The cart trail
Val-d'Aigoual

The cart trail

Architecture and village
Fauna and flora
History and culture
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Hamlets steeped in history, where sheepfolds and houses still talk of life in the old days, with its clandestine Protestant gatherings – called gatherings in the Wilderness – which were held in remote spots, such as La Figayrole or Bonperrier.
This path joins up with a ridge that has panoramic 360° views. It partly takes the Margeride draille (drovers’ road), still used by transhumant flocks of sheep to reach the summer pastures in the uplands.

4 points of interest

  • History

    Figayrole

    In 1692 a clandestine gathering of Protestants – who were meeting to practice their religion, banned in 1685 by Louis XIV – was surprised here. Dozens or even hundreds of people might attend such gatherings. When they were caught in the act, the community was severely punished. Families that were directly involved ran the risk of being sent to the galleys, having their property confiscated and having their children taken away from them.
  • Agriculture

    Bonperier

    The etymology of this name is believed to be “good fields”. Indeed, there are fields surrounding the hamlet that are still maintained today. It is said that the hamlet’s inhabitants grew cereals. After harvest, they would take the wheat and rye down to the mill in the village. The oats, however, stayed in the hamlet as livestock fodder.
  • History

    Bonperrier and its inn

    Legend has it that up on the Bonperrier ridge, just before the Great War, there was an inn run by two families. The crossroads was a lively place of exchange. The former King’s Road running north-south is also the limit between two municipalities.
    Ridge roads were faster, and the coaching inns located alongside them offered travellers warm and dry overnight stays as well as fresh horses so that they could pursue their journey. Postmen came with the post but also with stories from the neighbouring valleys. In June, transhumant shepherds and their flocks still stay over at Bonperrier before going on to their summer pastures the next morning. Their stopover always turns into a convivial evening even if the inn no longer exists.
  • Fauna

    The short-toed snake eag

    From spring to autumn, if you are lucky, you might see a large bird of prey whose underside is almost white and whose head is large and dark: the short-toed snake eagle. These bare ridges, which are hot and sunny during the day, are excellent hunting grounds for this lover of snakes, who knows how to flush them out. It is often windy here, which the snake eagle uses to hunt, not by circling in updrafts like other raptors but by flying on the spot, legs dangling, wings immobile. The snake eagle is migratory and stays here only to nest, from March to October – it winters in Africa

Description

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

Starting from the car park, take the road downhill to Le Cros hamlet.
  1. At the signpost “Le Cros”, head towards "Roque Rouge" via "Figayrole".
  2. At "Figayrole" direction "Roque rouge".
  3. At "Roque Rouge" turn right towards "L'Elzière".
  4. At "L'Elzière" take the path on the right below the houses, the GR®62, towards “Le Cros”, cross the hamlets of Fenouillet.
  5. At Fenouillet,continue on the road to reach the car park. 
  • Departure : Valleraugue - Le Cros hamlet
  • Arrival : Valleraugue - Le Cros hamlet
  • Towns crossed : Val-d'Aigoual and Les Plantiers

Forecast

Altimetric profile

Recommandations

Before committing yourself to a walk, ensure that it is suitable for your activity level and ability. Remember that the weather changes quickly in the mountains. Take enough water. Please close all gates and barriers behind you.

Information desks

Tourism & national parc'house

Col de la Serreyrède, 30570 Val d'Aigoual

https://www.sudcevennes.comoffice-du-tourisme-causse@wanadoo.fr04 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, Valleraugue

7 quartier des Horts, 30570 Valleraugue

https://www.sudcevennes.comoffice.tourisme.valleraugue@wanadoo.fr04 67 64 82 15

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. : Open year-round

Find out more

Transport

liO is the regional public transport service of the Occitanie/ Pyrénées – Méditerranée region. It facilitates everyone’s movements by prioritising public transport. For more information, call 08 10 33 42 73 or go to www.laregion.fr
(in term time).

Access and parking

From Valleraugue, head downhill towards Le Vigan on the D 986 for 4 km, then take the D 344 on your right, towards Mas du Moulinet and Le Cros. Before you reach Le Cros, turn left onto the road to Fenouillet and park in the first bend.

Parking :

Car park above Le Cros hamlet

More information

Source

CC Causses Aigoual Cévennes Terres Solidaireshttp://www.caussesaigoualcevennes.fr/
Parc national des Cévenneshttp://www.cevennes-parcnational.fr/

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