Selected alternatives for you
A trip to the Viaur Valley is like a journey back in time. In this natural sanctuary, old bridges, fords, mills, towers, and castles tell their stories… Las Planques is its most precious symbol.
difficult
Distance 16.7 km
5:11 h
667 m
668 m
442 m
289 m
The Church of Les Planques
The Romanesque church of Las Planques owes its name to the construction, in the 12th century, of a plank bridge over the Viaur River at a time when feudal lords and the clergy were vying for control of the crossing points. Built in the 11th and 12th centuries, it was originally called Notre-Dame de Belmont because of its location on a site reputed to be impregnable—a rocky promontory that seems to rise out of the waters of the Viaur.
A priory of the famous Benedictine Abbey of Conques (Aveyron), occupied by the English “Routiers” in 1381, it fell into decline in the 17th century when the valley’s inhabitants settled on the plateaus, where farming was less difficult. A fresco depicting scenes from the Gospels adorns the choir of this bare chapel, which was designated a historic monument in 1910.
The Romanesque church of Las Planques owes its name to the construction, in the 12th century, of a plank bridge over the Viaur River at a time when feudal lords and the clergy were vying for control of the crossing points. Built in the 11th and 12th centuries, it was originally called Notre-Dame de Belmont because of its location on a site reputed to be impregnable—a rocky promontory that seems to rise out of the waters of the Viaur.
A priory of the famous Benedictine Abbey of Conques (Aveyron), occupied by the English “Routiers” in 1381, it fell into decline in the 17th century when the valley’s inhabitants settled on the plateaus, where farming was less difficult. A fresco depicting scenes from the Gospels adorns the choir of this bare chapel, which was designated a historic monument in 1910.
Difficulty
difficult
Overall difficulty
difficult
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Highest point
442 m
Lowest point
289 m
Track types
Show elevation profileRest stops
Restaurant des VoyageursTips and suggestions
>>>> RECOMMENDATIONS Difficulties: Technical sections between points 2 and 3 (best avoided in rainy weather). Not suitable for mountain bikes.>>>> ACCESSIBILITY Accessible for: The starting point is accessible by public transportation
Roadbook
Turn right at the church toward Saint-Just. At the first two T-junctions, go straight ahead. At the third, turn left toward the Viaur Viaduct. Continue straight ahead. At the T-junction, turn left toward La Mourseillé and do the same at the next one. At the fork before La Guizardié, take the path on the left.
Cross the road, continue along the path, and take the trail on the right. You’ll arrive at the bank of the Viaur River: on the right, you can take a round trip to the spot directly below the SNCF viaduct; otherwise, go through the gate. Continue along the path in the middle of the meadow. At the Laval fork, turn right. In front of the gate, take the trail to the left, cross the stream, go around the house on the right, and climb up to the area above the power plant. Cut across the access road, descend to the banks of the Viaur, and follow the riverbank.
Cross the old Tanus Bridge. Take the second path on the left uphill. At the paved road, turn left, then straight ahead. Pass through La Sicardie-Haute; 30 m further on, turn onto the path on the left.
Follow the riverbank to the right, climbing in wide zigzags. Head down the Masmajou path to the Viaur footbridge; 150 m after that, climb up to the right. Below the church at Las Planques, continue straight ahead (!> visit the church on the right!).
1. At the wayside cross near the church, turn left. After 100 m, head up the path straight ahead. At the second hairpin turn, turn left and climb through the chestnut grove. Pass the path on the right. Pass by the ruins of the hamlet of Les Cazes, then a small house (La Treille). Cross the footbridge under the ruined tower (!> Tanus-le-Vieux!). At the road in Combefedo, continue straight ahead, passing under the new N88. Turn left. Pass through La Moulinarié. At the next intersection, turn right toward the church in Tanus.
Cross the road, continue along the path, and take the trail on the right. You’ll arrive at the bank of the Viaur River: on the right, you can take a round trip to the spot directly below the SNCF viaduct; otherwise, go through the gate. Continue along the path in the middle of the meadow. At the Laval fork, turn right. In front of the gate, take the trail to the left, cross the stream, go around the house on the right, and climb up to the area above the power plant. Cut across the access road, descend to the banks of the Viaur, and follow the riverbank.
Cross the old Tanus Bridge. Take the second path on the left uphill. At the paved road, turn left, then straight ahead. Pass through La Sicardie-Haute; 30 m further on, turn onto the path on the left.
Follow the riverbank to the right, climbing in wide zigzags. Head down the Masmajou path to the Viaur footbridge; 150 m after that, climb up to the right. Below the church at Las Planques, continue straight ahead (!> visit the church on the right!).
1. At the wayside cross near the church, turn left. After 100 m, head up the path straight ahead. At the second hairpin turn, turn left and climb through the chestnut grove. Pass the path on the right. Pass by the ruins of the hamlet of Les Cazes, then a small house (La Treille). Cross the footbridge under the ruined tower (!> Tanus-le-Vieux!). At the road in Combefedo, continue straight ahead, passing under the new N88. Turn left. Pass through La Moulinarié. At the next intersection, turn right toward the church in Tanus.
Rest stop
Nearby
Top Partner
Waypoint
Start point
End point
Low point
High point
Forecast
Today {low} to {high} and {precipitation} of {precipitation_type}
show {x} more
Photo
Video
TanusChapelle de Las Planques
Viaduc du Viaur
Restaurant des Voyageurs
Coordinates
DD
44.101936, 2.318286
DMS
44°06'07.0"N 2°19'05.8"E
UTM
31T 445437 4883420
w3w
///fleeting.green.optimum
Get there by train, car, bike, or on foot!
Localization
Parts of this content were machine translated from French.
Difficulty
difficult
Overall difficulty
difficult
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Distance
16.7 km
Duration
5:11 h
Ascent
667 m
Descent
668 m
Highest point
442 m
Lowest point
289 m
Weather at the starting point
Statistics
Maps and trails
Nothing selected - click and drag in the elevation profile to zoom
Distance
Duration
Ascent
Descent

User Questions