GR®7
IPAMAC
La Bastide-Puylaurent

GR®7

Architecture and village
Fauna and flora
History and culture
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The GR® 7 ridge route is 475 km long! It crosses five Regional Nature Reserves and one National Park, offering hikers and trail runners a wide range of scenery and cultural heritage.
This long-distance trail takes you on a journey from the Vosges to the Pyrenees. It roughly follows the watershed: on one side are the waterways that converge towards the Mediterranean; on the other, those that flow into the English Channel and Atlantic. The route crosses highly characteristic sites. Starting at the Ballons d’Alsace passes, it traverses the Regional Nature Reserve of the Ballons des Vosges. It then briefly veers into the Haute-Marne department before crisscrossing Burgundy, leading from Dijon to the uplands of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Occitanie regions. Passing through three Regional Nature Reserves (Pilat, Monts d’Ardèche, Haut-Languedoc) and the Cévennes National Park, it ends in Andorra via the Pyrénées Catalanes Regional Nature Reserve and Cathar country.

27 points of interest

  • Paysage
    Paysage - © Brigitte Mathieu
    Flora

    Subalpine short-grass prairie

    Marker 1
    Like garden or sports pitches, short-grass prairies are shaped by mankind. Grazing and controlled burns are the tools for their maintenance here. The main plants are nard and fescue, perennial grasses related to wheat. If you cut (graze) one of their stalks, five more will soon form; if you trample them, they multiply and become very dense. This kind of “torture” creates a thick plant cover that stabilises the sparse dark soil, which is derived from erosion of the ever-present granite. Here, then, are some clues for the appropriate management of this environment, which becomes weakened if neglected.

  • Transhumance sur la draille de l'Aubaret
    Transhumance sur la draille de l'Aubaret - © Olivier Prohin
    Pastoralism

    The draille du Languedoc

    This draille (path for seaonal livestock migration) was frequented by flocks of sheep during the transhumance and by farmers going to buy or sell animals at Bellecoste Fair, which was held every 16 July and 25 September. The path linked the inhabitants of the plateau to the village of Saint-Maurice-de-Ventalon. (Julie Hugon)

  • Boisement du Bougès sud
    Boisement du Bougès sud - © Guy Grégoire
    Flora

    The Bougès state forest

    This covers an area of about 3,300 hectares. Reforestation was carried out between 1880 and 1925, at the beginning of the agricultural decline, to fight the erosion caused by over-grazing. Today, the Office National des Forêts manages this forest, primarily with the goal of protecting the different forest species and ecosystems, but also with a view to making it productive. The forest is made up of a number of tree species, including spruce, silver fir, larch and Corsican pine. A varied fauna inhabits the forest (deer, wild boar, birds of prey). A few capercaillies, re-introduced by the Cévennes National Park, live in these wide open spaces. (Julie Hugon)

  • La Draille du Languedoc
    La Draille du Languedoc - otcevennesmontlozere
    Pastoralism

    The Languedoc draille

    This draille (path for seasonal livestock migration) is known as the Languedoc draille and has seen tens of thousands of sheep pass by that have come up the many drailles from the Midi, combining into ever larger flocks before reaching the summer pastures on the Mont Lozère plateau. The plant cover, grazed and trampled by so many sheep, had no time to grow back. A few flocks and a few shepherds still keep the tradition alive. Other flocks are brought to the summer pastures by lorry.

  • Geology

    Sandstone outcrop

    Marker 13
    On the other side of the road, the sandstone bank shows criss-crossing layers which were deposited by flood waters with very strong currents. The pebbles they contain have angles that are barely blunted, indicating that they were not carried far. This very crumbly sandstone is generally held together by a greenish clay rich in white mica without any limestone. It bears witness to the arrival of the sea, 200 million years ago. On this rock face, plants have to compensate for intense erosion by being able to develop rapidly and withstand a certain amount of dryness. There are a very few chamomile plants and streamlined plantains.

  • History

    Place de la Madeleine

    Marker 5
    The fountain dates from the 18th century. At the end of the 19th  century, the bust of Marianne – the personification of the French Republic – was added. At the same time, a poplar was planted by republican youth as a symbol of freedom. From here, you can see several bourgeois houses, which mostly date from the 17th and 18th centuries. They bear witness to the village’s thriving past, when it had some 20 voituriers (merchant-carters), who would drive their carts down to the plains laden with wool and chestnuts and return with salt, wine and oil. Under the houses' large porches, harnesses and carts were kept. During fairs, the seed market took place in these vaults and those of the town hall.

