Les Moulins, circuit n°5 autour de Najac
Route details
Description
Your itinerary
Stage 1: Departure from Najac
At Place du Faubourg, pass the Tourist Office and continue to the grocery store 50 m further on the left. Go around the grocery store on the left, go down the steps and walk along the houses and gardens on the "Roc de Cabusse" patrol path. Go down to Rue de la Loge, turn right. At the intersection, turn left onto Rue du Bourguet, then a little further left onto the small Rue de la Portète to reach Rue Basse des Comtes de Toulouse. Turn left onto Rue du Portail de Maffre. You will arrive at a road: Avenue de la Gare.
Step 2: Gabanel bridge and fountain
Cross the road (watch for traffic). Just opposite, take the path on the left that goes down to the Gabanel fountain. At the bottom, cross the pretty stone bridge over the Vernhe stream. Do not take the path on the right along the stream. Take the path opposite that goes up. Quite a steep climb. At a bend, an old barn. Continue this fairly steep climb, do not take the first path on the right but the second path on the right after some fir trees. Continue until the intersection of 1 paths (2 track opposite, 3 on the left and 1 path on the right).
Step 3: Point of view on Najac
[Possible junction with circuit No. 4 “Les Fontaines” by taking the path that goes to the left]
Turn right. The path passes below the holiday village. Take the first small path on your right, a small right turn and a small left turn and this small path will take you to a magnificent view point over Najac.
Step 4: Puech Calm
Leave the viewpoint on your right and continue straight towards the tarmac road inside the holiday village. After 150 meters on this road, turn right onto a path. Walk 10 meters then at this point, 2 possibilities either left towards the hamlet of Cassagnes, or right. [Junction "Najac, a hilltop village" possible by continuing on the path opposite instead of turning right]. Choose the path on the right. Follow a fence to reach an arid area where only a few small shrubs remain. No sign of civilization, you are alone in the world!
Step 5: The Aveyron Gorges
Go down into this area and zigzag between the vegetation until you arrive on a wide path along the banks of the Aveyron river. Then turn right. You will come across a first mill in ruins (Ferragut mill) then 500 meters further that of Auribal, which is very well preserved.
Observe the marks on the mill door. The very abrasive sandstone made it possible to sharpen the tools needed to sharpen the millstones.
Step 6: Old cobbled coast
Continue straight on the small road. 50 meters before the intersection with the D594, turn right to climb to Najac via the old cobbled hill. This trail is also marked in white and red, GR36, the Way of St. James from Conques to Toulouse. At the end of the trail, cross the D39 road and take the road opposite that leads to the church. On the church square, go down to the right and pass in front of the old presbytery to reach the Rue Basse des Comtes de Toulouse. This street goes back up towards the village and will allow you to reach the Rue de la Portette.
Step 7: End of the circuit
At the end of this street, turn right, rue du Bourguet, then go up rue du Barriou which goes directly to Place du Faubourg, your starting point.
