Pessades farm
Gorges du Tarn Causses
Yellow waymarksNetwork
Pessades farm
Easy
Difficulty2h30
Duration8km
Distance+206m
Positive Elevation-206m
Negative ElevationLoop
Course typeYellow waymarksEmbed this item to access it offline
Sheltered from the predominant winds, you walk on a draille (drovers’ road) through the very heart of the UNESCO World Heritage site. Limestone crosses adorned with the benefactor’s name dot the route like votive offerings.
3 points of interest
HistoryCrosses
On this walk, you will see many ancient crosses. Each is unique and exists for different reasons. The iron cross with the sculpted pedestal in Champerboux is the oldest. It seems to have been linked to pilgrimages and more precisely to the network of routes leading to Santiago di Compostella.
In most cases, the presence of a cross is a reminder by the Church of Catholicism. Very often erected at crossroads, the crosses served as waymarks, showed the parish borders and signposted memorial sites or sites for contemplation.- History
The grande draille d’Aubrac (main Aubrac drovers’ road)
Since they always took the same routes, the many herbivores that instinctively moved from the south to pasture land further north created a network of paths called drailles, which were subsequently used for transhumance (seasonal herded migrations).
A part of your route is on a very old drovers’ road known as the grande draille d’Aubrac, which linked the hinterland of Montpellier with the Aubrac plateau. It was also used as a trade route between plains and mountains, giving access to the region’s fairs. - History
Saint-Guilhem
In the Middle Ages, the spread of Christianity encouraged an enthusiasm for religion. This route was used by crowds of pilgrims heading for the Abbey of Gellone, via Sainte-Enimie to see the saint’s relics. The route is currently a long-distance hiking trail linking Aumont-Aubrac and Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert in the Hérault. It is 240 km long, crosses 4 departments and offers exceptionally diverse scenery.
Description
Take the tarred road for 800 m towards La Périgouse.
1) Leave the road by turning left onto the second track by the cross of Rocoplan.
2) Go round a bend and continue straight ahead on the path that descends alongside the fence.
3) At the bottom of the downhill slope, leave the track on the left.
4) By a fork near the road, turn left on the path that goes up on the ridge.
5) By the barrier, leave the path to take the track on the right. Cross the road and continue straight ahead.
6) At the crossroads, continue on the left, following the track uphill (former draille or drovers’ road).
7) Before you arrive at the top of the ridge, turn left onto a small path towards Pessades (waymarked yellow and red).
8) Cross the road and follow the path that runs alongside Pessades farm on the left.
9) 1 km after Pessades farm, turn right.
10) At the cross, go uphill to Champerboux, and, in the village, take the second road on the left to return to the car park.
1) Leave the road by turning left onto the second track by the cross of Rocoplan.
2) Go round a bend and continue straight ahead on the path that descends alongside the fence.
3) At the bottom of the downhill slope, leave the track on the left.
4) By a fork near the road, turn left on the path that goes up on the ridge.
5) By the barrier, leave the path to take the track on the right. Cross the road and continue straight ahead.
6) At the crossroads, continue on the left, following the track uphill (former draille or drovers’ road).
7) Before you arrive at the top of the ridge, turn left onto a small path towards Pessades (waymarked yellow and red).
8) Cross the road and follow the path that runs alongside Pessades farm on the left.
9) 1 km after Pessades farm, turn right.
10) At the cross, go uphill to Champerboux, and, in the village, take the second road on the left to return to the car park.
- Departure : Champerboux: on the road to La Périgouse
- Arrival : Champerboux: on the road to La Périgouse
- Towns crossed : Gorges du Tarn Causses
Forecast
Altimetric profile
Recommandations
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.
Information desks
Tourism'house and national Parc at Florac
Place de l'ancienne gare, N106, 48400 Florac-trois-rivières
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
Tourism office Cévennes Gorges du Tarn, Sainte-Enimie
village, 48210 Sainte-Enimie
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.
Access and parking
From Sainte-Enimie, take the D986 towards Mende and, before the hamlet of Sauveterre, take the D44 towards Champerboux. As you leave the village, take the road on the left towards La Périgouse; the car park is 800 m further ahead.
Parking :
800 m towards La Périgouse
Source
CC Gorges Causses Cévenneshttps://www.gorgescaussescevennes.fr/
Parc national des Cévenneshttp://www.cevennes-parcnational.fr/
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