The route
It is a loop of about 800 metres that first goes down and then back up, with about 200 metres of height gain. You enter through a narrow cleft in the rock. After roughly an hour the route splits: a blue "family" route and a more athletic red one. The red route goes up the Jonquilles pillar, 70 metres of vertical climbing, from which you can see the Truyère gorges. Along the way, footbridges and monkey bridges cross the streams and the waterfall, with names that tell you what to expect: the Adventure bridge, the Shiver bridge, and to finish, the "Cherry on the cake". Allow 2 to 3 hours. Further down, near the Truyère, there is a spot for a picnic.
Who is it for?
The route is open from age 12. Beginners can try it with a guide, but it is better to have done tree-top adventure courses or climbing before, to know how you react to heights. The blue route is rated fairly difficult, and the red loops make it difficult. A specialist German website even grades it D. In other words: not for a first outing without supervision.
Equipment and access
Access is free, but equipment is compulsory: harness, lanyards with an energy absorber and a helmet. A continuous safety cable runs the whole way. For equipment and safety instructions, contact Aloa Nature (+33 7 52 03 66 48).
To get there from the village of Sainte-Geneviève-sur-Argence, take the D111 towards Bénaven for about 3 km, then turn right after the Albaret farm, at the "via ferrata" sign. A dirt track runs down for 3 km to the car park; the start is a 5-minute walk away. The season runs from spring to autumn.
Our tip
If it is your first via ferrata, take a guide, at least the first time. Set off in the morning to make the most of the cool woodland, with water and a picnic. Avoid the day after heavy rain: the rock and footbridges get slippery. On the way back, the viewpoint at Sarrans dam is not far, and the lake at the Laussac peninsula makes for a quieter end to the day.