Joannas: Hiking Trails on the Tanargue and Historic Heritage

Specific themes for a trip to Joannas include hiking trails in the Tanargue area and historic buildings. If you’re looking for a hotel for your stay, you can start by deciding what you want to focus on during your time there: should you plan around circular trails, architecture and history, or a combination of both? The specific features of the routes and the limited opportunities to visit certain buildings are important considerations.

Hiking around Joannas

The circular route “Circuit n° 5: Sur les hauts de Joannas” starts and ends in the village square in Joannas. Between Joannas and Prunet, it follows forest tracks and passes through chestnut groves at the foot of the Tanargue. The route description therefore combines a clearly defined starting point with the landscape features mentioned.

The circular route “Circuit n° 6: La Cham du Cros” is classified as a difficult mountain hike. It starts and ends in the hamlet of Blaunac in Joannas and leads to La Cham du Cros, one of the last foothills of the Tanargue massif, at an elevation of 1,202 metres. Circuit n° 5 emphasizes forest tracks and chestnut groves at the foot of the massif; for Circuit n° 6, the explicitly difficult classification and the elevation of the destination are useful points of comparison.

The fourth stage of the GRP Tour du Tanargue also passes through Joannas. Check the trail conditions for the circular routes before setting out; for this stage, you should also check the trail markers. The routes also differ in format: both circuits are circular routes that start and end in Joannas, while the GRP passes through the village as its fourth stage.

Buildings and visiting conditions

The Château féodal de Joannas is a square-shaped feudal building listed as a historic monument in 1985. It includes a courtyard, vaulted rooms and a keep. The château can only be visited during events held there, such as markets, concerts or the Castagnades. If you’re planning a visit, check the event dates before your trip. A keep is the main tower of a medieval castle complex, making it a different part of the building from the courtyard or vaulted rooms.

The church of Notre Dame de l’Annonciation in Joannas was built in 1150. The Château de Logères has two distinct building phases: the current building dates from the 18th century and stands on the remains of a fortified house from the 14th century. The private Château de Logères is not open to visitors.

More activities

From Logères, Ardèche en mobylette offers moped rides around the Tanargue. Terres de Logères runs therapeutic fasting courses. If you’d like to include either of these activities in your plans, check availability in advance.

Discover more destinations: Le Lac D'issarlès, Saint-Péray, Pourchères, Lanarce, Montpézat-Sous-Bauzon, Gras, Saint-Jean-Le-Centenier, Dompnac.

For the regional travel overview: Ardèche.