A circular route starting from Les Arques.

de fr

Walk in the forest and along sunken paths typical of this region of north-western Lot, starting from the village of Les Arques. Very green landscape in summer, pretty undergrowth in a very wild environment (passing close to only three residences). Most of the walk is off paved roads, on local lanes. Some very pretty views.
This walk is marked on the IGN map and is signposted in yellow on the ground.

Details

n°2410370
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.67 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 191 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 191 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 312 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 166 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Les Arques (46250)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 44.603267° / E 1.250766°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2038E, 2038O
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Photos

Les Arques Church
Wall in the forest

Description of the walk

Park in the car park near the Arques War Memorial.

(S/E) Take the main street (Rue Doyenne) towards the church, which you should go around on the left. Reach the crossroads at the Zadquine Museum.

(1) Follow the yellow-marked trail, turning right just below the church. Descend the fairly steep Auricoste path to reach the bottom of the valley. Turn left and follow the road for 300 metres.

(2) Take the small footpath on the left, marked in yellow, which leads up Ladoux hill. A magnificent climb through the forest. Continue to the top of the hill and you will reach a three-way crossroads.

(3) Continue to the right and begin the descent towards a small valley completely untouched by human habitation, with a magnificent retaining wall still in very good condition. Join the tarmac road.

(4) Cross it and continue straight ahead to reach the highest point of this walk, which is located near the mobile phone mast, which you must pass at the foot of. You will arrive at the D150 crossroads.

(5) Almost immediately, take a dirt track on the left, which is passable in dry weather, towards Trouche. Leave it on your right and take the path on the left. Enter the Bois de Jammet, continue north-west and, after a pleasant descent, you will reach a new road before the hamlet of Tronquière.

(6) Take it on the left and stay on it to return to Les Arques and the car park near the war memorial (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 212 m - Parking is available near the war memorial.
  2. 1 : km 0.28 - alt. 218 m - Zadquine Museum
  3. 2 : km 0.93 - alt. 170 m - Auricoste
  4. 3 : km 2.28 - alt. 291 m - Three-way fork in the road
  5. 4 : km 3.3 - alt. 270 m - Road crossing
  6. 5 : km 4.53 - alt. 309 m - Towards Trouche
  7. 6 : km 5.76 - alt. 260 m - Towards Tronquière
  8. S/E : km 6.66 - alt. 212 m - Parking is available near the war memorial.

Notes

A very easy walk despite a slight incline, but some areas may be slippery in wet weather.
There are no services in the village apart from a very good restaurant (but no bar).
So bring water and suitable footwear.

Worth a visit

(S/E) The village of Les Arques is somewhat isolated in the north-west of the Lot department. However, it is home to a unique place, the Zadquine Museum. Ossip Zadquine was a Russian-born Cubist sculptor who fell in love with the village where he lived for over 30 years while also working in Paris. Some of his works are on display in this museum. Also worth noting are a few sculptures on the forecourt and in the church, which he worked hard to renovate.
(Between 2 and 3) Note the work of many generations who, little by little, built kilometres of low walls that framed plots of land that were once cultivated and have now reverted to forest.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 7 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Celineetfrederic
Celineetfrederic

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, which we combined with the one through the marshes.

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Piot39
Piot39

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

This short hike in the Lot plateau is not too difficult. It is very peaceful and the landscape is beautiful in autumn. Stone walls, twisted and mossy trees, small paths, a few sections on roads but they are very short. The village is worth a visit for Zadkine's sculptures. The church is also worth seeing.

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nrocpop
nrocpop

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The walk is pleasant and very well signposted. The beautiful village of Les Arques with its surprising sculptures by Zadkine are the main attractions of the walk.
The restaurant "La Récréation" is also worth a visit!

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Gabriele
Gabriele

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A very pleasant short hike along beautiful trails, topped off with the icing on the cake: the LA RECREATION restaurant in Les Arques. A very pretty village too.

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Marianne et Heidi
Marianne et Heidi

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy walk, which we combined with the marsh route. Note that at (6) there is a small shortcut marked by yellow signs to avoid a bend in the road. There is also a staircase on the left, just before entering the village of Les Arques, which avoids a section of road. At (2), the climb through the forest is very beautiful, with a few porcini mushrooms to boot.

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Clementine46
Clementine46

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,
Hike completed in very mild weather, with sunshine and a few clouds.
Accurate description.
Magnificent scenery.

Clementine46

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sophie guillemont
sophie guillemont

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

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