From gorge to Causse in the land of the vultures (Day 3).
Panorama du Roc des Hourtous
Panorama du Roc des Hourtous - © OTGCC nc
La Malène

From gorge to Causse in the land of the vultures (Day 3).

Architecture and village
Causses and Cévennes / UNESCO
Water and geology
Fauna and flora
History and culture
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La Malène is slowly revealed as you walk downhill. It is well worth visiting!
After the hamlet of La Croze, explore the Cirque des Baumes, delimited by gigantic cliffs, and before you arrive in Les Vignes, enjoy the Pas de Souci blockfield, dominated by Needle Rock.
La Malène is slowly revealed as you walk downhill. It is well worth visiting!

>After the hamlet of La Croze, explore the Cirque des Baumes, delimited by gigantic cliffs, and before you arrive in Les Vignes, enjoy the Pas de Souci blockfield, dominated by Needle Rock.

3 points of interest

  • Architecture de Rieisse
    Architecture de Rieisse - © Nathalie Thomas
    Architecture

    Rieisse

    "On the square in the hamlet of Rieisse, you'll be able to admire a communal oven. The gable of the house right next to it has gutters which lead into a former cistern inside. All the rainwater from the roof converged on this tank, inside the kitchen, via gutters that were made first of wood and later of zinc. The cistern has a depth of 2 to 5 m and a capacity of 10,000 to 30,000 litres. When the foundations of the sheepfold were dug, Roman pottery for keeping resin was found. Indeed, whenever pine trees were felled, the resin was extracted and sent to the coast, where it was used to caulk boats. (M.P Leroy-Delmer)

  • History

    Little anecdote

    "Traditionally, a hillclimbing race is held in this small town on the first Sunday in July. The first races were goat races. Marthe marshalled her goats at the bridge, climbed the slope of La Canourgue by herself and then called to them from up there. The goats ran to her. The winner was rewarded with a fragrant bouquet of bartas (box)." (M.P Leroy-Delmer)

  • History

    Chapel

    "300 m  from the  hamlet, the ruins of the Château de Planiol dominate a flat area (planiol) of the river, which is 8 m deep here. Then the Romanesque 12th century chapel appears, probably built on the site of a Carolingian oratory. An 'expiatory chapel' has been added, which contains the remains of the martyrs of La Malène. Another chapel is occupied by the Virgin Mary standing in a boat. It is brought out every May for the boatmen's pilgrimage. As for the bridge, it was built in 1856 in the place of a former ford crossed by the Esperelle draille (path for seasonal livestock migration). Because of its scant height, it did not survive the devastating floods of 1875 and 1900.” (M.P Leroy-Delmer)


Description

Starting on the car park opposite the stopover gîte, continue on the GRP® for 100 m and then turn left onto the road above the bergerie (sheepfold), before taking the path on the right that goes downhill into the Tarn gorge.
1 – As you arrive at La Malène, take on the left the track suitable for motor vehicles for 3 km (waymarked yellow and green).
2 – Before the property of Gaujac, take the small path on the left, then immediately turn right (waymarked yellow and green). Ignore the path that goes uphill ot the Roc des Hourtous.
3 – After the Strait, the path goes back downhill, then back uphill above the hamlet of La Croze (private property).
4- After the Pas de souci, ignore the path on the left that goes uphill to La Caxe and instead continue straight ahead to reach Les Vignes.
  • Departure : Rieisse
  • Arrival : Les Vignes
  • Towns crossed : La Malène and Massegros Causses Gorges

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 office Cévennes Gorges du Tarn, La Malène

Village, 48210 La Malène

http://www.cevennes-gorges-du-tarn.com/info@attractivite-tourisme-gcc.com04 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.

Find out more

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

Access and parking

D 16 on the Causse Méjean towards Les Vignes.

Parking :

As you enter the village

Calculateur d'itinéraire Lio

Utilisez le calculateur liO pour organiser votre trajet en région Occitanie.

Autres régions

Calculez votre itinéraire en Auvergne Rhône Alpes sur Oùra


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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