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Wise Pilgrim APPRochegude clings to the edge of the Allier gorge at about 967 m, with sweeping views down into the valley. There's a small chapel dedicated to Saint-Jacques and the remains of a medieval tower, the last fragments of a castle that once guarded this stretch of the gorge.
The hamlet marks the beginning of the steep descent toward Monistrol-d'Allier, and it's a good place to pause, adjust your pack, and prepare your knees for what's coming.
The descent from Rochegude toward Monistrol-d'Allier is steep and sustained. You'll drop roughly 370 m through forest. There's a shady, flat section through the trees near Pratclaux that offers brief relief before the path drops again. The surface is uneven, a mix of rocky trail and forest path.
