De la vallée au Plateau

Clearing in progress.

Start/Finish: "hiking information" sign in front of the village church. From there, go up the RD 243 to the crossroads.

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➤ LABASTIDE SUR BESORGUES: Continue carefully on the RD 243 to the hamlet of Moucheyres. Cross the road bridge and turn left onto a path that runs alongside a stream. The path crosses a small road, passes between the houses, and reaches the "Col de Moucheyres" via a steep path.

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➤ COL DE MOUCHEYRES: After a panoramic break over the Bourges Valley, head north on the small forest road which turns into a track and climbs gently for 3,5 km. Just before crossing onto the slope of the Bourge, leave the track for a path on the right which plunges between the broom and beech trees to the crossroads of "Cros du Loup" (slope of the Bourges Valley)

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➤ CROS DU LOUP: take the path on the right that climbs up the ridge towards the "granges de Sausses". Higher up, the path drops onto the slope of the Bésorgues and continues its gentle ascent through wooded moorland. Between two beech groves, the path joins a flat track that opens out into the meadows of the Granges de Sausses. The view then opens onto the old lava lake of Ranc Ranier, made protrude by erosion and today hosting a pasture on its surface.

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➤ GRANGES DE SAUSSES: The loop continues by descending to the right through the meadow towards "Le Vialat" (see also the suggested alternative route below). The path plunges into the undergrowth, crosses the stream twice and comes out onto the RD 354. Follow the road to the right for 100 m then plunge left onto the forest path. The path continues on a gentle slope near the river for 1,2 km then joins the RD 354. Follow it to the left for 100 m then climb right onto the path that passes the rocky ridge of Uchadou, overlooking the Pissarelle chasm. 100 m further on, a hill at the edge of the path offers a beautiful view of the valley, dominated by the Rocher de Chiarde and its triangular face. Carefully follow the road for 50 m before plunging left into the chestnut grove. Back on the road, take the path which cuts the bend to reach the “Le Vialat” crossroads.

[VARIANT: From the Granges de Sausses crossroads, it is advisable to set off to conquer the Rocher du Cheylard, making a round trip of 1,2 km and 150 m of elevation gain (allow 45 minutes) by following the direction of "L'Homond" on the left. This summit, culminating at 1412 m, is a neck (old volcanic chimney) which dominates the Bourges valley.]

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➤ LE VIALAT: Reach the hamlet of Freyssenet and take the first street on the right after the bridge. At the end of the street is the old chapel of the hamlet, which is distinguished by its apse and its bell.
This curious chapel was built by its owner, the priest of Labastide, in the early 1998th century in the foundations of an old private house. He then installed nuns upstairs to run a private school. The chapel, which fell into disuse after the war, was restored in XNUMX.
Go down the left-hand street to reach the main street, follow it to the right for 20 meters and at the cross, go down the calade. Continue down the small tarmac road then the path that cuts the bend in the road to reach the "La Berlie" crossroads.

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➤ LA BERLIE: Turn right onto the small road that runs alongside the Bésorgues River. Turn left at each intersection.
The valley floor widens into a plain once covered with meadows and orchards: here you are on the surface of an ancient lava lake from the Pic de l'Etoile volcano that the river has re-incised.
Stay on the tarmac road which goes around the cemetery and reaches the “La Courbine” crossroads.

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➤ LA COURBINE: turn right onto the RD 243 to reach the church of Labastide.