Limestone and schist circular loop at Le Pompidou

At Le Pompidou, park along the D9, in the spaces available in the village. The hike starts at the town hall.

No signposts

(S/E) In front of the town hall (information on the Cévennes National Park), leave the fountain on your right and immediately turn right onto the street. After a few metres, turn left and then, at the fork in the road, take the left-hand street and do not follow the yellow markings. Turn left in front of a farm building, join the D9 and follow it carefully to the right to pass through the hamlet of Abeuradou.

Yellow markings

(1) In the bend in the road, at the exit of the hamlet, note the yellow markings inviting you to cross a footbridge on the right. Enter a meadow, pay attention and follow the markings carefully as there are several paths made by animals. In the meadow, pass an electric fence (insulated handles), continue along the marked path and arrive at another footbridge. Cross it, cross the D9 and follow the small road opposite. Go to a path leading off to the right.

(2) A sign indicates that flocks of sheep guarded by protection dogs may be present. Follow the path to an intersection, shortly after passing a small wetland.

(3) Turn right and take the hairpin bend. Shortly afterwards, pass a water catchment and continue on the path that climbs along the limestone ridge marking the southern boundary of Can de l'Hospitalet. Come out onto the plateau at the Crottes farm, after passing or climbing over a barrier. Turn right in front of the farm, passing another barrier. Continue on the small access road to the farm.

No markings

(4) Further on, ignore the path that branches off to the left with the markings. Continue along the small road, ignore a road on the left shortly afterwards and continue until you reach the D9.

(5) Follow it on the wide left-hand shoulder. It is not very busy, but vehicles drive fast, so be careful. This is not the most pleasant part of the hike, so take the opportunity to pick up the pace, chat and contemplate the plateau dotted with large rocks. Pass two small menhirs on the right. After about 600 m, turn right onto an old road leading to Bézuc. You will come to a crossroads with paths near a small house. Look out for the red and yellow markings of^{the GRP®®} Tour de la Haute Vallée Borgne.

Red and yellow^GRP®® markings

(6) Ignore the paths and go straight ahead across the grassy area towards a stile, then continue along a footpath. Cross a stream at a fork in the path and bear left. Further on, pay attention to the markings; just before a grove of chestnut trees, bear right. You will come to a gate and exit the meadow.

(7) Continue along the grassy path. After a steep descent, wade across two streams, passing a footbridge just before the second one. Further on, ignore a path on the left just before reaching the Col de Tartabisac.

(8) Note a small menhir on the left, continue for a few dozen metres and you will come to some directional signs. Turn left towards Saint-Flour du Pompidou and continue along a grassy path, paying attention to the markings (note a sheepfold on the left a little further up). You will come to a road at a house called La Roquette. Follow the road to the left. At the end of a left-hand bend, descend to the right along a path and you will come to a road.

(9) Follow it to the right. Ignore a path leading off to the left (closed due to danger) and cross a stream. About a hundred metres further on, turn right onto a path that leads to the site of the old Saint-Flour Church. Continue along the path that goes around the building and its cemetery on the left to reach the access road.

(10) Turn right and walk back to visit the old church, which is still open (information panel inside). Leave the building and continue straight ahead on the road to climb up to the village of Pompidou. At the first houses, go straight ahead at the intersection towards Centre Village to reach the D9 at the war memorial. Turn right to return to the town hall (S/E).

Difficulty: Moderate, standard hiking equipment, long sleeves and long trousers.

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here

Photo album here

Beautiful views along many sections of the route.

An interesting geological alternation between the limestone of the can and the schist predominant in the Cévennes valleys. The inhabitants have taken advantage of these different local rocks to build beautiful farms, sheepfolds (or jasses) and churches, such as the Church of Saint-Flour, with limestone for the walls and schist slates for the roof.

The Tartabisac Pass

A meeting place for the two types of rock. On the can side, the limestone forms long, regular slopes interrupted by a few rocky outcrops. A rare grass has managed to take root here. On the valley side, the schist forms a fairly sharp ridge, made up of interlacing broken strata. Broom has taken over the area.
The pass is considered by some to be a place of special energy. A small menhir stands there. A sheepfold leans against the schist slope, facing south. The remains of a lime kiln indicate that iron was once worked here.

La Can de l'Hospitalet

A small plateau separated from the one that gave birth to it, the Causse Méjean, by the Tarnon valley. It was in this wild moorland landscape that many Desert assemblies were held. The two "menhirs" that you pass on the D9 are in fact montjoies (landmarks for travellers) that are part of a group scattered throughout La Can de l'Hospitalet.

Former Saint-Flour du Pompidou Church

Its construction dates back to the end of the 12th century. It consists of a simple rectangular nave formed by two bays covered with a broken barrel vault and a chevet with a semi-circular apse.
In the 14th century, it was enlarged with a first chapel to the north-east, known as the Urbain V chapel, and two other chapels, one to the north and the other to the south. Due to the quality of its construction in large cut stone, it is striking for its homogeneity, harmony and beauty.
It is believed to have been built by Benedictine monks who settled in the Cévennes in the 11th and 12th centuries. During the War of the Camisards, the church and priory were burned down. Later, during the Revolution, the buildings were sold as national property. The church was used as a barn and the priory became a farm (now still privately owned).
Source of information: Cévennes National Park or links included
The church is always open and concerts are held there.