Saturday 8 August 2015

Les Sagnes, Les Cross and the chapel St Martin des Oeufs. 7.4km. 2H.

Les Sagnes, Les Cross and the chapel St Martin des Oeufs. 7.4km. 2H. Blue markers. A pretty route with lovely views to the west of Olargues, up to the Espinouse and down the Jaur valley on the first part of the walk and across to the Caroux and Orb valley during the second half. Take the D908 to Olagues and park.

Walk across the beautiful 13th century Pont du Diable, turn left and walk a short distance along the road . Soon you will see a little concrete road to your right (Faubourg de Gue), take this goes up a hill and then down to meet another small track coming up from the road below. At this junction turn right and continue up the hill as it winds through pretty countryside.

Ignore the little turn to the left and continue on to the little chapel of St Martin des Oeufs situated on a small col. There is a picnic bench here and it makes a pleasant spot to enjoy some refreshments. It's a lovely little chapel built at the end of the 19th century and has a lovely little altar, rows of benches and is decorated with some pretty frescoes.

Now continue on the higher path and over the little bridge. You can ignore a path a little further on your left and continue on this track until you reach the road. If you do this turn left on the road as it winds down to Le Cros, this route is still marked blue. (There is a another way of doing this walk without taking the road route, but it's not marked. At this fork turn left up through the chestnut trees and soon you will find a narrow lane.

Soon you will turn left, passing the hamlet of Les Codouls and turning left again at the next junction. Walk through Les Sagnes and go uphill to find an old path on your right with stone walls and some cherry trees that have seen better days. Drop down then to meet the road at Le Cros). Turn right to go down to the village, taking the new concrete track to the right and then left down to meet a stone track just before an old building, turn right onto the track and then right again at the next junction onto a tiny road that winds back down into Olagues.

This road comes out on the D908,it's not an easy road to walk on but you need to turn right now and after a while you will reach the Pont du Diable once again. There is another little chapel here. St Roch, but it's not easy to see inside. You are also beside a very beautiful restaurant that overlooks the river (although you might not be dressed for something so lovely).

If you fancy a look around Olargues it's a lovely place to wander. It was rather busy today with a vide grenier in full swing, but normally you can enjoy a pleasant stroll up to the castle hill or enjoy lunch in one of the little bars or pizza restaurants. Enjoy.

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