The Église Saint-Cirice and the “Autour du volcan” hiking route reveal two different sides of Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades: Romanesque architecture and a clearly defined walk around the Coupe de Jaujac. The route’s start and finish, waymarking, duration and length are specified; this information helps you assess the walk as part of a day’s plans. The year 1179 also provides a specific historical reference for the church.

Romanesque church and local history

The Église Saint-Cirice is a small gem of 12th-century Romanesque art. In 1179, it was among the holdings of Saint-Chaffe Abbey in Monastier. These two details shed light on different aspects of its history: the date places the building in the history of art, while the year 1179 records its ownership at the time. Paintings and sculptures were also exhibited both in the Église Saint-Cirice and in the community hall of Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades. The cultural theme thus encompasses not only religious architecture but also visual art at two different locations.

Hiking trails and navigation

The “Autour du volcan” hiking route starts in Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades and goes around the Coupe de Jaujac, but not over its ridges. This distinction describes the route more precisely: it circles the Coupe rather than following a ridge. The loop starts and ends at Place de la mairie, the town hall square, and is marked with yellow and white waymarks. Since the start and finish are at the same square, the route is a loop. It is classified as moderate, with a stated duration of two hours and a length of 5.24 kilometres. The difficulty, duration and distance all refer to this route and provide practical guidance for planning your day.

A Calade leads down to the hamlet of Les Hugoux. The Source du Peschier is also visible from the route. The hike is associated with chestnut groves, fauna and flora, and historical and religious heritage. These nature and heritage themes complement the information about the loop’s route and length.

Loop trail No. 14, “Les panoramas de Prunet,” also passes through Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades. Two different circular routes are therefore mentioned: “Autour du volcan” starts and ends in the village, while No. 14 also passes through it. This distinction helps keep the information about the two routes separate.

Getting there from Aubenas

From Aubenas, follow the N102 to Lalevade-d’Ardèche. Then take the D19 towards Jaujac; one kilometre before Jaujac, the D323 leads to Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades. When planning your trip, it is helpful to distinguish the driving directions from the hiking route: these directions describe how to get there from Aubenas, while the “Autour du volcan” loop starts and ends at Place de la mairie. This keeps the approach to the village distinct from navigation on the hike.

Discover more destinations: Antraigues-Sur-Volane, Saint Thome, Vogüé, Saint-Maurice-En-Chalencon, Saint-Sernin, Chirols, Montréal, Lanarce

For the wider travel overview: Ardèche.