95.7 km Bike Circuit from L'Etoile Guesthouse in La Bastide-Puylaurent in Lozère

Take the train from La Bastide - Saint-Laurent-les-Bains station to Langeac (Train timetables). When you arrive in Langeac, head towards the town centre to take the D585, which leads to Moulin de Fortune via Chanteuges, Saint-Arcons-d'Allier, Bourleyre, Saugues, and Esplantas. Then continue on this road, renamed D985, to Châteauneuf-de-Randon. Turn left onto the N88, then turn right towards Villeneuve via Les Maurels. Turn right onto the D206 to Les Chazeaux, where you join the D6, which you can follow to La Bastide-Puylaurent via Mirandol, Chasseradès, and Masméjean.

Distance: 95.7 km
Maximum altitude: 1,275 m
Minimum altitude: 489 m
Total elevation gain: 878 m

IGN Maps: Langeac (2635E). Saugues (2636E). Grandrieu (2737O). La Bastide-Puylaurent (2738E). Le Bleymard (2738O). Largentière, La Bastide-Puylaurent, Vivarais Cévenol (2838OT).

Print the route

Langeac, a charming little town in the south of Auvergne, is rich in history and traditions. It boasts a remarkable architectural heritage, including a Gothic church with elements spanning the 12th to the 16th century and beautiful old residences. Once listed among the "thirteen good towns of Auvergne" and represented at the provincial Estates-General, Langeac was even visited by the Marquis de Lafayette in 1786. Each year, traditional summer festivities bring the town to life, such as the Saint-Gal festival and the "Belle Journée" which celebrates liberty. The Jacquemard Museum, located in a 16th-century building, showcases the history of the trades that shaped the town, while the lively weekly market animates the town center. Langeac is also distinguished by its modern industries (wood, plastic, agri-food) and strong tourist appeal. Situated in the heart of the Allier gorges, it is an ideal paradise for lovers of wild nature, hiking, and thrills. The Sainte-Catherine-de-Sienne monastery was founded here in 1623 by Sister Agnès de Jésus, a Dominican and profound spiritual figure who inspired many vocations. Beatified in 1994, her spiritual legacy continues within the local Dominican community. The Allier River, crossing the region from Châteauneuf-de-Randon to Langeac, is lined with picturesque sites: historic churches, troglodyte chapels, and enchanting villages like Chilhac and Lavoûte-Chilhac. These places inspire painters and pilgrims alike, offering a unique blend of wild nature and local culture, enhanced by a surprisingly mild microclimate.

The Margeride, a mountainous and rural region of Lozère, beautifully retains its traditional character and strong cultural identity, despite its historic isolation and harsh natural conditions. This territory has preserved an agro-pastoral way of life, structured around small villages and shared communal lands, including forests and sectional pastures used collectively by its inhabitants. The landscape is a stunning mosaic of cultivated lands, rich meadows, woods, and sweeping moors, shifting dynamically with the altitude. Historically, the Margeride's economy was focused on livestock breeding and modest crops meant mainly for subsistence. Although emigration was significant, it never completely emptied the region, as a resilient birth rate ensured the sustainability of farms and traditions. The deep attachment of families to their land has limited property sales, maintaining the area's small land structure. However, the Margeride is slowly changing: agricultural mechanization and specialization are gradually transforming the rural landscape, accompanied by steady reforestation and the expansion of meadows at the expense of traditional crops. The fading of certain community structures, such as the "sisters" of Saugues who once supported local social life, marks the ongoing transition from a traditional model to a more modern era.

Châteauneuf-de-Randon is a historic village whose existence is officially attested as early as 1227 under the name "Castrum Novum". Located in the Margeride region, the village became a formidable stronghold under the powerful Randon family and played a highly strategic role during the Hundred Years' War. It is most famous for the legendary 1380 siege led by the great French military commander Bertrand Du Guesclin, who tragically died during the campaign. During the Middle Ages, the town prospered and became an important trading center, though it later fell into decline in the 18th century, mainly due to competition from neighboring towns. Today, it retains a rich and vibrant heritage, boasting a medieval castle and a Romanesque church, both listed as historical monuments. Set within a protected natural environment, the village attracts visitors in search of wild landscapes and profound tranquility, surrounded by mountains and forests that shelter a rich variety of flora and fauna. Châteauneuf-de-Randon had an intense agricultural past, particularly with livestock fairs that made the region famous at the beginning of the 20th century. Though the population declined and these fairs eventually disappeared, the village remains a deeply evocative place of remembrance, immortalizing Du Guesclin with a striking bronze statue erected in 1894. Its fascinating history perfectly illustrates the enduring trials, economic shifts, and cultural heritage of rural France through the centuries.