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Discover Malarce-sur-la-thines in Ardèche, Rhône-Alpes

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Nestled in the authentic region of Ardèche, Malarce-sur-la-thines, Ardèche, Rhône-Alpes, is a picturesque destination offering a multitude of activities for nature and culture enthusiasts. In the heart of preserved landscapes, stroll along hiking trails that wind through lush vegetation and the sparkling rivers of the region. The famous path of Thines provides a unique opportunity to explore the l...See more

Walking around Malarce-sur-la-thines

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Explore the parks and paths of Malarce-sur-la-thines.
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Interpretive path of the Naves Cirques
5.7 km

Interpretive path of the Naves Cirques

This beautiful hike takes you on the interpretive path of Naves, a typical village, to discover landscapes and the link between geological and human history. From the cemetery parking lot, the path starts on the right and climbs towards the Serre du Cocu (cuckold ridge) where a first stop will allow you to enjoy the Naves Cirques, and where you will find the first interpretive board about Jurassic limestone and marl. Continue on the path up to the reservoir above the cemetery. A new board is waiting for you. Continue on the path along the side of the Serre du Cocu. (new board on the Serre de Barre) up to a pass from which the view on the Chassezac Valley is stunning. At the crossways, turn right up to the Alauzas road where you will find stops 5 and 6, presenting the Orcières Fault and a stratigraphic cross-section. Follow the tarmacked road on your left up to the hamlet. On your way, admire the gorgeous chesnut grove (stop 7). At the hamlet, take the path on your left. Carry on straight ahead. Stop 8 is about terraces and water management on the slope. The path goes downhill towards Naves, first through a chesnut grove, then in a coniferous undergrowth. Lower, those plants give way to maquis (stop 9). After stop 10, devoted to karst, the path goes out of the woods onto an overhang above the Bourdaric Brook (be very cautious!). Continue leisurely your way down towards Naves (stop 11), while enjoying the sights on the village and Southern Ardèche. Take some time to tour Naves, a pleasant typical village with authentic narrow streets, then take the tarmacked road again down to the cemetery parking lot, your starting point.

3 h
4.1 km
Easy
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Traissic sandstone
6 km

Traissic sandstone

About thirty dinosaur footprints have been discovered in the Triassic sandstone in the Ardeche around Payzac. In particular, four hand-foot tracks were found, which is rare. Other footprints exist in the southern Ardèche, but those of Payzac are unique – a study has determined that these tracks belonged to a single species of dinosaur unknown elsewhere, the coelurosaurichnus grancieri, named after Mr Grancier, who discovered them.    P – From the La Blache reception hall car park (), go down the steps towards the tennis courts. Le Plantier - Follow St-Genest-de-Beauzon 5,1 km. Take the path to the cross and turn right to Les Plots. Les Plots - Follow St-Genest-de-Beauzon 4,8 km. Continue until you reach Gramayze. Gramayze - Follow Lachamp de Chazalet 5,3 km. Continue via the path down to a road then go right for 400m. Then take a path that climbs to the left to reach Chazalet. Chazalet - Follow Lachamp de Chazalet 4,4 km. Head right on the path up to the plateau. Walk past the artificial lake. Once you’ve reached the tip of the loop, go left and head downhill for 300m to the hamlet of Brouquet. Continue along the trail where you’ll find two “pléjadou” (large split stones), one near the hamlet in the wall, the other before the Chazelet crossroads. Chazalet - Follow Payzac 1,2 km. Take the “calade” (stone path) that goes up through the terraces of olive trees and vines to Font Neuve. Font Neuve - Follow Payzac 0,9 km. Carry on along the trail to the cross then head right. At the crossroads, don’t cross over but take the path to your left between two low walls and continue to Gramayze. Follow the same path as you took on the way via Le Plot and Le Plantier to return to the starting point.  

2 h
5.9 km
Very easy
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Marceau's mill
7.7 km

Marceau's mill

This loop will take you past the Moulin de Marceau or “Marceau’s Mill”. As a child, Christian Paladel used to love coming to the mill with its owner, his uncle Marceau. In 2009, Marceau gave him the mill, and with the help of his son, Christian got to work straight away. Now you can find out more! P – From the car park opposite the Town Hall, cross the road and head towards Faugères. 200m further on, turn left to take the path to Le Rouvier. Le Rouvier - Follow Payzac 7,5 km. Take the trail that heads downhill to reach Chabrolières.   Chabrolières - Follow Faugères 4 km. 400m further along, you’ll pass a Cistercian barn. Just after a house, take the track on the left that leads down towards the stream. After the bridge, the path then climbs through the forest towards Le Destel. Le Destel - Follow St Pierre - St Jean 9,5 km. 400 m further on, you’ll come across the Moulin de Marceau below the path [http://moulin-de-marceau.jimdo.com/]. Take the path that continues to climb through the forest towards the village of Bavancel. Pass between the houses and at the road, go right. You’ll see the sign for Bavancel. Bavancel - Follow Planzolles 1,7 km. Follow the road and turn right 300m further on to take the path just before the bridge. Follow the path that goes down into the forest and cross the stream using the small wooden bridge. The path then climbs to the sign indicating Le Pélissou. Le Pélissou - Follow Planzolles 0,8 km. Turn left 100m further on to take the path to Le Rouvier. Le Rouvier - Follow Planzolles 0,4 km. Take the path then the road to get back to the start point. Picnic tables are available for your use near the Moulin de Marceau.

