From gorge to Causse in the land of the vultures (Day 2).
Le Rozier

From gorge to Causse in the land of the vultures (Day 2).

Agriculture and livestock farming
Architecture and village
Causses and Cévennes / UNESCO
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From Le Rozier, you walk uphill onto the Causse Méjean and admire the handsome views onto the Jonte gorge, before crossing the plateau via a Scots pine forest to reach the hamlet of Rieisse.
The starting-point of the trail, on the cliff edge, is overlooked by two monoliths: the Vase de Sèvre and the Vase de Chine. It also crosses the site of the Arches of Saint-Pierre, with its natural arches and some archaeological remains, which give it an unreal atmosphere. In Rieisse, you have the choice of admiring the panoramic views at the Roc des Hourtous.

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.). 
  • 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. 
  • 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.

Description

 At the car park by the church in Le Rozier, go left towards the D 996 and take the path that goes uphill on the right towards the Rocher de Capluc – the GR 6 (waymarked white and red) – and joins up with the GR® de Pays.
1 – Leave the GR®6 for the GRP® on the right (waymarked yellow and red) which goes via the Jonte cliff edges.
2 – Take the track on the right that goes towards Cassagne (waymarked white and red again) and stay on it until you reach the path to the Arches of St-Pierre.
3 – Leave the track for the small path that crosses the arches and comes to a small road (waymarked white and red). Cross the road to reach the hamlet of La Viale.
4 – Go left and uphill again to St-Pierre des Tripiers; go through the village passing in front of the church.
5 – As you leave the village, at the cross, turn left to follow variant #1 of the GRP®Tour du Causse Méjean (waymarked yellow and red).
6 – When you reach the D 16 road, turn right onto it for 1 km.
7 – Go left and then take an immediate right to reach the hamlet of Rieisse.
  • Departure : Le Rozier
  • Arrival : Rieisse
  • Towns crossed : Le Rozier, Saint-Pierre-des-Tripiers, Massegros Causses Gorges, Hures-la-Parade, and La Malène

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.
Caution: patous (livestock guard dogs) on the plateau between La Volpilière and Rieisse! Seek advice on how to behave near these dogs from tourist offices and National Park information centres.
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.cominfo@cevennes-parcnational.fr04 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

Find out more

Transport

Parking route de Capluc (Capluc road car park)

Bus line "Florac Ste-Enimie Le Rozier", every day in July and August
https://lio.laregion.fr/IMG/pdf/oc-1903-fhbus-48-258-3v_bd_04_.pdf

Bus line Millau Peyreleau le Rozier Meyrueis, all year
https://lio.laregion.fr/IMG/pdf/oc-1907-fhbus_12-215_4v_bd_04_.pdf

Access and parking

Le Rozier, on the D 996.

Parking :

Car park by the church in Le Rozier Car park by the Crédit Agricole cash machine

Source

Maison du tourisme et du Parc national, Florachttp://www.cevennes-parcnational.fr/
Parc national des Cévenneshttp://www.cevennes-parcnational.fr/

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