Discovering Aulas

From Le Vigan, take the Col du Minier road (D48) then the D190 which leads to Aulas. In the village, after the Town Hall and School (on your left), take Rue du Pont which leads down towards the Coudoulous and park in the car park on the left after the bridge.

(S/E) Turn right to cross the Coudoulous via the old medieval bridge. Immediately turn right onto Rue des Barris, which runs parallel to the Coudoulous. At the top of the short, steep slope, take the Route d’Arphy (D190) for 40 metres.

(1) Turn left onto Chemin des Faysses. The track becomes a tarmac road.

(2) Leave this and take a path on the left which serves as a shortcut. Back on the tarmac, head left until you reach the junction with the Chemin de Brusquette and the^GR®7, marked in white and red.

(3) Turn right onto the^GR®7path. This section is the only challenging part of the route: a short climb up to the Col de Carnieu. Magnificent views over Aulas, the Arre Valley and the Pic d’Anjeau.

(4) Head back down the wide path on the left, beneath the chestnut trees, towards Aulas. Just past the public area (picnic table and carved eagle), take the hairpin bend to the right to continue descending and reach the entrance to the village of Aulas.

(5) Take the^first right, Chemin de la Capelle, to the cemetery. Go round the cemetery, cross the road and head back towards Aulas for 50 m.

(6) Turn right to cross the small car park, then take Chemin des Jardins, a narrow lane that runs beneath the houses in the Mas Rouger neighbourhood. Head towards the banks of the Coudoulous. Turn left and head back up towards the village, passing the Poterne, the old village gate, and continue to the next junction.

(7) Turn left onto Rue du Fossadet. Opposite the post office (about 100 m away), go under the archway leading to the medieval centre. Here, a self-guided tour is a must, before returning to Rue du Chemin Neuf. Turn left, cross the bridge over the Coudoulous once more and head back to the car park (S/E).

(4) On the way back down towards Aulas, the local council has created a public space featuring a picnic table, benches and a carved tree.
(7) In the village, you can enjoy a drink, and there is a small grocery shop and a bread vending machine.

(S/E) Opposite theAulas car park stands the former silk mill, built in 1852. It now houses the village oil mill. The Maison Teissier du Cros is on the other side of the bridge.
Between (6) and (7) La Poterne, the only intact medieval gate, marks the site of Aulas’s medieval fortifications.
(7) The historic centre is a maze of narrow streets (traouquets) surrounding the square in front of Saint-Martin’s Church.
After the walk, on the way back, you can go for a swim in the Coudoulous at a place called “Clapices”, just after leaving the village via the southern exit: take the small path that runs alongside Clapices Castle.