3 h
6.7 km
Easy
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The olive trail
9.1 km

The olive trail

Olive trees have been grown in the region as well as the entire Mediterranean South from the start of the Christian Era, and oil amphorae and presses have been found on several archaeological sites in the southern Ardèche. The sandstone soil of the Cévennes foothills is particularly well suited to olive trees. P – From the Saint-Genest-le-Beauzon town hall, follow the road alongside the unfinished church to reach Le Suel via a vaulted passage. Le Suel - Follow Payzac 5 km. Continue along the road until you reach Les Laurences. Les Laurences - Follow St-Genest-de-Beauzon 5 km. Continue on the road; at the cross, go left, continue along a track to the road. Take the road on the left to Les Salettes. Les Salettes - Follow Payzac 4,2 km. Continue along the road until you reach a bend, take the track on the left through the olive groves. Take a path on your left down to another track, turn right and continue to L’Espic. L'Espic - Follow St-Genest-de-Beauzon 4,9 km. Continue along the track and take the path on your left that leads uphill. Come back down to reach a track. Turn left. Pass in front of the hamlet of Darasse then through the middle of the hamlet of Salel. Go back down to the hamlet of Cros past the cemetery. Cross the main road and take the road on the right between the houses. Cross the plain and go up the hillside. On the road, turn left, then, at the crossroads, take the road to the left and, after the houses, the path to the right leading to Salavert. Salavert - Follow St-Genest-de-Beauzon 1,3 km. Head towards Le Monteil. Le Monteil - Follow Chandolas 10,7 km. Go to Les Crozes via the path. Les Crozes - Follow Chandolas 10,6 km.  On the road, turn left and then leave it a little further on the right. Continue until you reach Le Raynal. Le Raynal - Follow St-Genest-de-Beauzon 2,6 km. Get to the tennis court and turn right onto the road. Continue along the path on the right. Continue along the path to the right. At the crossroads with a road, turn left and, further on, take the path that climbs to the right. Follow the path to Les Laurences. Les Laurences - Follow Info Rando 0,3 km. Go past Le Suel to return to the town hall car park.

4 h
11 km
Easy
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Chesnut discovery trail (sentier découverte de la châtaigne)
9.4 km

Chesnut discovery trail (sentier découverte de la châtaigne)

The first part of the trail is contemplative with only the red wooden viewing frames placed along the path to highlight some key elements of the landscape. Then, 7 illustrated explanatory panels give information on the elements observed. P - At the start sign in the hamlet of Féreyrolles, take the path that climbs to the right. This path leads to a track, turn left, then 250m further on, turn right onto the canal path. Follow the chestnut trail signs. In this first section, continue straight on for 1km. With the 5 red frames, use your sense of observation to identify traces of human intervention in the landscape. At the “Sardoune” theme panel, the path continues downhill to a small road. Turn right and walk 300m. Go down the path on the left until you reach the canal. Turn left and you’ll see a sign marked “le Béal”. Cross the canal and continue along the path on the left. Walk through the chestnut orchards and then a meadow where there’s a third panel with a 19th century illustration of a landscape of the Borne valley. At the end of the meadow, continue on the track, turning left to reach another theme sign entitled “l’arbre à pain” (Europe’s version of the breadfruit tree). After 50m, take the road. To continue along the initial trail, take the road left then, at the crossroads, go right. Walk along this small road for 350m. (For the return trip, you can take the road on your right to get to the Geopark site. If you take this 600m detour, you’ll discover a geological curiosity – “balls” of polished granite that fell onto the riverbed several million years ago).  Take the path on the right to reach a chestnut orchard. Continue straight ahead on the path past the information panel “les châtaignes d'Ardèche”. At the end of the trail, take the road again and head left to return to the hamlet of  Féreyrolles. You can also carry straight on by following the road then taking a small path on your right. This additional 1.5km loop, which takes about half an hour, takes you past a goat farm. Cross the road when you get to the stone cross, climb up to the old canal and go left to return to Féreyrolles.

