The GR 3 “Source & Gorges de la Loire”, which runs along the Loire from Mont-Gerbier-de-Jonc to Saint-Nazaire, was selected among the routes that will lead to the Seine in Paris!
Approaching the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the French Hiking Federation (FFRandonnée), labeled Terre de Jeux, launched an exceptional event: “The Great Hike to Paris".
This unique initiative aims to unite walkers and hikers from all over France, starting from 16 metropolitan cities through 7 main routes, to converge on the capital from Saturday January 13 to Sunday May 12, 2024.
2 “ambassador hikers” started at Gerbier de Joncs and completed the entire route with an arrival common to all routes in the capital.
Throughout the route, the departmental committees in partnership with hiking clubs and local tourist offices offered the opportunity to hikers who wished to join the hiker ambassadors to walk a few kilometers together towards Paris.
Bas-en-Basset, Aurec-sur-Loire and St-Victor-sur-Loire were “stopover towns” on March 23, 24 and XNUMX. A look back at these 3 beautiful days!
Saturday March 23: 24 km stage, Retournac – Bas-en-Basset
From Returnnac, around a hundred participants set off on the GR 3 at the edge of the Loire at the start of the route then into the green countryside at the start of spring. The mild temperatures and sunny weather were ideal for walking.
At a place called Le Plat, the magnificent view during the refreshment and snack break invigorated the walkers!
Along the route, the alternation of the the Loire Valley and the higher plateaus offer a great diversity of landscapes. In panorama: the Yssingelais juices (volcanoes) pass smoothly before the eyes!
Near the finish, the walkers discovered the medieval castle of Rochebaron which stands proudly on the heights of the village of Bas en Basset…. In the Family Room, welcome and friendly moment offered by the municipality with a few little surprises: Joseph Jourda, local historian in love with Rochebaron, gave a presentation of the fortress and its history since the 13th century. Then Nicholas and Orion falconers from the castle accompanied by Onyx, the harris hawk, and Hubert, a great horned owl, launched into a free flight performance in the room and a multitude of information which fascinated the public.
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Sunday March 24: 18 km stage, Bas-en-Basset – Aurec-sur-Loire
The next day, the group of hikers was even larger. Nearly 200 hikers had registered with the Departmental Hiking Committee and the Tourist Offices!
This 18 km route has beautiful passages at “Loire flower“. It starts with the crossing Bas ponds and the small village of Lamure. The circuit then moves away from the steep banks of the Loire and offers beautiful views of the valley before returning closer to the wild river.
Before reaching the medieval town of Aurec-sur-Loire, the group borrowed the famous dog jump bridges which allow you to overlook the river. After the leisure center, head to the historic heart of Aurec. Warm welcome by elected officials seigniorial castle for a guided tour of this building recently restored and open to the public.
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Monday March 25: 14 km stage, Aurec – Saint-Victor-sur-Loire
The Monday group committed to 14 km around the Grangent Lake, in full Loire Gorges Regional Nature Reserve.
Magnificent views of meanders of the river awaited them, as well as a unique stop at the Château de Saint-Paul-de-Cornillon and its Saint-Antoine chapel.
The route to Saint-Victor-sur-Loire (commune of Saint-Etienne) is remarkable. The panoramas of the river invite you to relax and create a change of scenery...a pure moment of happiness for the many photographers! 🙂 From Saint-Victor-sur-Loire, the group was also able to admire Grangent Island, and far away, Essalois castle, another emblematic building of the Gorges de la Loire, located on the other bank, in Chambles.
Meet in Paris for our ambassadors after 3 months of hiking through a wide diversity of landscapes and regions! … An adventure which, without a doubt, is the dream of more than one hiker!
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On the GR 3 “Source and Gorges de la Loire”
Marked left bank and right bank, the path is very accessible by train from Lyon and Puy-en-Velay!
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