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
Eglise Saint-Pierre - Roquefort Tourisme 
History and heritageSaint Pierre Parish Church
Built in 1853, the neo-Gothic Saint-Pierre Church stands out for its colourful stained glass windows, sculptures and bell tower that proudly overlooks the village. Dedicated to the apostle Saint Pierre, it invites you to discover its ornate interior, revealing 19th-century religious art.
Les Quilles des Baragnaudes - Roquefort Tourisme 
GeologyQuilles des Baragnaudes
The Quilles des Baragnaudes are striking vertical monoliths, formed by natural fissuring and collapses during the Jurassic period. Their silhouettes dominate the edge of the Combalou Plateau, the result of intense geological activity combined with cycles of glaciation and warming. This site, also named after the historic district of Roquefort, is a geological marvel – perfect for marveling at the forces of nature and time.
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.
Le Plateau du Combalou - Roquefort Tourisme GeologyThe Combalou Plateau
The Combalou Plateau is a spectacular geological site located in the heart of the Roquefort region. Formed around 150 million years ago, when a shallow sea covered the area, this vast limestone landscape was shaped over time by layers of sediment.
Today, the Combalou is best known for its natural caves, which are essential to the production of Roquefort cheese. Crossed by natural fissures called “fleurines,” the plateau benefits from constant natural ventilation that maintains stable temperature and humidity levels. These unique conditions create the perfect environment for the aging of the famous Roquefort cheese.
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
Forecast
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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