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Roundtrip from Labesserette to the Puy Mary
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert Catherine De Groote RouteXpert
Last edit: 22-11-2020
Route Summary
The untouched nature reserve of the Cantal Mountains is one of the five areas that make up the Regional Nature Park of the Auvergne Volcanoes. They are, in fact, the remains of one large stratovolcano, the largest in Europe, which is still visible on the surface. This volcano was formed about 13 million years ago, while the last eruption must have occurred about 2 million years ago. In the last 2 million years, the mountain range has been exposed to erosion from water and - during several ice ages - the ice from glaciers.
The area around the Puy Mary was formed up to 70,000 years ago by volcanic eruptions in which the lava was ejected into the distant surroundings of this volcano. You can still see that in many places in the valleys around the Puy Mary. The Puy Mary is one of the highest mountains in the Cantal Mountains in the Massif Central. The top is located at an altitude of 1783 meters. The summit is accessible from Pas de Peyrol, the highest mountain pass in the Massif Central. The Cantal Mountains are an extraordinary area.
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Duration
5h 2m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
235.18 km
Countries
Col de la Grifoul
RouteXpert Review
The route starts in Vaurs, a hamlet of Labesserette, where you can rent a holiday home full of character with unobstructed views.
We leave the Aubrac via small, winding roads with here and there a hairpin bend and gradually climb to the mountains of the Cantal. Forests and open landscape alternate. Here and there you come in or along a small village: a few houses, a church, a few farms ...

The Col de la Grifoul (RP 8) is the fourth highest pass in Cantal with an altitude of 1,336 m. The Col connects the valley of the Epie with the valley of Brezons. It's huge and majestic.
The Col de Prat de Bouc (RP 9) is one of the characteristic places of Cantal. Located at an altitude of 1,392 m, the site is majestic in the shape of a circus. It is located to the east of Plomb du Cantal.
The Buron of the Col de Prat de Bouc welcomes you in an authentic and warm environment. You can taste regional specialties such as truffles, cold cuts from local producers, the pashade and blueberry pie ...
A last pass before you descend to Murat is the Col de la Molède (1329 m) (RP 10). When turning left on the N122, you can have a lunch stop here. In the Le Relais des Trois Rochers (RP 12) you can eat very well.

The castle of Anterroches (RP 13) is a medieval castle and you will see it on your right when you leave Murat. Built in the Middle Ages, it was significantly modified in the nineteenth century in the troubadour style with battlements, turrets and mullions.
You follow the N122 for three kilometers and then turn right to the Pas de Peyrol. In Dienne you can admire the Château de la Cheyrelle (RP 16). It is now a hotel, but it can also be visited. In 2020, there were repairs, which meant that it was temporarily impossible to visit. It is therefore best to consult the website first (link below). Located at an altitude of 1,100 m, the Château de la Cheyrelle is a mansion built in the 19th century on the foundations of an old medieval barn where agricultural activity continued until the 1990s. But it was at the beginning of the 20th century, between 1903 and 1905, that the castle took on its final shape and uniqueness with the transformation works. The castle was decorated both inside and out by the Belgian interior designer Serrurier-Bovy, from 1903 to 1905, to which he applied his aesthetic theories (clarity, rationality, functionalism).

Col d'Eylac (RP 18) is a mountain pass at an altitude of 1,442 m. The road to the top is quite steep (a maximum gradient of 15%).
A few more turns and you are on the Pas de Peyrol (1598 m) (RP 19). The road is known as the highest through road in the Massif Central. The pass crosses a ridge between the Puy Mary (1783 m) and the Puy de la Tourte (1704 m) and connects the valleys of the Mars and the Santoire, two rivers that have cut deep into the flanks of the old stratovolcano of the Cantal (the largest stratovolcano in Europe). A concrete path leaves from the col to the top of the Puy Mary.
Via a beautiful descent and beautiful views you drive to the Col Croix de Cheules (907 m) (RP 24). There is a brasserie of the same name where you can taste their snacks, pancakes, waffles, ice creams or just relax around a tea, a cup of coffee or something else ...

