Col de Salidès

Agriculture and livestock farming

Fauna and flora

Water and geology

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Explore some emblematic landscapes of the National Park; old beech forests and large open spaces, still maintained by transhumant livestock. At the Col de Salidès pass, you can admire magnificent panoramic views onto the Can de L'Hospitalet plateau, the Cévennes and Mont Aigoual.

4 points of interest

Fauna

Hermit beetle (Osmoderma eremita)

This beetle is a declining, endangered and protected species. It is considered a reliable bio-indicator of environmental quality. An essential link in the proper functioning of forest environments, it likes mature deciduous forests and dead wood. The specific management of the strict nature reserve of Le Marquairès favours its development. Here, forestry is forbidden, and the forest is left to evolve naturally.

History

1938: the forestry road

You are on the “road of the unemployed”. From 1936 to 1939, the crisis that shook the country led the government to put in place social programmes giving the jobless employment on major works: forest planning, thinning out tree stands, opening up new roads, etc. This road was created using shovels, picks and axes by 20 or so unemployed men and some locals. The “unemployment card” of the day gave the unemployed the right to a bonus when they worked on major works. A refectory was set up in the forester’s house at Le Marquairès, then at Les Cabanes (at the other end of the road); locals brought their own food.

Water

The Tarnon

The Tarnon is 38.9 km long and has its spring on the Aigoual massif (1,565 m) in the municipality of Bassurels. After its confluence with the Mimente, it flows into the Tarn downstream of Florac. It separates the Causse Méjean plateau from the Cévennes. Upstream of Rousses, the Trépalous flows into the Tarnon. This small river has carved out the Tapoul Gorge, which is famous for canyoning. The Tarnon is a Cévenol river: very abrupt and intense floods can occur during extreme weather events.

Agriculture

The Margeride draille (drovers’ road)

The draille follows the ridge and crosses the Can de l'Hospitalet plateau. This transhumant trail enables the sheep flocks of the plains (of the southern Cévennes and the Crau) to move up to northern Gévaudan (Aubrac, Margeride, Mont Lozère). This draille is only one branch of a larger network along which transhumant livestock still travel.

Description

Take the road towards Rousses for 90 m, then go downhill on the left on a path that leads to the foresters’ house of Le Marquairès.
1) From the foresters’ house, take the track on the left that goes uphill in the Tarnon valley to reach the D 19 road at Gaseiral bridge.
2) Turn left onto the D 19 and climb to the Col de Salidès pass.
3) At the pass, follow the track (drovers’ road) on the left for about 2.8 km. Caution; livestock and patous (guard dogs)!
4) At the crossroads, take the track on the left to reach the road and starting-point.

Departure : Tunnel du Marquairès (D 907 Rousses)

Arrival : Tunnel du Marquairès (D 907 Rousses)

Towns crossed : Bassurels

Altimetric profile

Recommandations

Caution: transhumant livestock and patous (guard dogs) on the drovers’ road at Col de Salidès pass. Seek advice on how to behave near these dogs from tourist offices and National Park information centres.

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 sturdy shoes and put on a hat. Please close all gates and barriers behind you.

Is in the midst of the park

The national park is an unrestricted natural area but subjected to regulations which must be known by all visitors.

Information desks

Office de tourisme Des Cévennes au mont Lozère

le Quai, 48220 Le Pont de Montvert sud mont-Lozère

https://www.cevennes-montlozere.com/

info@cevennes-montlozere.com

04 66 45 81 94

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Tourism'house and national Parc at Florac

Place de l'ancienne gare, N106, 48400 Florac-trois-rivières

https://www.cevennes-gorges-du-tarn.com

info@cevennes-parcnational.fr

04 66 45 01 14

This office is part of the National Park's associated tourist-information network, whose mission is to provide information on, and raise awareness of, the sites and events as well as the rules that must be observed in the National Park's central zone.

On site: exhibitions, video projections, events and shop Open year-round

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