From gorge to Causse in the land of the vultures (Day 3).
GR (long-distance hiking path)
Yellow waymarks>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
ArchitectureRieisse
"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)
HistoryLittle 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
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
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, La Malène
Village, 48210 La Malène
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
Parking :
Source
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