Soleyrols

Water and geology

History and culture

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A small loop around the river Luech that goes through the ore-rich fault zone between schist and granite and passes former mining sites.

2 points of interest

Le Hameau de Rieutort - otcevennesmontlozere
History
Rieutort mill
At Rieutort (meaning “twisted river”), there was a flour mill and a paraudier or draper's mill. In the 17th century, wool that had been carded, spun, woven and fulled in the cold waters of the mill was made into a stiff cloth called cadis. This was used to make hard-wearing bed sheets. The profession of “bed-sheet miller” disappeared in the golden age of silk.
Le Rieutort - © Nathalie Thomas
Geology
The geological fault of Vialas
A bridge crosses the Rieutort. This river, which is called Pudissine upstream from here, has its spring at an altitude of 1,425 m on Mont Lozère, near Mas de la Barque. In this valley, rounded masses of granite contrast with rectangular and fractured blocks of schist. In the Rieutort, you may see schist stuck to granite, as if they two rocks had been cut with a knife and then glued together. This is due to the fact that, in the Carboniferous (285 million years ago), the granite massif of Mont Lozère was pushed up through the schist layers, fracturing them. This path runs alongside the mining sites linked to the Vialas fault, which is perpendicular to the large Villefort fault.

Description

Signposts will guide you all along this route, as well as yellow painted waymarks. In the description below, the signposted place names and/or directions are given in bold italics between quotation marks:

Starting at “Vialas”, walk to “Soleyrols” via “Place de l’Ancienne Gendarmerie”, “La Vigne”, “Maison de retraite” and “Rieutort” (2).
At “Soleyrols”, walk to “Ruisseau du Villaret”. Return to “Vialas” via “Légaou”, “La Tranchée”, “Lou Devez”, “Plagette”, “La vigne” and “Place de l’Ancienne Gendarmerie”.

This hike is taken from the guidebook Mont Lozère – Pays des sources, Sommet des Cévennes, published by the Pôle de pleine nature du Mont Lozère.

Departure : As you enter Vialas on the road from Le Pont-de-Montvert
Arrival : As you enter Vialas on the road from Le Pont-de-Montvert
Towns crossed : Vialas and Pont de Montvert - Sud Mont Lozère

Forecast

Altimetric profile

Recommandations

Fords: when water levels are high, please make enquiries before setting out. Make sure your equipment is appropriate for the day's weather conditions. Remember that the weather changes quickly in the mountains. Take enough water, wear good shoes and put on a hat. Please close all gates and barriers after yourself.