2 h
4.5 km
Very easy
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Sentier des Lauzes (flagstone path)
10 km

Sentier des Lauzes (flagstone path)

This artistic and natural path in the Drobie Valley, the renowned Sentier des Lauzes (flagstone path) is designed for those who love hiking, art, or just nature. It will enable you to discover the magnificent landscapes of the valley, interspersed with works of art. Head towards the city hall and past it on a narrow tarmacked road following the arrow "Saint-Régis 6 km, Dompnac 8.4 km". Continue on this road. After a tight bend to the right, and another one to the left, leave the road and take a path going left just before the end of the road. Carry on up to the place called the Eyrolle and take the direction of "Saint-Régis 5.1 km, Dompnac 7.5 km" on a goat track that forms a hairpin bend in front of a gate before leading to the road. Cross the road and take a calade (cobblestone path) going uphill to the right in front of houses. The path goes back to the road and crosses it again. Go up above the road and take the calade uphill on your right, overlooking the Pourcharesse Valley, and crossing the gorgeous landscapes of vineyards and chesnut groves terraces. You will then discover the first "oto-date", a place to listen, installed here in 2007 by the Japanese artist Akio Suzuki; after that will come two "Chambres d'Ecoute" and other "oto-dates" scattered along the path and on neighbouring ridges or valleys. Under the place called the Elzière, the path goes past "Paroles de lauzes" by Domingo Cisneros. After an impressive hillside planted with vines, the path overlooks "l'Echappée", haven-studio built by the association to receive artists, researchers, students, and anyone who wishes to immerse oneself in this powerful landscape (please do not disturb the residents when someone lives there). After that, the path leads to a track and goes downhill to the Vernet's small bridge where you will find "Silence de Lauzes - groupe 1" by Christian Lapie. The path continues across a terraced hillside, covered with old vines. It then enters an undergrowth, crosses a brook and goes up again towards houses. Go below them, then take the road on the right up to Le Vernet crossways. Continue towards "Saint-Régis 3.1 km, Dompnac 5.5 km" on a path going uphill in the undergrowth up to the hamlet of l'Adreyt. Below the houses, continue on the track that makes a loop and comes back towards the houses. In front of the house, leave the track and take a narrow path going uphill on the left and leading to another track just before the Travers hamlet. Take it on the right, then cross it to take a calade uphill on the right of the hamlet. Cross the road. After the last houses, turn left, then right, and continue uphill. You will reach a track on the ridge above the valleys of Saint-Mélany and Dompnac up to the Grimal Cross. (pay attention to the "oto-date" a little before the Cross). The track goes along the foot of a schist slab overlooked by "Silence de lauzes groupe 2". Then a board on your right invites you to visit the "Belvédère des lichens", by the landscape architect Gilles Clément, to admire the valley and discover the lichens' mysteries. The belvedere also offers a panorama on the Sueille Valley, the Ondes summit to the West and the Cheylard summit to the North. Continue on the track up to the chapel of Saint-Régis. Once at the chapel, take the direction of "Dompnac 2.4 km" up to the Croix des Lèbres. The markings are now white and yellow. After 100 m, at the crossways "la Croix des Lèbres", follow "Dompnac 2.3 km". The path goes down along the slope, winding among undergrowth and heath up to Le Théron. At the crossways, go straight ahead towards "Dompnac 0.8 km". The path goes downhill then turns right and crosses a track. It goes below houses before entering Dompnac. At the village entry, turn left up to the church and the city hall. Leave Dompnac on the departmental road. Continue on it past a cross. About 200 m after the cross, take the bridge across the brook. Continue on the road for 500 m. Then take a path on the right. It goes uphill in the undergrowth up to Lachamp de Merle. At the crossways of Lachamp de Merle, follow "Saint-Mélany 5.2 km". The path soon goes downhill to the houses of Lachamp de Merle. Go through the hamlet, and up to the departmental road. Follow it on the right, through the Merle hamlet. After the last houses on the left, take the road on the left. In the hairpin bend, leave the road and go straight ahead on a path going down to the bottom of the valley. Cross a first brook, then turn right to ford the Sueille River. Continue on the right on the path that goes along the river and old irrigation canals. Don't take the paths going right or left, carry on straight ahead up to the La Coste hamlet. Just before it, a thin cobblestone line across the path invites you to go down in a chesnut grove to discover the art installation by Ivo Provoost and Simona Denicolai (to discover what is inside it, you have to buy a key at the restaurant Au Bon Port in Saint-Mélany). At the La Coste hamlet, take the tarmacked road leading to the departmental road, then turn left in the hairpin bend, and continue towards Le Chambon. At Le Chambon crossways, turn left on the road D420 towards "Saint-Mélany 0.4 km" and follow it up to your starting point.

5 h
14 km
Easy
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What to do in Malarce-sur-la-thines

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Plan a perfect day in Malarce-sur-la-thines with our bookable activities.
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What to visit in Malarce-sur-la-thines

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Experience the annual festivals of Malarce-sur-la-thines.
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Where to eat in Malarce-sur-la-thines

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The dining spots in Malarce-sur-la-thines have surprises in store.
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Where to sleep in Malarce-sur-la-thines

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Caution!
We have no information on the difficulty of this circuit. You may encounter some surprises along the way. Before you go, please feel free to inquire more and take all necessary precautions. Have a good trip! 🌳🥾