  • History

    The Château

    Marker 6
    Constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries, the Château was entirely rebuilt in the early 16th century. From 1710 to 1715, it was modified by the Lord of Barre, who had his coat of arms carved above the entrance. Two towers were also added at this time. During the 1789 Revolution, the coat of arms disappeared under vigorous hammer strokes. In the early 19th century, during an expansion, the main tower was removed.

  • History

    Place de la loue (Hiring Square)

    Marker 1
    This little square, located at the north-eastern entrance to the village, was where the “loue” (hiring) used to be held during the great spring and autumn fairs: shepherds, domestics and chestnut gatherers would sit on the parapet and hope for an employer to take them on. The village hosted 12 to 15 fairs every year. The spring and autumn ones could attract up to ten thousand people from neighbouring departments, but also from the Var, Vaucluse and Bouches-du-Rhône. This village-rue (one-road village) was protected at each end by a fortified gate. One of them, called the Florac Gate, stood near the Place de la Loue. It was destroyed in the early 19th century.

  • Frêne commun
    Frêne commun - Nathalie Thomas
    Flora

    Ash trees

    Ash trees, like the ones that border the path, like cool and damp environments. They were planted alongside paths by locals because ash branches, cut towards the end of summer, provided additional fodder for livestock.

  • Météosite de l'Aigoual
    Météosite de l'Aigoual - © Olivier Prohin
    Water

    Mont Aigoual

    A beautiful view onto Mont Aigoual (1,567 m) –  a mountain of winds, fog, snow and rain. Banks of clouds coming from the Mediterranean rub against its slopes and can cause violent precipitation (also called Cévenol episodes). This temperamental mountain is home to the last mountain weather-station in France.

  • Transhumance
    Transhumance - © Michelle Sabatier
    Agriculture

    The Margeride draille (drovers’ road)

    The draille follows the ridge and crosses the Can de l'Hospitalet plateau. This transhumant trail enables the sheep flocks of the plains (of the southern Cévennes and the Crau) to move up to northern Gévaudan (Aubrac, Margeride, Mont Lozère). This draille is only one branch of a larger network along which transhumant livestock still travel. 

  • La Vallée de Sexte  et son manteau blanc
    La Vallée de Sexte et son manteau blanc - Béatrice Galzin
    Water

    Col Salidès

    The bare ridge that rises opposite is the watershed between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. Rain that falls on the Sexte valley flows into the Tarnon below (on the left) and ends up in the ocean. On your right, the Mediterranean side offers extraordinary views onto the foothills of the can de l’Hospitalet plateau and the entirety of the Cévenol mountains. On some days, the Alps and Mont Ventoux can be seen in the distance …
  • Aire de Côte
    Aire de Côte - Stephan.Corporan
    History

    Aire de Côte

    Aire-de-Côte farm was purchased by the French State in 1862, during the period of reforestation. Before the farm became a stopover gîte, it was for a long time the residence of the local forester and his family. In the first half of the 20th century, Aire-de-Côte was very different. To the north, behind the house, was the draille (drovers’ road), lined by upright stones and 40 to 50 metres wide. Thousands of transhumant animals passed every year on their way to or from summer pastures. The transhumant animals stopped there at lunchtime, then continued on towards Mont Aigoual.
  • Guy.Grégoire
    History

    A Resistance refuge

    In early 1943, the first Resistance group of the Cévennes was formed. The refuge of the Aire-de-côte group was one of the wooden shacks used for forestry works, whose roof was camouflaged using branches. On 10 July 1943, a message warned the post office in Rousses that a German attack was imminent. The Resistance was informed – but a storm delayed the group’s departure. The Germans arrived… The forester was arrested as an accomplice, accused of being in radio contact with London. Indeed, the Aire-de-côte Resistance listened to a crystal radio set built by the two Jews who were hiding there.
  • Vue depuis Font de Trépaloup
    Vue depuis Font de Trépaloup - nathalie.thomas
    Flora

    The evolution of plant life

    At the pass stands a schist menhir (standing stone). To the north, in Trépaloup ravine, hewn flint implements bear witness to a human presence in the region since prehistoric times. Palynological analyses (studies of pollen fossilised in peatbogs) have allowed scientists to piece together the plant life on Mont Aigoual from 8,000 to 5,000 BC. Pine predominated, accompanied by birch and hazelnut. Then pine populations gradually diminished. The damp climate warmed up, favouring the spread of oak and hazelnut. Finally, the increased damp and cloud cover at altitude allowed fir and beech to develop. From the end of the first century BC, the substantial percentage of grasses shows that forest had receded in favour of pasture and prairies. This was the start of the great deforestation.
  • Le Portalet
    Le Portalet - nathalie.thomas
    Flora