You now continue towards Aurillac along winding roads with a few hairpin bends.
Located in Arpajon-sur-Cère, the Castle of Conros (RP 30), a historical monument, is an elegant medieval building renovated in the Renaissance, which dominates from its rocky point over a meander of the Cère. Inhabited since 1130, it comprises an impressive castle tower, two round towers, one with a cantilevered gallery and a main building. The Castle of Conros is home to the folk museum of art and tradition of the Cère Valley. Housed in the former kitchens, it gives a picture of rural life in the 19th century, as well as a permanent exhibition on perfumes. Under its impressive lauze roof, one of the largest in Cantal, you can admire, among other things, a beautiful vaulted armory, enormous fireplaces, a Renaissance staircase, and a chapel containing a white marble Merovingian sarcophagus, discovered in 1988 in Arpajon-sur-Cère .
In the romantic park around the castle, where you can take a lovely walk, you will find many fragrant plants and remarkable trees: a tulip tree, cedars, and even an ancient beech!
The castle can only be visited with a guide. Guided tours every day from 2 pm to 6 pm, from July 1 to September 10 from 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm. The park is open from Easter to All Saints' Day (10am - 7pm). Entrance fee to the park, reserved for visitors to the castle. Entrance price: 5.30 euros / person.

From here it is about 25 km to enjoy the wide, slightly hilly landscape to the holiday home.

The landscape is very varied: from woodland to extensive views, small villages, mountains and winding rivers. You mainly drive on narrow roads that wind their way through the landscape with here and there hairpin bends. The courses are also in excellent condition. This region is mainly known for its nature and beautiful green mountains. This tour also receives 5 stars.
Col d'Eylac
Puy Mary
Links
Cheyrelles castle
Puy Mary
col d'eylac
Conros Castle
Vacation rental
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Use of this GPS route is at your own expense and risk. The route has been carefully composed and checked by a MyRoute-app accredited RouteXpert for use on TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation.

Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.

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Auvergne Rhone Alpes
About this region
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (ARA; French: [ovɛʁɲ ʁon‿alp] (listen); Arpitan: Ôvèrgne-Rôno-Ârpes; Occitan: Auvèrnhe Ròse Aups; Italian: Alvernia-Rodano-Alpi) is a region in southeast-central France created by the 2014 territorial reform of French regions; it resulted from the merger of Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes. The new region came into effect on 1 January 2016, after the regional elections in December 2015.The region covers an area of 69,711 km2 (26,916 sq mi), making it the third largest in metropolitan France; it had a population of 7,948,287 in 2017, second to Île-de-France. It consists of twelve departments and one territorial collectivity (Lyon Metropolis) with Lyon as the prefecture.
This new region combines diverse geographical, sociological, economic and cultural regions, which was already true of Rhône-Alpes, as well as Auvergne, to a lesser extent. While the old Rhône-Alpes and Auvergne regions each enjoyed a unity defined by axes of communication and the pull of their respective metropoles, the new combination is heterogeneous; it sustained lively opposition from some local officials after its creation.
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The 24 Most Beautiful Alpine Routes
The Alps, The Alps are a mountain range in Europe, stretching from the French Mediterranean coast in the southwest to the Pannonian Plain in the east. The area of the mountain range is more than 200,000 km².

In other words Passes and Mountain Roads!

Driving through the mountains is great! Especially over the mountain passes with hairpin bends and narrow winding roads. Every bend a different view where you can enjoy. There are many beautiful mountain passes in the Alps.

A selection that has also been incorporated into these routes:
The Stlevio Pass:
The Stelvio Pass, also known as Passo dello Stelvio, is mainly known for the stage in the Giro d'Italia. Due to the length and the difference in height, this pass is seen as one of the toughest tests in cycling. The Stelvio Pass reaches a maximum height of 2758 meters and is therefore one of the highest in the Alps. The pass connects the towns of Bormio and Prato Allo Stelvio. In winter the pass is closed due to heavy snowfall.

The Reschenpass:
The Reschenpass, also known as Passo di Resia, connects the Austrian state of Tyrol with the Italian province of South Tyrol. The pass reaches a maximum height of 1,504 meters and has been one of the most important north-south connections in the Alps in recent centuries. The pass was used long before Roman times. Along the way you will pass several highlights and historical relics. One of the highlights is the Reschensee. This lake was created after the construction of the dam and has completely submerged the village of Graun. The only thing that reminds of that is the clock tower in the middle of the lake.

