Savignac-les-Ormeaux: Nature, Hiking Trails and Culture

Savignac-les-Ormeaux brings together natural areas, hiking trails in the valley and historic buildings. Les Étangs is a great place for walks and picnics; in the Savignac Valley, trails lead to places including the Rulhe Massif. There is also the Château de Savignac and the war memorial. You can plan your stay around the things that interest you: scenery, outdoor activities or architectural history.

Les Étangs and the Savignac Valley

Les Étangs was formerly a sand quarry, transformed by Savignac-les-Ormeaux into a natural area. You can walk, picnic or relax there free of charge. If you want to fish, you will need a fishing permit. It is available at the reception desk of the local campsite or at the Ax tourist office. Check the fishing permit information before your trip.

The Savignac Valley is one of the access routes to the Rulhe Massif. The Ruisseau du Najar runs through the valley; there are also several jasses, which are used as pastureland, and a few shepherds' huts that also serve as shelters. These landscape features provide the setting for various hiking trails, each with descriptions that mention different destinations and planning details.

Hiking trails with different stages

The Tour des montagnes d’Ax hiking trail runs through the valley and provides access to the Refuge du Rulhe shelter via the Col de Belh. Another trail follows the Ruisseau du Najar, passes a waterfall and then reaches Prat Redon. The Chemin de la Quère comes with specific planning information: the circular route is 6.9 km long, takes 2 hours and 30 minutes, and has 200 m of ascent. Its difficulty is above intermediate level. Check trail conditions for the season locally.

You can start the Chemin de la Quère circular route from Savignac-les-Ormeaux. The route description lists large car parks and the Malazéou and La Marmotte campsites as access options. As car park and campsite conditions may change, it is a good idea to check before setting out.

Hiking and yoga

Planet Rando Yoga in Savignac-les-Ormeaux offers trips on foot, snowshoes or skis. They combine hiking in nature with yoga, including daytime yoga breaks. The options include day hikes, multi-day hikes with overnight stays in mountain shelters lasting two to six days, and Rando-Yoga tours lasting two to four days. The formats therefore differ in both duration and type of activity. Seasonal availability may vary; check the current program before booking.

Château de Savignac and the war memorial

The intact north and west façades of the Château de Savignac date to the 15th century. The south façade has three storeys and is flanked by two dovecote towers. They have four-sided roofs covered with scale-cut slate tiles. The façades and roofs of the Château have been listed as a historic monument since December 10, 1976. The details make the building's architecture easy to understand even without a lengthy description: alongside the layout of the south façade, the two towers and their roof shape are particularly striking. The Savignac-les-Ormeaux war memorial was erected in 1921.

Practical information

The seasonal, free SAVIGN’AX shuttle bus stops in the center of Savignac-les-Ormeaux and at Camping La Marmotte. Check operating dates and the timetable before your trip. The destinations, distances and timings provided for the hiking trails offer different points of reference: the Chemin de la Quère is described in more detail, with its duration, ascent and difficulty level, while the trails to the Refuge du Rulhe and Prat Redon are chiefly identified by their routes through the valley and their destinations.

Discover more destinations: Saint Lary, Sainte-Foi, Aulus-Les-Bains, Montardit, Lézat-Sur-Lèze, Ascou, Teilhet, Arrien-En-Bethmale

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