    Short-grass prairies and heath on the summit of Mont Aigoual

    Here, only species with a short reproductive cycle can settle due to the frequently glacial climate. The heath has been invaded by heather and mountain pine. This zone is barely wooded due to the violent winds and is comparable to subalpine vegetation, consisting of short-grass prairies and heather and blueberry moor. It is sometimes called pseudo-alpine.
  • Observatoire de l'Aigoual
    Observatoire de l'Aigoual - nathalie.thomas
    History

    The meteorological observatory

    Inaugurated in 1824, the meteorological observatory was built on the initiative of Georges Fabre, one of the pioneers of the reforestation of Mont Aigoual. His work with the botanist Charles Flahault enabled the creation of the arboretum of L’Hort de Dieu. The first meteorological data were gathered by agents from the French National Water and Forestry Commission. Since 1943, the observatory has been managed by the National Meteorological Office. It is France’s last mountain weather station that is inhabited year-round.  
  • Troupeau au sommet de l'Aigoual
    Troupeau au sommet de l'Aigoual - © Nathalie Thomas
    Flora

    Summit of Mont Aigoual

    At an altitude of 1,565 m, the climate is harsh: weather conditions are the same as they would be at 2,000 m elsewhere, with only four “frost-free” months a year. Winds of above 60 kph blow on 265 days a year, and the average annual temperature is 4.8°C. Trees do not have enough time to complete their life cycle. Local plant formations are those of the montane zone: subalpine short-grass prairies.

  • Archéosmart (Marc Limousin)
    Archéosmart (Marc Limousin) - © Filature du Mazel
    Archaeology

    Archeosmart (Marc Limousin)

    Smartphone imprints appear on the rocks: fossils of the present that will become mysterious in the future. This carved stone, like the cup-shaped marks and other rock art of the region, discloses history revealed in matter and resonates with Malraux’s phrase: “The future is a present given to us by the past”.
  • le Pole Nature de l'Aigoual
    le Pole Nature de l'Aigoual - Béatrice Galzin
    Natural environment

    Pôle Nature 4 Saisons

    The Pôle Nature 4 Saisons of the Aigoual massif offers outdoor activities in all seasons in the central zone of the Cévennes National Park, overlooked by the legendary summit of Mont Aigoual (1,570 m). Discover our network of trails on foot, on horseback, by bike, or else by mountain-bike or with a donkey, as the fancy takes you!
    Children can explore the orienteering circuit or geocaching.
    For the sportier among you we have laid out trail running circuits!
    Prefer road biking? We have created circuits of varying difficulty levels so you can discover our villages and valleys.
    Try not to make any noise! Wildlife enthusiasts can spot mouflons and other animals.
    And if you would just like a gentle walk on the massif, the discovery trail “The cliffs of Mont Aigoual” is for you. There are various rest stops over its 4.5 km, with only 150 m in height difference.
    We look forward to seeing you on our paths.
  • Arbre feuille (Alain Bernegger)
    Arbre feuille (Alain Bernegger) - © Filature du Mazel
    Flora

    Leaf-Tree (Alain Bernegger)

    Leaf-Trees use a veined structure to create a visual resonance between the tree and the leaf. The change of scale works like an inverted echo of this fractal structure. And as winter comes, the eternal summer of the Leaf-Trees confronts the winter of the bare branches.
  • L'Orée (Yoann Crépin)
    L'Orée (Yoann Crépin) - © Filature du Mazel
    Know-how

    On the Verge (Yoann Crépin)

    A doorway to a circuit of art within the natural environment.
    To fuse and interact with the environment and play with the seasons, time, light and weightlessness. To let humanity express itself through nature and nature express itself through humanity – a necessary interaction, a symbiotic interaction that inspires us to discover another world.
  • Maison forestière de la Serreyrède
    Maison forestière de la Serreyrède - © Jacques de Joly
    Agriculture

    La Serreyrède

    Before 1861, the house at the Col de la Serreyrède was inhabited by two families of farmers. They owned some livestock and had a vegetable garden, whose terraces you can still see above the La Caumette track. From 1861 on, the farm was inhabited by a forest ranger. It was only bought by the state body Eaux et Forêts in 1883, to be turned into a forester's house. It became one of Georges Fabre's headquarters during the reforestation of the Aigoual massif. The Cévennes National Park, tourism office and Terres d'Aigoual growers have now joined forces to revive La Serreyrède with the help of the Communauté de Communes Causses Aigoual Cévennes – Terres solidaires.