Col du Galibier:
The French mountain pass Col du Galibier connects the towns of Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne and Briançon via the Col du Lautaret in the south and the Col du Télégraphe in the north. The mountain pass is part of the Tour de France and very much feared, due to the fact that it can only be reached via the other two mountain passes. The pass reaches a maximum height of 2646 meters. From there you can take a walk to the viewpoint at 2704 meters. You can admire the peaks of the Grand Galibier, Mont Blanc and La Meije here.

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road:
With a height of 3798 meters the Grossglockner is the highest mountain in Austria. To fully enjoy this impressive mountain, you can drive over the Grossglockner High Alpine Road and the accompanying pass. The route starts from Bruck am Grossglockner and ends in Heiligenblut. Of course you can drive in two directions. The pass reaches a maximum height of 2504 meters and is closed in winter due to heavy snowfall. Along the way you pass several stops with fun activities, information points, mountain huts and viewpoints. A visit to the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe and Pasterzen Glacier is highly recommended.

The Col d'Izoard:
Just like the Col du Galibier, the Col d'Izoard is also part of a stage of the Tour de France. The mountain pass connects Briançon with the valley of the river Guil. The pass is partly located in the Regional Natural Park du Queyras and reaches a maximum height of 2360 meters. What is special about the Col d'Izoard is the barren and rocky landscape. Sometimes it feels like driving a car over the moon! Along the way you can stop at several points to enjoy the beautiful view.

The Bernina Pass:
The Bernina Express is one of the most famous rail trains in Switzerland and the Alps. The route is beautiful and partly included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Parallel to the railway lies the Bernina pass, which connects the Veltlin valley with the Egandin valley. This beautiful Alpine road has a total length of 56 kilometers and reaches a maximum height of 2328 meters. Along the way you can enjoy views of the Morteratsch Glacier.

The Sella Pass:
The Sella Pass, also known as Passo di Sella, takes you over one of the most impressive mountain ranges in the Dolomites: the Sella massif. The pass connects Valle di Fassa with Val Gardena and reaches a maximum height of 2236 meters. At this height is also the border of the Italian provinces of Trentino and Bolzano. Along the way you can enjoy the view of this spectacular mountain world. Admire, for example, the three peaks of the Sasso Lungo massif, the Sella massif or the peaks of the Marmolada. You can also drive the Sella pass in combination with the Gardena pass, Pordoi pass and Campolongo pass.

The Grimsel Pass:
The Grimsel Pass connects Goms in Wallis with the Halis Valley in the Bernese Oberland. The pass reaches a maximum elevation of 2165 meters and is closed in winter due to snowfall. Over the centuries, the mountain pass has played an important role in trade between Switzerland and Italy. Now it is mainly the reservoirs that have an important function. These are used to generate electricity. The landscape you drive through is rugged, rocky and impressive. On top of the pass is a hotel and a restaurant with a special marmot park. The Dodensee (Totensee) is also located here. This lake owes its name to the many soldiers who died in the time of Napoleon.

The Gotthard Pass:
The Gotthard Pass, also known as Passo del San Gottardo and Saint Gotthard, connects the Swiss towns of Airolo and Andermatt. The mountain pass and associated tunnel are especially known among holidaymakers driving from Switzerland to Italy. But where the majority opt for the tunnel, it is precisely the pass that really completes the holiday. The Gotthard Pass has a length of about 26 kilometers and reaches a maximum height of 2106 meters. The route is beautiful and takes you along old villages and beautiful views.

The Silvretta High Alpine Road and Silvretta Pass:
The Paznaun Valley in Tyrol and the Montafon in Vorarlberg are connected by the Silvretta High Alpine Road. The route has a length of 22.3 kilometers and leads from Galtür to Partenen in 34 hairpin bends, via the 2032 meter high Bielerhöhe. The Silvrettasee is also located at this point, where you can enjoy a lovely walk. The pass is closed in winter due to snowfall.

The Simplon Pass:
Just like the Gotthard Pass, many holidaymakers also travel over the Simplon Pass every year. This mountain pass connects the Rhone Valley in the canton of Valais with the Valle d'Ossola in Piemonte. The pass is open all year round and reaches a maximum height of 2005 meters. Along the way you pass a number of buildings, including the well-known Simplon Hospiz from 1825. The hospiz is managed by the monks of St. Bernard. From the highest point on the pass, all kinds of hiking routes are possible and you will also come across a hotel where you can spend the night.

