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 16.94 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 355 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 349 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 823 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 496 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from the car park at Tournemire Town Hall.

Yellow, white and redGR®71Csignposts.

(S/E) From the car park, continue on the D23 towards Roquefort.

(1) Before the bridge, turn right onto the path that runs alongside the railway line and, at the entrance to a tunnel, continue right onto the path that climbs (sometimes a little steeply) to the top of the cliffs and the plateau.

(2) At the top of the plateau, you will see a restored farmhouse on your left, Les Fournials (private property). Turn right and continue along the path until you reach the junction with Chemin des Arnals (signposted).

(3) Continue straight ahead along Chemin Caussenard, ignoring all the small paths leading off to the left, and head towards the Dolmen de Coste Plane.

(4) Leave the path you will need to return on to your left and continue straight ahead to the Croix de Gréponac viewpoint.

(5) At the Croix de Gréponac, turn left to the car park, which leads to the D23, which follows theGR®71C. Follow it to the left for 800m.

(6) Turn right onto a wide farm track towards the Croix du Plo de Lavagne, then continue slightly to the left, still following the GR®.

(7) Ignore the road that leads straight to the village and continue right on a dirt road through woods and pastures that joins a small road that you follow to Viala-du-Pas-de-Jaux.

(8) Cross the village, passing in front of the Tour Hospitalière (which can be visited), then immediately turn left for 200 metres and continue on theGR® trail to the right, following Rue des Aires.

(9) At the calvary, leave theGR® 71C and follow a farm track to the left, continuing straight ahead and ignoring the paths to the right and left, following the yellow markings.

(10) At the crossroads (central triangle formed by the paths), continue along the track through boxwood and juniper trees to reach the junction with the GR®. Don't forget to close the gates behind you.

(4) Turn right and return along the same path until you reach the fork with the Chemin des Arnals.

(3) Turn left onto the path, which becomes a stony trail and descends to the Pont du Diable (above the bridge, resurgence of the Brias).

(11) Continue along the path to Tournemire and return to the car park at the town hall (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 502 m - Parking at the town hall
  2. 1 : km 0.68 - alt. 496 m - At the bridge, turn right. Near - Soulzon (rivière) - Affluent du Cernon
  3. 2 : km 2.67 - alt. 747 m - Turn right
  4. 3 : km 4.05 - alt. 765 m - Crossroads of the loop
  5. 4 : km 4.96 - alt. 760 m - Crossroads of the loop
  6. 5 : km 6.41 - alt. 764 m - Croix de Gréponac, on the left
  7. 6 : km 7.49 - alt. 788 m - Cote 788, farm track on the right
  8. 7 : km 8.35 - alt. 815 m - Dirt track on the right
  9. 8 : km 9.37 - alt. 803 m - Crossing the village
  10. 9 : km 9.75 - alt. 815 m - Calvary, on the left
  11. 10 : km 10.86 - alt. 777 m - Wide track, straight ahead
  12. 11 : km 15.19 - alt. 595 m - Devil's Bridge
  13. S/E : km 16.94 - alt. 502 m - Parking at the town hall

Notes

Best done in May/June to enjoy the beautiful flowers, but avoid hot weather as the trail is mostly uncovered.
Good footwear recommended, as the trail is rocky in places.
Steep climb after (1) and up to the plateau.

(3) At this point, you can shorten the hike and descend to Tournemire by turning right.

Worth a visit

Larzac cliffs.
Croix de Gréponac and its calvary.
Viala-du-Pas-de-Jaux and its Hospital Tower, which can be visited.
Nearby, visit the Roquefort caves.

 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

4.9 / 5
Based on 26 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Sartillais
Sartillais

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The initial climb is a little difficult, but you are rewarded with a beautiful view of the plateau, a pretty village (Viala du Pas de Jaux) and a lovely ride across a plateau typical of the Larzac region with its boxwood trees

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bricoleur 2
bricoleur 2

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

very good site for finding and posting routes. Thank you

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randoloire42
randoloire42

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, spectacular scenery, lots of flowers, broom, honeysuckle, orchids, etc.

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FREDERIC GLT
FREDERIC GLT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A very beautiful hike with lovely, superb panoramic views. Magnificent vistas and beautiful rock colours. We did this hike on 25 April 2024 when the orchids were in full bloom and there were cherry trees everywhere, which was the icing on the cake. The only slight downside was that we had to play hide and seek to find the dolmen.

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VArmelle
VArmelle

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike! The views, both from below and above, are spectacular. Lots of flowers. The only downside is the loud crackling noise from the high-voltage power line that you walk alongside between points 2 and 3.

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Patrice 30
Patrice 30

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magical hike and magnificent view. Be careful, the trail starts with a steep descent.

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bouyssiere
bouyssiere

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very good

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Etienne caumont
Etienne caumont

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello
A very pleasant hike on 17/04/2023 with ideal weather, neither too hot nor too windy, and plenty of sunshine
A wonderful discovery of this place and the magnificent panorama
Very well signposted

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bergpaden
bergpaden

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Hello,

A very beautiful hike. Magnificent view of the cirque.
The village of Viala du Pas de Jaux is lovely.
Thank you.

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RME
RME

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
A very pleasant hike, best done early in the day or avoiding the heat of the afternoon.
The view is splendid after the slightly steep climb, but it's in the shade. Don't miss the detour to the dolmen and the cross, if only for the view of the entire cirque. The different variations along the GR trail invite you to do the circuit again from different starting points.

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francofel
francofel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike with beautiful views.
The second part (after the cross) is perhaps a little less interesting.

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Mitch64
Mitch64

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

No regrets about doing it
A pleasant route with breathtaking views, as mentioned, the climb is steep at the start.
The tables at Viala du Pas de Jaux are very welcome, as are the toilets,
Not to mention the refreshment bar. We saw the dolmen and the pretty cross.
The weather was ideal, not too hot and with a breeze.
A hike to recommend.

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Raven 81340
Raven 81340

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A must-do hike
I didn't know the little village of Tournemire and its magnificent cirque, and honestly, it's worth the detour

the climb is a bit steep at first, but it's a good way to warm up
once you reach the plateau, the view of the Combalou and the cirque is truly magnificent
the little village of Viala du Pas de Jaux is very pretty and the hospital tower is beautiful

the return trip via the Causse is nice. I love this type of landscape

the descent to Tournemire is fast and you get to enjoy the heart of the cirque

i highly recommend this hike

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sandrine222
sandrine222

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike. You can explore every nook and cranny of the Cirque de Tournemire!
The trail is very well maintained and easy to walk on throughout.

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Sandrine59
Sandrine59

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike, very well described and well signposted. To find the dolmen, we had to climb over a fence because although it was clearly indicated on the sign, it was apparently inaccessible and hidden under a bush.
Beautiful views of the cliffs!

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