Fontsalade Valley and Roche Branlante

In Rochefort-Montagne, from the village, follow the signs to the police station. Continue south for about 100 metres, follow Route de Bordas straight ahead and you will find some picnic tables on the left, at the intersection with a sign indicating Foyer CAP. Continue straight ahead for a few dozen metres and park at the side of the road, near the bus shelter.

Yellow markings, lines and small^PR®® signs throughout the route (Balirando)

(S/E) Return to the picnic tables and find the Balirando La Roche Branlante d'Orcival hiking sign. Turn right onto the road and follow the yellow^PR®® signs for Chemin de la Plane. Ignore the first path on the left and immediately pass a small stele. Join a path on the left.

(1) Turn left, then take a left-hand bend. The path becomes tarmac further on and leads to the hamlet of Largillier.

(2) At the fork in the road, take the right-hand road, which soon joins the main road. Continue to the intersection with a wider road.

(3) Immediately take the road on the right. Further on, it joins the road.

(4) Follow it to the hamlet of La Gratade.

(5) Stay on the road, ignoring a path on the left and the hamlet on the right, then, at the fork in the road, turn left onto Route de chez Chocol. Stay on the road, cross the Ruisseau de Fontsalade (a path on the left leads down to the riverbank) and continue to the hamlet of Chez Chocol.

(6) Cross the hamlet, keeping to the left, on Route de la Pierre Branlante, and stay on this road until you reach a farm (Le Deveix; pick up a stone or two, as there may be a dog).

(7) Pass the buildings and take the path on the right. Cross a stream, a tributary of the Fontsalade stream. Ignore a grassy path on the left. Shortly afterwards, the path becomes grassy. You will come to an intersection with a grassy path leading off to the right and a sign indicating the direction of the Fontaine Branlante.

(8) For a round trip, turn right and walk along a narrow path between fenced meadows, changing direction several times. At the last bend, you will find an information sign. Continue for another hundred metres to reach the Roche Branlante site.

(9) Retrace your steps back to the intersection.

(8) Continue to the right and you will come to a very old road.

(10) Follow it to the right, ignoring a grassy path on the left. The road gradually deteriorates into a path and leads to a wider road. Turn left and pass a mission cross. The road overlooks the Fontsalade stream. Notice a very large wash house on the other side and continue to a road junction.

(11) Keep to the right and temporarily leave the yellow markings by turning right onto Rue du Presbytère. Then take the first left, cross the very large market hall and continue straight ahead, picking up the yellow markings again. Ignore a street on the left and then, at the fork in the road, keep left. At the next intersection, note the Fontaine Rouge fountain on the right and continue straight ahead on Rue du Foirail. At the police station, note the electrical transformer, turn left and continue straight ahead until you reach the car park (S/E).

Hike of moderate difficulty, leaning towards easy. Standard hiking equipment required.
There are many small roads on this route, but they are very quiet.
Thanks to Balirando for marking and maintaining the trails.
Aggressive dog at the Deveix farm. Owners present and reasonably cooperative, but only just.

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here

Photo album here

Extensive views towards the Sancy Massif and the Chaîne des Puys.

The Roche Branlante d'Orcival is a large block of sancyte (lava) balanced on top of others. Some claim that by pushing in a particular place, you can make it wobble, but I didn't manage to, so it's still there! Information panel on site.