19 km hike in La Bastide-Puylaurent
Take the train from La Bastide Saint Laurent les Bains station, located 300 metres from L'Etoile, to Belvezet (SNCF schedules). Return by following the GR7 trail for the entire route. Traverse the small village of Les Chazeaux and ascend towards the plateau of Le Moure de la Gardille, reaching an elevation of 1,504 metres, where the sources of the Chassezac and the Allier rivers emerge. The path crosses the Moures des Coufours and des Estombes, then passes over the Pont des Taillades. The GR7 then joins the GR70, the Stevenson Path. Pass through the ravine and the woods of Chambounet and La Mourade, then descend into the Allier valley towards La Bastide, offering a spectacular view of the Ardeche mountains and the Notre Dame des Neiges Abbey in the distance.
4km - 11km - 11.2km - 14km - 15.5km - 16.3km - 19km - 21.5km - 23.2km - 24km
Distance: 19 km, Maximum altitude: 1,485 m, Minimum altitude: 1,020 m, Total elevation gain: 371 m
IGN Maps: La Bastide-Puylaurent (2738E), Le Bleymard (2738O), Largentiere La Bastide-Puylaurent Vivarais Cevenol (2838OT)
Belvezet is a small French commune located in the Lozère department, in the Occitanie region, on the Causse de Montbel. With a population of around 80 inhabitants, its economy is mainly based on agriculture — cattle, sheep and goat farming — as well as tourism attracted by the region's picturesque landscapes. The commune is rich in biodiversity, home to deer, wild boar and vultures, as well as a diverse flora. Belvezet is distinguished by its preserved natural environment and magnificent landscapes, including causse moorland and high ridgelines. Its history dates back to the Gallo-Roman era, marked by events such as the Wars of Religion and the Resistance during the Second World War. Belvezet train station, which connects Mende to La Bastide-Puylaurent, is one of the rare lines in France that allows cyclists to travel with their bikes. The Causse de Montbel, known as the "roof of France", plays a major hydrographic role, its waters flowing towards several major French rivers. The village is also a starting point for excursions towards the source of the Allier and the Moure de la Gardille.
The Moure de la Gardille, a peak culminating at 1,503 metres, is home to the source of the Allier. Despite the river's significance, its origin remains largely unknown to the general public, unlike the famous Gerbier de Jonc, source of the Loire. Its exact location and the presence of a commemorative plaque have long been the subject of debate. The springs themselves are wild and difficult to access, with water emerging from multiple points across the landscape. The sources of the Chassezac and those of the Allier, both located on the Moure de la Gardille, feed entirely separate watersheds: the Chassezac joins the Ardèche then the Rhône, while the Allier flows into the Loire and ultimately the Atlantic, illustrating the complexity of the French hydrographic network. The Chassezac, emblematic river of the Ardèche, rises on the western slopes of the Moure de la Gardille in the Margeride mountains, surrounded by forests, moors and meadows home to a rich and protected fauna and flora.
The GR®7 is a long-distance hiking trail that extends from the Vosges to the Pyrenees, following the watershed between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean. It crosses a wide variety of landscapes, including national parks, hills, ancient massifs and distinct terroirs. The route begins at Ballon d'Alsace, in the Vosges, and passes through emblematic sites such as Remiremont, Épinal, Vittel and Dijon, before entering Burgundy and skirting the vineyards of the Hautes Côtes de Beaune. The next section, between Mâcon and Castelnaudary, crosses the Massif Central, passing through regional nature parks and mountains such as Mezenc and Mont Lozère. Hikers discover varied landscapes, picturesque villages and a rich cultural heritage. The final stage, through the Catalan Pyrenees Natural Park and Cathar country, leads to Andorra, marking the end of this exceptional 1,000 km journey through France.
