PR 88 – La Tour d'Oriol
Hiking route
Route details
Alert
Medium
A technical descent
A technical descent
Description
Go down the footpath, then turn left to pass under the bridge.
Cross the railway line and head right on a path that descends
edge of the Loire; follow it straight. Just before the bridge that crosses the Semène,
take the small road on the right. Pass under two bridges.
Immediately after, turn right. Walk along the road for a few meters, then
climb to the left towards Les Châtaigniers. Shortly after, ignore a lane on the left.
Higher up, at the intersection, turn right. At the next one, go up to the left.
Leave the asphalt on the left and climb in the forest by the main path. AT
At the fork, take the wide path on the left and follow it for 200 m.
Go down on the left by a path. Cross a stream and reach
an intersection (view of the Gorges de la Semène). Continue right,
then exit the forest (on the left, Tour d'Oriol). Go up to the right by
a path between the meadows and reach Oriol.
Go right on the small road. Neglect a path that goes straight.
A little higher, leave the road to the left for a passing path
close to a concrete manhole. At the fork, keep left on this
path. After a steep climb, pass near another concrete manhole,
then lead to a fork.
Turn right and continue straight to Le Cortial. Take the road
left, then turn right. In the village, find on the left
a path between two low walls. Come out on a road and go straight
up to foot. At the crossroads, turn left then, at the stone cross,
turn right onto a path.
At the fork, descend to the right (technical descent). In Aurec-sur-Loire,
at the roundabout, head left on the D 46. At the second roundabout,
take the direction of the city center (D 46) (castles, church). At the third
roundabout, near the town hall, continue straight to reach the start.
The Gorges of the Semene:
When we look at the grandiose view that this route offers us over the Gorges de la Semène, we can easily imagine what the role of this medieval castle was, of which only the Tower remains.
Guardian of the Semène, which marked the border between Forez and Velay, this XNUMXth century building has known several lives: seigneurial castle, prison, place of pilgrimages and mysterious apparitions. If the old tower could talk, we would listen to its stories, leaning against its ancient stone, contemplating the clear waters of the river.
Cross the railway line and head right on a path that descends
edge of the Loire; follow it straight. Just before the bridge that crosses the Semène,
take the small road on the right. Pass under two bridges.
Immediately after, turn right. Walk along the road for a few meters, then
climb to the left towards Les Châtaigniers. Shortly after, ignore a lane on the left.
Higher up, at the intersection, turn right. At the next one, go up to the left.
Leave the asphalt on the left and climb in the forest by the main path. AT
At the fork, take the wide path on the left and follow it for 200 m.
Go down on the left by a path. Cross a stream and reach
an intersection (view of the Gorges de la Semène). Continue right,
then exit the forest (on the left, Tour d'Oriol). Go up to the right by
a path between the meadows and reach Oriol.
Go right on the small road. Neglect a path that goes straight.
A little higher, leave the road to the left for a passing path
close to a concrete manhole. At the fork, keep left on this
path. After a steep climb, pass near another concrete manhole,
then lead to a fork.
Turn right and continue straight to Le Cortial. Take the road
left, then turn right. In the village, find on the left
a path between two low walls. Come out on a road and go straight
up to foot. At the crossroads, turn left then, at the stone cross,
turn right onto a path.
At the fork, descend to the right (technical descent). In Aurec-sur-Loire,
at the roundabout, head left on the D 46. At the second roundabout,
take the direction of the city center (D 46) (castles, church). At the third
roundabout, near the town hall, continue straight to reach the start.
The Gorges of the Semene:
When we look at the grandiose view that this route offers us over the Gorges de la Semène, we can easily imagine what the role of this medieval castle was, of which only the Tower remains.
Guardian of the Semène, which marked the border between Forez and Velay, this XNUMXth century building has known several lives: seigneurial castle, prison, place of pilgrimages and mysterious apparitions. If the old tower could talk, we would listen to its stories, leaning against its ancient stone, contemplating the clear waters of the river.