La Boucle des 3 Châteaux

Departure: Park in the Avignonet Mairie parking lot, where you'll find a large parking area. Drive past the Mairie and look out for the yellow "Avignonet Mairie" sign.

1) From this sign turn right onto the tarmac road towards La Croix de Molignère. This long track crosses fields and then turns into a gravel path. Enjoy the view of the Vercors cliffs behind you. After passing a farm, you'll enter a wooded track. This will take you quickly to a tarmac road where you'll find the post "La Croix de Molignère". From this post, follow the signs for Château d'Ars. Follow the road to the small hamlet of Molignière, where you must take the path leading down to the right into a forest. The little path leads down to the "Cattiers" post.

2) From the "Les Cattiers" post, follow the signs for Château d'Ars. You'll come to the hamlet, but make sure you turn right before the buildings. A gravel track leads downhill, offering fine views of the Monteynard-Avignonet dam. This long track leads into a park. A succession of bends takes you down to the Château d'Ars, an ancient castle that has been partially restored. Take advantage of this stop to recharge your batteries and learn more about the area.

3) From the "Château d'Ars" post, head for Mageline. To do this, you'll need to take the small path leading off into the forest. This path descends until it offers magnificent views of the turquoise waters of Notre Dame de Commiers lake. The descent continues until you cross a stream flowing into the lake. Once you've crossed this stream, you begin the complex part of the hike. This involves a relatively steep climb through the forest to a new park. The climb continues until you reach the hamlet of Mageline.

4) From the "Mageline" sign, follow the signs for the Croix des Chevaliers, taking the road which climbs steadily. You pass through various hamlets (Les Vaux, La Cavale) until you reach the Croix des Chevaliers crossroads.

5) From "La Croix des Chevaliers", follow the signs for Pâquier. Take the path through the fields, offering lovely views of the surrounding mountains. This track takes you to the hamlet of Pâquier, where you can visit the magnificent chapel (take time to look around), then head off in the direction of St Martin de la Cluze. This time you pass through the village of Pâquier, where you'll find the next signpost.

6) From "Pâquier", head towards Peillavène as you climb through the village, then head towards Château de Pâquier, which is further along the path. You'll soon come to the back of the château, where you'll find a stud farm and an alpaca farm. Cross the road when you see the "Château de Pâquier" sign, and head for St Martin la Cluze. Turning right on the track, you cross fields and soon reach the village of St Martin la Cluze, which you cross, then turn left once you've passed the church and school. A road leads down to the "Les 5 chemins" sign.

7) From "Les 5 chemins", turn right towards Avignonet. First you take a road, then a track through the fields. This long track takes you to an orientation table. Enjoy the view, then continue to the "Les Plaines" sign, where you go straight on past the Château d'Avignonet. You'll soon reach the town hall where you left your car.