Randonnée : Valon, le ruisseau d'Alcuéjoul -randonnée temporairement inaccessible
A short but quite exceptional hike following the slopes of a wild valley at the bottom of which runs an impetuous stream with the castle of Valon as a "guardian angel".
This hike is temporarily inaccessible due to a rockfall under the main road, almost at the start.
Signposts: yellow + red to Camin d'Olt, then yellow on the way back
Start: Entrance to the village of Valon
Variant: 6 km ? 2h30 ? Possibility of extending the itinerary. From the parking lot, walk up to the château, through the old village (beautifully restored). Descend towards the cemetery and reach the D97. Cross the road and take the narrow, steep path opposite to descend to the old road from Valon, which runs parallel to the D97. Turn right (magnificent views over Lac de Couesques). Leave the road 150 m before the house (well restored). Rejoin the main circuit to descend to the stream.
POINTS OF INTEREST :
Valon: Village, church, château, restored traditional houses.
Unique views of the Truyère gorges, Couesques lake, Montézic factory, Saut du Chien waterfall and Phalip suspension bridge.
DISCOVERY :
The Couesques reservoir
The Truyère, which rises in the Monts de la Margeride, has carved out its own bed along the way. At the Valon site, it weaves its way between Viadène and Carladez, carving deep, wild gorges. Taking advantage of its flow, steep gradient and valley profile, hydroelectric schemes and a succession of dams were built from 1928 onwards. In this way, the Truyère was domesticated and channelled into powerful turbines. Lac de Couesques, built after the Second World War, is used to power the Montézic plant (1982) built at the base of the Saut du chien waterfall. This plant uses Lac de Couesques as its lower reservoir and the artificial water body of Saint Gervais as its upper reservoir. At times of low consumption, the water is pumped back into the upstream reservoir for reuse at "peak" times.
Find all the Carladez hikes on the free Cirkwi app, available on the AppStore and GooglePlay. You can download and load the tour(s) you want to do when preparing your excursion, and then consult them in the field, in the wild without an internet connection.
