Hiking in Chirols in Ardèche, its silk mill eco-museum, its hamlets, and its panorama of Sainte Marguerite

Opening : All year round.

Discover the hamlets of Chirols, from the banks of the Fontaulière to the summit of Ste Marguerite. At the end of your walk, visit the milling eco-museum, in season, where you'll discover a beautiful museography retracing the epic story of silk thread.

🔁Loop ⚠³ Medium 🕒4H 📏11.3km PR

Departure from Fournil des Co’pains. Join the Pont de Veyrières signpost 20m to your left.

① Follow the sign 🚩 “Meyras 2.4 km”. Continue on the cobbled path, cross the road, and take the trail to Gonthier. This trail was once used by the inhabitants of the hamlets to go to work at the “factory”: the silk mill. Visiting the silk mill eco-museum will introduce you to the silk thread work in an exceptional setting.

② 🚩You are at Gonthier, follow the sign 🚩 “Font Rognon 4.3 km / Juvinas 7.1 km”. Beautiful view of the hamlet of Veyrières and behind you, the Ventadour castle. Follow the trail, cross the paved road again, and continue along the path, crossing the road several times until you reach the Barricaud house. From there, take the road for about 50m.

③ Climb the trail to the left through the chestnut trees to the hamlet of la Combe. Follow the road and successively cross the hamlets of Aubignas and la Rabeyrie to reach the pass.

④ You are at Font Rognon, follow the sign 🚩 “Vals les Bains 8.6 km”. Follow the road to Ste Marguerite.

⑤ You are at Ste Marguerite, follow the sign 🚩 “Vals les Bains 9.8 km”. Descend the trail through the pines to the track.

⑥ You are on the track. Be sure to take the 2nd path on the right. Follow the track to the road.

⑦ After 100m and the first houses of Roumégières, take the path directly to your right without crossing the hamlet, then the cobbled path winding through the chestnut trees. You arrive at the village of Chirols.

⑧ Join the Town Hall and take the cobbled path to the right at the end of the parking lot, then continue on the road to the Pont de Veyrières.

Start/Finish: Pont de Veyrières in Chirols.

Towns crossed: Chirols, Juvinas, and Vals-les-Bains.

Road access and parking

From Aubenas, take the N102 towards Pont de Labeaume. At the exit of the village, after the Rolandy bridge, turn right towards Montpezat-sous-Bauzon. At Pont de Veyrières follow the direction of Chirols. At the first crossroads, turn right.

From Thueyts, follow the direction of Montpezat-sous-Bauzon. At Pont de Veyrières follow the direction of Chirols. At the first crossroads, turn right.

Parking: Allée des Platanes in Chirols, near the eco-museum.

🛈 Find here all the hikes in our area and on the Application Rando Monts d’Ardèche