  • Boutique des producteurs
    Boutique des producteurs - © Nathalie Thomas
    Agriculture

    The association "Terres d'Aigoual"

    The Cévennes National Park rents out part of the building to the association, enabling local farmers to sell their products directly to the public. The association brings together farmers who wish to promote what they produce and share their know-how. They also enjoy sharing their vision of farming- high quality produce and products,

    - human-sized farms,

    - mutual aid.

    Come and discover their products!

  • History

    From beech copse to mature plantation

    Marker 1
    Around 1850, before reforestation began, the inhabitants of the Cevennes were using local wood resources on a massive scale for heating and in industry, especially spinning-mills. Gradually, only a few beech copses remained, which were cut every 25 to 40 years. Grazing by tens of thousands of sheep further reduced the herbaceous plant cover. Much weakened, the plant cover was then also subjected to heavy precipitation, the so-called Cevenol episodes. It is against this backdrop that the lengthy work of the foresters began. To reduce risks and establish a lasting forest cover, the first technique was to make use of what was already present by converting the disused copses into mature plantations.

  • Know-how

    Productive forest

    Marker 2
    Another method of creating a durable forest cover is to plant or sow. This work is carried out either on bare soil or among existing tree stands. The Aigoual reforestation programme was a gigantic effort, requiring 900,000 days of work, the planting of 60 million conifers and 7 million deciduous trees, and sowing of 38 tonnes of seeds. Spruces and pines, which can be planted in full sunlight and grow quite quickly, were widely used. Under the forest canopy, preference was given to firs.

  • Natural environment

    Irregular forest

    This tree population consists of trees of very different diameters, ages and heights. Species are mixed: mainly pine, but also beech, rowan and whitebeam. This is an irregular mature forest, a forestry dynamic that is interesting for several reasons: it creates permanent forest cover; resistance to soil erosion; better resilience against storms or parasite attacks; regular production, etc. In the small clearing to the left of the path, the sunlight now penetrating to the forest floor has made natural regeneration of beech and fir possible, ensuring the renewal of the forest.


Description

Only the section of this GR® [long-distance hiking path] which crosses the territory of the Cévennes National Park, between Bastide-Puylaurent and Le Vigan, is described here. It takes a week to hike. 
All information on the whole route can be found on the site monGR.fr of the French hikers’ federation, the Fédération française de la randonnée pédestre.
  • Departure : La Bastide-Puylaurent
  • Arrival : Le Vigan
  • Towns crossed : La Bastide-Puylaurent, Mont Lozère et Goulet, Luc, Cheylard-l'Évêque, Saint-Frézal-d'Albuges, Cubières, Pont de Montvert - Sud Mont Lozère, Vialas, Saint-Privat-de-Vallongue, Saint-André-de-Lancize, Saint-Germain-de-Calberte, Cassagnas, Saint-Martin-de-Lansuscle, Barre-des-Cévennes, Molezon, Cans et Cévennes, Vebron, Le Pompidou, Rousses, Bassurels, Saint-André-de-Valborgne, Val-d'Aigoual, Meyrueis, Saint-Sauveur-Camprieu, Dourbies, Bréau-Mars, Arphy, Aulas, Le Vigan, and Avèze

Forecast


Altimetric profile


Recommandations

NB: For various reasons, the waymarked path may differ from that shown in the topographic guidebook: please follow the waymarks on the trail. Make sure your equipment is appropriate for several days of hiking as well as 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.
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

Ligne de Bus TER entre Mende et La Bastide-Puylaurent.
Ligne de train TER entre Alès et La Bastide-Puylaurent. 
Ligne de Bus Le Vigan-Alès.
https://www.lio.laregion.fr

Access and parking

Parking :

La Bastide Puylaurent

Calculateur d'itinéraire Lio

Pour information, certaines lignes de la région circulent uniquement en période estivale. Calculez votre itinéraire avec les horaires actualisés ci-dessous :

Autres régions

Calculez votre itinéraire en Auvergne Rhone Alpes sur Oùra


Source

Comité départemental de la randonnée pédestre 48http://lozere.ffrandonnee.fr/
Comité départemental de la randonnée pédestre Gardhttp://gard.ffrandonnee.fr/
Fédération française de la randonnée pédestrehttps://www.ffrandonnee.fr/

Report a problem or an error

If you have found an error on this page or if you have noticed any problems during your hike, please report them to us here: