Causse du Larzac in Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon

Starting from the Causse du Larzac, you will discover the colossal rocks that dominate the Cernon valley, while approaching the old railway line several times, which today is used for tourist activities thanks to the rail bikes of Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon.
You can explore the fortified Templar village of Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon and climb back up the other side of the valley.

Details

990361
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.95 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 335 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 343 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 801 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 570 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the designated spaces on the D23. There is room for several vehicles.

(S/E) The trail starts between a wooden sign marked Sainte-Eulalie and a cairn. Head north, following the yellow markings. You will soon reach and cross the railway line. Continue straight ahead on the trail to reach a crossroads.

(1) Turn right (note: the wooden sign is broken). Continue north, cross the hamlet of Les Caussonels and reach the water source at Cernon.

(2) Cross the stream and take the path on the left. Cross the Cernon and continue straight ahead until you reach a crossroads with a cross.

(3) Turn left onto the wide path, then immediately right onto the trail. Reach the antenna and turn left onto Rue Puech de la Vigne. Turn left onto Rue de la Roche, then right onto Rue du Moulin and finally left onto Rue Le Pont (D561). Follow this street to the trail junction.

(4) Take the path on the left and follow the yellow markings, which will allow you to avoid taking the D561 for part of the way. Join this road further on and follow it to the next hairpin bend.

(5) At the circular, turn left onto the path, which is still marked with yellow signs. Cross the rail bike path and continue slightly uphill to reach the highest point (795 m), which is a crossroads of paths.

(6) Turn left onto the small path marked with a wooden sign: Saploum. Caution: it descends steeply and is quite rocky.

Further down, join the railway line and take the tunnel that passes underneath.
Note: if you are afraid of the dark or do not have a torch, you can go around it on the right.
Continue to the first crossroads.

(1) Turn right and follow the same route you took on the way there to easily reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 801 m - Parking at the side of the D23.
  2. 1 : km 0.96 - alt. 703 m - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 2.03 - alt. 596 m - Crossing the - Cernon (rivière)
  4. 3 : km 2.66 - alt. 587 m - Crossroads
  5. 4 : km 3.81 - alt. 586 m - D561 on the left, yellow PR
  6. 5 : km 4.36 - alt. 649 m - Lacet de la D561
  7. 6 : km 5.5 - alt. 795 m - High point: 795 metres
  8. S/E : km 6.95 - alt. 801 m - Parking at the side of the D23.

Notes

Bring a torch if you decide to go through the tunnel.

Between (S/E and 1) there are no longer any trains, but sometimes rail bikes (a tourist activity in Sainte-Eulalie).

Worth a visit

You can take a short break at the entrance to Sainte-Eulalie on the banks of the Cernon, where there are picnic tables in the shade.
You can find refreshments and food in the village.
A visit to the Templar village of Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon is recommended.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
vero4030
vero4030

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An interesting route, wide open spaces and secret valleys, the village – in short, a real change of scenery. For the return journey, instead of going back down and then back up the same route we took on the way there from point 6, we preferred to stay at the same altitude across the limestone plateau, towards Lavogne de Caubel, then the road, which is almost a path in the end.

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gerardhenr
gerardhenr

Lack of attention at the start and took a wrong yellow marker. Same route at the start, climb up to the plateau via La Baysse and Mas Razal, then join the GR 71C to descend via La Baraque. 8.19 km route, 306 m elevation gain, completed in 2 hours 20 minutes.

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Plume31
Plume31

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route to enjoy with the family. You can leave the route to visit this beautiful Templar village.

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degu
degu

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

At this time of year, the wildlife is magnificent, with a multitude of orchids, broom and many other flowers.

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D et N
D et N

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, pleasant in this sunny month of May. Full of flowers, not too hot...

Be careful, the starting point car park is not very visible, so if you don't enter the coordinates into your satnav, you tend to drive past it (which is what happened to me).
I started further away (Lavogne de Caubel), where the path is also very beautiful. When I reached point number 6, instead of heading back to number 1 (which is possible), I preferred to do the circular in reverse. This was probably a mistake for two reasons: it's harder to find the landmarks (which meant I had to search for my way out of St Eulalie), and I returned to my starting point by connecting point 1 to point 6 via the steep climb (it's better to do this in the downhill direction as intended).

Otherwise, it was a very nice walk, highly recommended! Be sure to visit St Eulalie as well, it's worth a look.

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nmilag
nmilag

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We set off from Mas Trinquier, made a short crossing of the plateau and then joined the day-trip route, stopping for a light hot meal in winter at La Cardabelle (closed on Saturdays). A very pleasant, easy circular with superb scenery. Thank you.

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cali47
cali47

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very beautiful paths, it's a shame that the box tree moths have caused damage...

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cgcanet
cgcanet

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 28, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

A pleasant short hike that can easily be extended.

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swing12
swing12

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Easy and enjoyable hike, ideal for families.

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burrich17
burrich17

Hi Marie Jo 12, glad you enjoyed the walk. Thanks for the post and for the alternative route, which I'll try as I'm nearby. Just so you know, on my page there's a walk that starts at L'Hospitalet and goes to Les Canalettes. If you're not far away, make the most of it!
Thanks, bye.

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marie-Jo12
marie-Jo12

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 04, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We slightly modified the route

Departure from Sainte Eulalie at the bridge, then we continued the hike to Puech de Cougouille. For the return trip, we followed the route back to our starting point.

A very beautiful, easy and interesting route.

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