Villeneuve de Berg - The Forêt des Sens

An easy family walk to the "Forêt des sens" (forest of senses), arboretum and interpretive trail created under the impetus of the municipal children's council. A few welcome benches punctuate this playful and instructive walk for all ages.

Technical sheet

201153
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.67 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 183 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 187 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 455 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 293 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the Combettes car park, below the D902.

(S/E) If you're looking at the houses overlooking the car park, climb to the right on the square and turn right on the Rue du Fort, after the Caisse d'Épargne. Follow this for about 150m up to a trails signpost.

(1) Turn right on the Grande Rue, pass the Place des Capucins and a house with blue shutters and continue straight on until the crossing with the Rue de la Couronne (new trails signpost).

(2) Turn right until the ford, which you cross. The route is marked by small yellow signs "Forêt des sens". Continue up until you reach a barrier on your left: the signs and "white-yellow" markers invite you to climbs to the left.

Continue climbing straight ahead and keep going on the path opposite on the first intersection.

(3) Continue straight on until the top of the hill. Enjoy a great view of the village toward the end of the climb.

(4) You'll now be at the arboretum and the start of the "Sentier des sens", which is very well marked indicating which path to take (yellow arrows on a black background).

Extract from the leaflet:
...." ' Using your five senses, and with the help of six pulpits, a xylophone(!) and a landscape table, you'll discover the natural, historical, cultural and landscape heritage of the Devois hill and its extensive environment'''. "...

Follow this path. After the xylophone pulpit, take a quick return trip to the right to get to the orientation table and then continue up until you cross the path you took on the climb.

(3) Continue straight on, follow the track that is partially and pleasantly lined with trees, and which curves left around the Devois hill leading to an asphalt track just below a parking area.

(5) Turn left and go down the asphalt track up to the Saint-Andéol-de-Berg road (D259).

(6) At the trails signpost, turn left, go past the forester's house and then take the trail on the right (white-yellow markers) which descends back down to the river "Ibie". Cross the ford and walk back up straight toward the town centre via the Rue de l'Ibie which then continues as the Basse Rue Roger Vallos

(2) Continue straight on. Immediately after the Place des Capucins, turn right on a vaulted passage (Rue Émile Froment) to reach the Place Emile Froment.

(7) Cross the square diagonally to take the Rue Saint John opposite which takes you out next to the church bell tower.

Fork left, cross the square and then take the Rue du Fort opposite and to get back to the car park(S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 319 m - Combettes car park
  2. 1 : km 0.25 - alt. 322 m - In Rue du Fort, turn left into Grande Rue
  3. 2 : km 0.49 - alt. 312 m - Turn right into Rue de la Couronne. Ford on the - Ibie (rivière) - Affluent de L'Ardèche
  4. 3 : km 1.96 - alt. 418 m - Cross 4 roads, go straight on
  5. 4 : km 2.17 - alt. 435 m - Summit of the hill, Forest of the senses
  6. 5 : km 4.71 - alt. 409 m - Tarmac track, turn left
  7. 6 : km 5.15 - alt. 361 m - D259, signpost, turn left
  8. 7 : km 6.44 - alt. 322 m - Place Emile Froment
  9. S/E : km 6.67 - alt. 319 m - Combettes car park

Practical information

Add a good 30 minutes to the indicated time to enjoy the pulpits in the Forêt des sens.
No water-filling points, wear good shoes with studded soles, headgear, optional poles.
2 fords to cross
Trails signpost: a pole with a small yellow cone on top and directional signs

In the nearby area

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 20 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Volubilis69
Volubilis69

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : May 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

I did this little hike at the end of April. It's simple and easy. There was no-one there at that time of year. It's mainly made up of wide, straight paths, with a beautiful view of the village of Villeneuve de Berg. Apart from that, I didn't find it very interesting...

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Syned 26
Syned 26

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice tour with no difficulties, interesting points of interest, great to discover with the family, thanks to the visorandeur who created it.

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Perret Christian
Perret Christian

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A pleasant, easy walk

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souchez rando
souchez rando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

a superb walk in June between different scents if you want to discover nature and listen to it then don't hesitate

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Christinelise
Christinelise

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Between a hike and a walk, it climbs well, we did it in August in the morning, it was very hot 🥵, the part in the shade was very pleasant.
For adults teenagers children walking well
Not suitable for pushchairs

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souchez rando
souchez rando

superb hike made in family to take time to read all the panels on the circuit to discover fauna and others without particular difficulties to make with children without problem

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chtiardechoise
chtiardechoise

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

We had the opportunity to meet some charming ladies who were doing the circuit for the first time while we were still doing it and it was always a pleasure to do, thank you.

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mic07
mic07

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A pleasant little tour for a group of 9 people at the end of January: the mistral wind that day made it feel even colder, so we didn't linger long. But we did have time to admire the beautiful panoramas, follow and solve the riddles on the signs (despite the second-to-last sign being destroyed...) and see some beautiful trees. Very interesting for young children and for adults too.

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Cathy2112
Cathy2112

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

PARISH SPECIFIC TO BRITTANY WITH MAGNIFICENT VIEWS

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jirpam
jirpam

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

It's more of a family walk than a hike, despite the slightly steep climb at the start. Lovely views of the surrounding area. Pleasant at the end of May as it's not too hot and there are few walkers, which is perhaps not the case during the summer holidays. Well done to the schoolchildren (who must have grown up by now) who care about the Ardèche forest. As far as orientation is concerned, it's a shame that the reference numbers obscure the map, making the route invisible. But it's hard to get lost in this area.

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Romaine1
Romaine1

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

The card is wrong because after points 1 to 4 it repeats point 3 "Continue opposite...". Opposite what?
There weren't enough signs and we made a mistake once or twice - we walked about 7 km. Very pretty otherwise.
We never found the forest house etc. and the car park, but came back towards rue de la Couronne.
I called the Tourist Office this morning and they sent me the Forest of Senses flyer. The Tourist Office always recommends visiting from the side of the car park, route de Saint Andéol de Berg. This is the main access to the trail. Apparently there is also a 5 km hike. You should attach the flyer to your information sheet.

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gwenaelle persiaux
gwenaelle persiaux

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

A little disappointed by the paths, not enough nature.

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Shana07
Shana07

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

We drove 9.7 km instead of the 6.6 announced
Not always easy at certain crossroads, no signposting

Otherwise, it's a great walk, we loved it

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Mini César
Mini César

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

It's a lovely walk, but the signposts aren't very prominent and the explanations aren't very clear.
We made a few mistakes, but didn't get lost...

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Kassiahchat
Kassiahchat

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 04, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A beautiful walk, but one that doesn't take in the whole forest of the senses. On the way back we made a diversion to the chapel of Notre Dame des 7 douleurs du Devois - Villeneuve de Berg. Very interesting.
Thank you

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