Along the course of Riaille

An easy stroll along the banks of a small stream to the Gaston Etienne esplanade, a place for sports and relaxation. Malataverne and the hamlet of Rac, emblematic places of passage and exchange... since time immemorial!

From the Espace la Carrière (where the Chemin de la Riaille crosses the Montée de la Grèze), go across the ford and carry on to the left along the walking route that follows the Chemin de la Riaille and goes under the N7 road bridge.
Safety note: Regular vehicular traffic on this route and on the adjacent uphill routes.
After 200 m (there's a bench halfway along) you will find a public WC (shut between 23:00 and 06:00), water point, benches, play area for children, pétanque ground, free parking and picnic tables in the Place Emile Lerat (which is the start of the 9 km "Boucle de Montchamp" hike).
Go past the lavoir (communal laundry or wash-house), over the pedestrian crossing, cross the bridge and carry on along the Chemin de la Grange. The route follows the course of the Riaille stream to the Esplanade Gaston Etienne.
At the footbridge, go straight on, entering the pedestrian/cyclist zone where animals must be on a leash. Safety note: Vehicles may enter this zone (access via the Route de l’Esplanade).
There are sports facilities here: Football pitches and basketball courts, football stadium, mogul field for BMX bikes, 10-stage fitness trail with 3 levels of difficulty, and also dog poo bags, a defibrillator, and picnic benches and tables in the shade of the trees.
On the return route, go around these facilities and you will see the bell-tower of the church on the skyline, next to the heights of Roucoule (electricity pylons) and Montchamp (with a mast on the summit). These are two of the three hills betwen which the village of Malataverne was built.
Then reverse the route to get back to the car park you started from.