The cliffs of the Causse Méjean
Le Rozier
Yellow waymarksNetwork
The cliffs of the Causse Méjean
Medium
Difficulty4h30
Duration11,3km
Distance+984m
Positive Elevation-984m
Negative ElevationLoop
Course typeYellow waymarksEmbed this item to access it offline
4 points of interest
History
Capluc
Capluc was once a defensive and surveillance site, with a castle that (like many of the village’s houses) no longer exists. Some of the houses were renovated once a track suitable for motor vehicles was opened to the hamlet. The name Capluc is believed to come from cap and luz, meaning head and light, thus symbolising the place illuminated by the first rays of the rising sun.
Agriculture
Capluc and its terraces
As you leave Capluc, you become aware of how the site, which at first sight seems barren, has in fact been shaped by humans. All of this south-facing slope, which is protected by the tall dolomite cliffs, was farmed using terraces (grains, fruit trees, grapevines). Temperatures are so favourable that the most southern Mediterranean vegetation of the region grows here (narrow-leaved ash, jasmine, Montpellier maple, holm oak, etc.).
Fauna
Vultures
You are close to the historic site where the griffon vulture was reintroduced from 1982 onwards. Since then, the cinereous vulture (1992) and the bearded vulture (2012) have also been reintroduced. The Egyptian vulture returned of its own accord in 1986. It nested locally in 1997, but it remains rare and very localised in this region. In the Mediterranean basin, the presence of vultures is associated with sheep farming and herd mortality.
Landscape
Balcon du vertige (vertigo balcony)
This site, almost 400m above the bed of the Jonte, deserves it name. It is the only spot on the walk from which you have such breathtaking views over the gorge. Opposite you is the Causse Noir, with a heavily fissured rock in the foreground, the Ranc del Pater, on which remain some wall sections of Saint Michael’s hermitage (former château of Montorsier). The tall rectangular cliff on its right is known as Roc Fabié. If you lean forwards, you can see, from upstream to downstream, La Caze and Le Truel hamlets, and below you the Maison des Vautours (vulture belvedere), which was opened in 1998 and traces the local history of vultures.
Description
From the Place de la Mairie (town hall square) in Le Rozier, turn right then left in the village, and take the staircase between the houses on the left. Keep going uphill to the hamlet of Capluc.
1) At Capluc, you can choose to climb Capluc Rock (there and back, 30 min). If you do not, go past the bread oven and stay on the path that goes upstream in the Jonte gorge and continue to climb the hairpin bends of Echo Ravine. Ignore the path that goes downhill on the right.
2) At the crossroads, turn left and go uphill to the Col de Francbouteille pass.
3) At the pass, you go over into the Tarn valley. Turn right and take the path which more or less follows the contour line.
4) Turn right towards the Col de Cassagnes. At the first crossroads, go straight ahead, at the second turn right towards the Corniches de la Jonte.
5) Here, the track becomes a path. This runs along the cliff edge, passing Balcon du Vertige, Pas du Loup, Vase de Chine and Vase de Sèvres.
6) At the crossroads, turn left to go down to Capluc, from where you return on the same path.
1) At Capluc, you can choose to climb Capluc Rock (there and back, 30 min). If you do not, go past the bread oven and stay on the path that goes upstream in the Jonte gorge and continue to climb the hairpin bends of Echo Ravine. Ignore the path that goes downhill on the right.
2) At the crossroads, turn left and go uphill to the Col de Francbouteille pass.
3) At the pass, you go over into the Tarn valley. Turn right and take the path which more or less follows the contour line.
4) Turn right towards the Col de Cassagnes. At the first crossroads, go straight ahead, at the second turn right towards the Corniches de la Jonte.
5) Here, the track becomes a path. This runs along the cliff edge, passing Balcon du Vertige, Pas du Loup, Vase de Chine and Vase de Sèvres.
6) At the crossroads, turn left to go down to Capluc, from where you return on the same path.
Departure : Le Rozier
Arrival : Le Rozier
Towns crossed : Le Rozier, Saint-Pierre-des-Tripiers
Altimetric profile
Recommandations
This walk is not recommended for those suffering from vertigo (sections at cliff’s edge). 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
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
Transport
Bus stop: Monument aux morts
- Bus line 258 “Florac – Sainte-Enimie – Le Rozier”, every day in July and August.
- Bus line 215 « Millau – Peyreleau - Meyrueis »
Access and parking
From Meyrueis, drive down the Jonte gorge on the D 996 to Le Rozier.
Parking :
Car park in the village
Source
CC Gorges Causses Cévenneshttps://www.gorgescaussescevennes.fr/
Parc national des Cévenneshttp://www.cevennes-parcnational.fr/
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