The ladder path
A long time ago, an employee of the Mas de Roquefort farm used to bring a meal to the shepherd who was grazing his sheep on the Combalou plateau. He had to take a short-cut escalating two ladders to reach the top of the cliff, hence the name of this path which offers a wealth of discoveries such as the Balhol sinkhole, the Combalou jasse and the 11th century chapel Saint-Pierre built on a rocky spur.
4 points of interest
Eboulis du Combalou - Xavier Waerzeggers 
GeologyThe Combalou scree
The Combalou scree is an impressive rock formation, created by the many tectonic movements that shaped the limestone plateau. These piles of stones are the result of successive collapses and landslides that have shaped the landscape over the centuries. The rocks in this area reflect the region’s geological activity, where erosion has sculpted unique landscapes.
Jasse du Combalou - Virginie Govignon 
AgropastoralismJasse du Combalou
Jasses were buildings designed to shelter sheep during the summer season. Fairly well preserved, the Jasse du Combalou is organized over two levels. On the ground floor, two sheep pens, one of which is vaulted, housed the animals. Upstairs, a large barn was used to store hay for feeding the flocks during the winter months. Perfectly adapted to life in the highlands and the needs of pastoralism, this type of building provides an important testimony to rural life on the Causses.
Xavier Waerzeggers GeologySaut de Bailhol
Le Saut de Bailhol, often – though incorrectly – referred to as a sotch* because of its hollowed shape, is in fact the rockfall detachment niche of the scree slopes visible further down. But, as is often the case in oral tradition, spectacle takes precedence over geology: legend has it that a man named Bailhol performed a true "swan dive" here, throwing himself from the 80-metre-high cliff. In any case, it is important not to confuse this site with a genuine caussenard sotch.
*Sotch : a closed depression of karstic origin, characteristic of the limestone plateaus (causses). Filled with runoff sediments or terra rossa, it is particularly fertile and hosts most cereal crops. When its outline is rounded, it is known as a doline.
Chapelle Saint-Pierre - Roquefort Tourisme 
History and heritageSaint-Pierre Rock and Chapel
Saint-Pierre Chapel, dating from the 11th century, crowns the rock of the same name and was once the chapel of the now-vanished medieval castle. With its semi-dome choir, rounded arch, and narrow nave, this modest yet elegant building stands as a tribute to the craftsmanship of past builders. Steeped in history, the site invites contemplation and bears witness to the long-standing human presence in the area.
Description
This is where the name of the path “the ladder path” originates from. Due to a number of landslides, the path has been diverted towards the far end of the Combalou plateau and now follows a staircase
- From the Tourist Office carpark, walk across the road near the bus stop and walk up the rising path running alongside the graveyard. When the path meets the tarmacked road, turn right then first left following the hairpin bend. 300 m further on, take the fork to the left up to a drinking water fountain.
- Take the small path that slopes up to the right towards the Combalou plateau.
- At the base of the scree, first walk uphill to your right, then scale across it.
- Once you get across the scree, carry on along a marked path that joins a track through box trees following the contour line.
- When you arrive at the far end of the Combalou, walk uphill until you reach the pierced rock and take the metal staircase.
- When you get to the plateau, head East in the direction of the relay masts, once you have reached them, carry on to your right for 200 m and at the hairpin bend fork to the left on the path that leads to the jasse (sheepfold).
- Walk between the Jasse and the edge of the plateau, keep on walking along the plateau and take a trail through the pinewood. Start walking downhill until you reach the Aiguières pass.
Head towards Roquefort and carry straight on past the “Sotch de Balhols” (large geological fault) and walk down to the Saint-Pierre chapel (a flight of steps to the left gives access to a viewpoint indicator). Once you’ve enjoyed the view, descend the steps, and then go to your left down the Créance street and then up the Baragnaudes street which rises up onto the opposite side towards the Quille des Baragnaudes which are impressive vertical monoliths. Walk past the Quilles, then along the cliff and climb down the steps. - At the bottom of the steps, take the right and immediately after turn to the left to pass under a porch to get back to the avenue de Lauras that will lead you to the Tourist Office from where you started your hike.
- Departure : Tourist Office
- Arrival : Tourist Office
- Towns crossed : Roquefort-sur-Soulzon
Altimetric profile
Recommandations
Box tree moths are active from May to October. During the caterpillar phase, they feed on the leaves of box trees. They crawl down trees and move on long silken threads, although these threads are annoying when hiking they do not pose any health risk
Information desks
Avenue de Lauras, 12250 Roquefort/Soulzon
Situated in the Grands Causses Regional Natural Park, the cheese village of Roquefort stretches on the hillside over the famous scree of the Combalou Rock, in southern Larzac. The village is at an elevation of 630 m and has 700 inhabitants.
OPENING PERIODS:
The Tourist Office is open all year round:
- In July and August, Monday to Saturday: 9.30 to 18.30, Sunday: 10.00 to 17.00.
- April, May, June, September, October; Monday to Saturday: 9.30 to 12.15 & 13.00 to 17.30, closed on Sunday.
- January, February, November, December; Monday to Friday: 9.30 to 12.15 & 13.00 to 17.00, closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Transport
Travel by bus or train: https://lio.laregion.fr/
Carpooling : BlaBlaCar, Rézo Pouce, Mobicoop, Idvroom, LaRoueVerte, Roulez malin
Access and parking
Situated 25 km southwest of Millau via the D 992, D 999 and D 23 roads towards Albi, and 14 km from St-Affrique via the D999 road towards Millau.
Parking :
Source
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