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Commissioned in 1908, the Bertholène to Espalion railroad line carried passengers until 1938, and goods until 1983. It carried coal, agricultural products, telecommunication poles and mineral water. The arrival of the bus and the use of trucks heralded its decline. Around 1990, the SNCF removed the track and the communes of Bertholène, Gabriac, Bozouls and Espalion purchased the entire former line, with the aim of turning it into a walking and cycling route.
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Almost linear, the old railroad line climbs gently from Bertholène to Bozouls between pastures and arid causse landscapes. On this flat terrain, you’ll see the Calvaire de Gabriac on its mound, come across the Château de Tholet and old guardhouses, and even unknowingly cross two rivers, the Dourdou and the Aveyron.
After Bozouls, the route becomes a true mountain line, with a 3% gradient to join the Lot at Espalion. This succession of twists and turns brings to light a few more guardhouses and, above all, a number of remarkable railway engineering structures. Between these two villages, this stretch of track will take you back through the centuries to discover superb panoramic views of the Château de Calmont d’Olt and cross some of the most impressive viaducts and tunnels!
The Bozouls/Espalion section is 11km, while the complete route from Bertholène is 22.7km.
You can cycle, walk or ride in either direction, but note that from Espalion the gradient is steep to climb back up to the plateau, and that a return trip requires you to cover the same distance.
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