L'Exil

History and culture

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An easy walk that is ideal for getting back in shape and has many points of interest: a remarkable church, a route overlooking Saumane, a picturesque uphill stretch on the former King’s road to St-Roman-de-Tousque, a section on the Corniche des Cévennes and a downhill stretch to Saumane with magnificent panoramic views onto Mont Lozère, the Cévennes and Mont Aigoual.

3 points of interest

History

Saumane

Centrally located in the Vallée Borgne, Saumane suffered heavily during the conflicts between Camisards and the King’s troops in 1703. The village and its outlying hamlets were pillaged and burnt, the villagers deported. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Golden Age of silkworm farming, Saumane was resplendent again. It had two silk spinning mills and about 500 inhabitants.
During World War II, Saumane was a support centre for the Cevenol Resistance.
Today, its inhabitants focus their energy on nature discovery and sustainable tourism.

History

Heritage: the King’s road

The uphill section from Capou is on the former King’s road, which climbs up the Valat des Pierres valley all the way to St-Roman de Tousque. The road originally linked St-Roman to St-Hippolyte du Fort via Lasalle, the Col du Mercou pass, St-Martin de Corconac and Saumane. This former road is a delight for a slow walk among ferns, pines and sweet chestnut trees. The sound of water is everywhere, in the form of springs or little waterfalls, and the original supporting walls, aqueducts and milestones are magnificent.

History

The village of St-Roman de Tousque

"Tousque" is believed to mean "a tuft of trees, thicket, bush". This charming village overlooks the Vallée Borgne to the south and Mont Lozère to the north. It lies on what was once a strategic crossroads of two King’s roads: from Montpellier to Mende, and the connection between the Vallée Française and the Vallée Borgne. Like Le Pompidou, St-Roman was a stopover village for horses and travellers.
As you contemplate the magnificent surrounding scenery or stroll through the lanes, you can imagine the much busier life in the old days… Today St-Roman is a peaceful village where life is good.

Description

Signposts will guide you all along this route. In the description below, the signposted place names and/or directions are given in bold italics between quotation marks:

From the main square of “Saumane”, walk towards “Col de l'Exil” via “Pont de Saumane”.
1) At “Pont de Saumane”, continue to “Col de l'Exil” on the road, via La Tourette.
2) Continue on the track in the forest to an intersection, go downhill on the right and cross the river on the picturesque bridge, then go back uphill to just below the hamlet of Bourgnolles.
3) Take the road on the right to the D 907, turn left onto it and walk to the Maison de Capou.
4) At Maison de Capou, go uphill through the stony ravine to reach St-Roman de Tousque (former King’s road).
5) In St-Roman de Tousque, turn right in the village and join the Corniche des Cévennes road (D 9).
6) At the road (D9), cross the security barriers and walk to the Col de l’Exil pass.
7) At “Col de l'Exil”, take the forestry track on the right towards “Saumane” via “Cabrijoule”.
8) At “Cabrijoule” keep going downhill towards “Saumane” via the “Pont de Saumane”.
At “Pont de Saumane”, turn left to return to the car park.

Departure : Saumane

Arrival : Saumane

Towns crossed : Saumane, Les Plantiers, Saint-André-de-Valborgne, Moissac-Vallée-Française

Altimetric profile

Recommandations

NB: from the hamlet of Bourgnolle to Capou and from St-Roman de Tousque to the Col de l'Exil, this walk is on (tarred) main roads.

Before committing yourself to a circuit, ensure that it is suitable for your activity level and ability. Remember that the weather changes quickly in the mountains. Take enough water.

Information desks

Tourism & national parc'house

Col de la Serreyrède, 30570 Val d'Aigoual

https://www.sudcevennes.com

office-du-tourisme-causse@wanadoo.fr

04 67 82 64 67

The Maison de l'Aigoual houses the tourism office Mont Aigoual Causses Cévennes and the Maison du Parc national. This visitor centre provides information on and raises awareness of the Cévennes National Park, its sites and events as well as the rules that must be observed in the National Park's central zone.

On site: changing exhibitions, video projections, Festival Nature events and shop Open year-round

Find out more

Tourism office Mont Aigoual Causses Cévennes, Saint-André-de-Valborgne

les quais, 30940 Saint-André-de-Valborgne

https://www.sudcevennes.com

vallee.borgne@wanadoo.fr

04 66 60 32 11

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

Access and parking

From St-Jean du Gard, head towards St-André de Valborgne on the D907 via L’Estréchure, to Saumane.

Parking :

Main square of Saumane

More information

Source

CC Causses Aigoual Cévennes Terres Solidaireshttp://www.caussesaigoualcevennes.fr/

Parc national des Cévenneshttp://www.cevennes-parcnational.fr/

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