Merle-Leignec is a commune located in France's Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, nestled within the Monts du Forez. The terrain is characterized by varied altitudes, ranging from 700 to 1000 meters, and is shaped by the Andrable and Bezan rivers, which create a landscape of river valleys, extensive woods, and prairies. This diverse natural environment, including significant forest cover, provides a setting for several sports like touring cycling, road cycling, hiking, mountain biking, and more.
Merle-Leignec offers a…
68
Routes
4.6
(57)
Average rating
688
People visited

5.0
(2)
96
riders
66.1km
03:19
1,000m
1,000m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

3.0
(1)
9
riders
55.8km
02:39
760m
760m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

16
riders
42.8km
02:04
590m
600m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

8
riders
71.3km
03:29
1,040m
1,040m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
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4.3
(17)
58
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

15
riders
37.6km
04:06
1,230m
1,230m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

8
riders
33.9km
03:25
830m
830m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

7
riders
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(2)
47
riders
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

33
riders
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
31
riders
52.0km
04:32
970m
970m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
30
riders
41.2km
03:42
760m
760m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
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5.0
(4)
9
hikers
10.6km
02:55
170m
170m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
12
hikers
5.83km
01:39
130m
130m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
11
hikers
6.48km
01:50
150m
150m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
7
hikers
18.3km
05:07
360m
360m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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15
runners
10.7km
01:11
150m
140m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

6
runners
10.7km
01:10
190m
190m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

8
runners
21.5km
02:38
610m
620m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
runners
6.80km
00:43
60m
60m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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3
riders
34.5km
03:00
640m
640m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
riders
32.3km
02:35
550m
550m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
riders
20.8km
01:31
350m
350m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
riders
15.3km
01:01
110m
110m
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Merle-Leignec offers a variety of outdoor activities including Touring cycling, Road cycling, Hiking, Mountain biking, Jogging, and Gravel biking. The region features 21 routes across these sports.
Merle-Leignec features several hiking trails, including the Lake Trail (4 miles / 6.48 km), the Saut du Bezan Trail (8.7 miles / 14.06 km), and the "Circuit du lavoir" (2.8 miles / 4.5 km). The long-distance GR3 trail also passes through the area. More details are available in the Hiking around Merle-Leignec guide.
Touring cycling routes are available in Merle-Leignec, offering exploration of the region's varied terrain. These routes navigate through countryside and wooded sections. Information on these routes can be found in the Cycling around Merle-Leignec guide.
Road cycling in Merle-Leignec involves rolling terrain and moderate elevation changes, providing scenic routes through the countryside and wooded areas. The Road Cycling Routes around Merle-Leignec guide provides specific route information.
Merle-Leignec and the surrounding Monts du Forez offer opportunities for mountain biking, particularly on forest paths and diverse surfaces. The MTB Trails around Merle-Leignec guide details available routes.
Key natural attractions include the Village Lake, located in an unspoilt setting, and the Saut du Bezan, a notable waterfall site. The region also features curious rock formations and is part of the Monts du Forez.
Trails in Merle-Leignec lead to various historical "small heritage" sites. These include the Saint-Roch Chapel, wash houses in hamlets like Le Cros and L'Ebisaille, old bread ovens, and a pitch kiln at Reffiecq.
There are 21 routes available on komoot for Merle-Leignec, covering various sports such as hiking, cycling, and jogging. These routes have been explored by more than 5,000 visitors.
Routes in Merle-Leignec have an average rating of 4.45 out of 5 stars on komoot. This rating is based on more than 500 reviews from users.
Yes, komoot offers several guides for Merle-Leignec, including Cycling around Merle-Leignec, Hiking around Merle-Leignec, and MTB Trails around Merle-Leignec. Guides for Road Cycling, Jogging, and Gravel biking are also available.
The official website for Merle-Leignec is www.merle-leignec.fr. For direct inquiries, the commune can be reached by phone at +33477502567.
Merle-Leignec is situated within the Monts du Forez, with altitudes ranging from 700 to 1000 meters (2,300 to 3,300 feet). This varied terrain is shaped by the Andrable and Bezan rivers.