The Gerlos Pass:
The Gerlos Pass connects the Salzach Valley in the Salzburgerland with the Zillertal Valley in Tyrol. The pass is part of the Gerlos Alpenstraße and runs right through the Hohe Tauern National Park. Along the way you can enjoy beautiful views of the surroundings. The pass has a length of 12 kilometers and reaches a maximum height of 1531 meters. A ride over the Gerlos Pass can be ideally combined with a visit to the Krimmler Wasserfälle.

The Great St. Bernard Pass:
The Great St. Bernard Pass, better known as Col du Grand Saint Bernard, connects the Italian province of Valle d'Aosta with the Swiss canton of Valais. The pass is one of the highest in Switzerland and reaches a maximum height of 2469 meters. Like a number of other mountain passes in this list, the Great St. Bernard Pass has also been used as a connecting road for centuries. The pass is named after the St. Bernard dogs that used to help stranded travelers along with the monks. The pass is closed in winter.

The Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road:
The Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road connects the towns of Sölden in the Ötztal and Meran in South Tyrol. Tolls must be paid on the Hochgurgl - Moos route. Via a mountain road with about 60 hairpin bends you drive through a beautiful mountain world. With the Timmelsjoch Experience you can learn more about the history, the road and the environment via various stations. You can also visit the Top Mountain Crosspoint museum.

Col de l'Iseran:
With a maximum pass height of 2770 meters, the Col l'Iséran is one of the highest mountain passes in the Alps. The pass connects Bourg-Saint-Maurice with Bonneval-sur-Arc. Via a road full of hairpin bends you pass, among other things, Val-d'Isère and a side valley of the Maurienne that lies entirely in the National Park de la Vanoise. You can spot animals such as marmots and chamois and there is also a restaurant with a chapel on top of the pass.

The Gavia Pass:
The Gavia Pass (Italian Passo di Gavia) is a mountain pass in the Italian Alps, in the Lombardy region.
It is one of the highest pass roads in Europe. The road leads through the unspoilt Stelvio National Park. The road was built in the First World War to supply Italian soldiers who fought in the Italian-Austrian border area. The pass height is one of the most beautiful in the Alps. Here is the large Lago Bianco with, to the north, the mountain San Matteo (3684 meters). Lago Nero is slightly lower on the south side of the pass. Here the mountain group of the Adamello determines the view. There are many well-marked walks in the area. During the winter the pass is closed due to the heavy snowfall. The pass is often closed until May and June due to the large amount of snow.


Promoter has made a selection of the 24 Most Beautiful Alpine routes that they have set out in recent years.

The routes go through:
France
Austria
Switzerland
Italy

The most beautiful roads, the most beautiful views, the most beautiful viewpoints. The highest mountains, the fastest descents, hairpin bend after hairpin bend, you name it you can't get enough of it.

If you go on holiday in this region, take advantage of it, ALL routes in this collection have been checked and made equal for TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation by a MyRoute-app RouteXpert.

Have fun with this collection and while driving one of these routes. Enjoy all the beauty that the Alps and the Dolomites have to offer. Click on “View route” to read the review of the chosen route.

I would like to hear your findings about the route(s).



View Route Collection
24 Routes
8059.29 km
171h 24m
25 Magnificent trails in France
This MRA route collection contains 25 beautiful motorcycle routes in different parts of France, such as the Ardennes, the Alsace, Vercors, the Drôme, the Ardèche, Cote d'Azure, Gorges du Verdon, the Ariège, the Dordogne and Brittany.

The routes have been carefully created by Bert Loorbach, who is an enthusiastic motorcyclist himself. He lived in France for a year and a half, during which time he devoted himself to mapping the unknown and beautiful back roads of France especially for motorcyclists.

The routes are bundled in the Motortourgids France part 1 of Kosmos publishing house and now also available in MyRouteApp.

I have taken over the routes in MRA and sometimes adjusted them slightly to make them even more interesting for the motorcyclist.

View Route Collection
25 Routes
4107.03 km
106h 12m
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