Jordanne Valley via Élancèze and Courpou Sauvage

On the D317 between Saint-Jacques-des-Blats and Mandailles, park at Col du Pertus, in a small car park on the south side.

(S/E) With your back to the road, take the path (^GR®®) through the woods, pass a built-up area, then cross a fence through a passage and turn left^, following the^GR®® markings^. Further on^, pass a restored wolf trap (now harmless), then a second one further on, which is currently being restored. You will arrive at the ridge.

(1) Leave the^GR®® and follow the path that branches off to the right, walking alongside a barbed wire fence on your left. Climb up the summit to the ridge.
Turn left onto the well-marked path, arrive at the bottom of a rock and go around it on the left. Be careful! The path is not very clear; stay at the bottom of the rock to find a clearer path on the ridge a little further on.

On the ridge, stop from time to time to enjoy the superb 360° views. At a Trail arrow, turn right. Shortly afterwards, enter the undergrowth and follow the green markings. When you leave the woods, continue along the ridge, following the barbed wire fence on your left.

(2) Go through a gate, enter a beech forest and then go through another gate. When you come out of the woods, you will see the Roc du Chauve rock formation below on your right. Go through two more gates and climb a few steps on the path. You will come to a junction with a sign pointing to Courpou Sauvage on the left.

(3) Follow this direction for a round trip. When the path hits a rocky outcrop, go around the bottom of it on the right. You will soon arrive at the cross that stands atop Courpou Sauvage. Viewpoint. Retrace your steps back to the intersection.

(3) Continue to the left, beginning a long, sometimes steep descent through the undergrowth. Follow the green markings carefully to stay on the path. Much further down, you will arrive at an intersection with signs.

(4) Turn left towards Saint-Julien on a path that leads through meadows. Cross a passage shortly afterwards. A hundred metres further on, at a buron (shepherd's hut) on the right, you will see a sign pointing to the Oratoire Notre-Dame des Méringes on the right.
This is a short round trip: open the electric fence using the insulated handle and follow a path; go to the end of the field where you will need to pass under the electric wire to find the oratory just behind it. Return to the path and continue to the right.

(5) At the crossroads, near a shelter, keep to the right towards Saint-Julien. Further on, as the path turns left, near an iron cross, leave the path and take a trail on the right, marked in green. Go through two gateways and rejoin the path. Walk a few metres to the right to reach a road.

(6) Follow it to the right to cross Saint-Julien de Jordanne. There are some beautiful traditional houses here. Pass the church on your right. About 80 m further on, take a street on the left following a green sign. Keep to the right to cross the Jordanne, then turn onto the first road on the right^, leaving the green sign for a GR®® sign^. At the next road intersection, continue to follow the^GR®® and the direction of La Boudie.

(7) Just before a left-hand bend in the road, take the path on the right,^GR®® towards Mandailles. You will arrive at the first houses in Mandailles.

(8) Continue straight ahead on the road that extends the path, ignoring a road on the left. Follow a right-hand bend and arrive at a T-junction at a carved cross. Walk a few metres to the left to reach the main street and follow it to the right. Cross the Jordanne and, immediately afterwards, descend to the right to follow a path along the river.
After a left turn, the path joins the road at a cross. Cross over and follow the path opposite, towards Larmandie, which runs alongside a stream. Shortly after the first houses in the hamlet, at a crossroads, follow the blue markings to the right and you will come to a road.

(9) Walk a few metres to the right and then, just before the shoeing machine, take the path on the left, still following the blue markings. This path, which also serves as a stream bed during heavy rain, climbs steadily.
Further up, ignore a path on the right and behind you, then leave the blue markings and follow the green markings, which veer right towards a footbridge. Cross it and you will arrive in a meadow. Stay on the right-hand side of the meadow, cross a low electric fence and continue climbing in the same direction. A little further up, you will see a buron (a type of mountain hut). Leave it on your right and cross the fence to reach the road.

(10) Follow it to the left. Further on, ignore a path on the right towards Saint-Julien.

(11) At a left-hand bend in the road and a green^PR®® sign (in the opposite direction), follow a path to the right. Immediately afterwards, cross a fence via a passage (there may also be an electric wire to step over on the left).
You will come out higher up in a meadow. Continue to follow the green markings, which are fairly discreet. Stay on the right-hand side of the meadow, head towards a post and then continue climbing in small zigzags to reach the edge of a wood. Follow what looks most like a path, going from post to post. You will suddenly arrive at the Col du Pertus (S/E).

Difficulty: Moderate to difficult, as some paths are very steep.

Approximately 500 m walk along a small road, which can be busy during the summer.

Numerous electric fences to cross, some easier than others.

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

Photo album here

Beautiful views and traditional houses in the villages.