Cazedarnes cliffs

Departure from the village of Cazedarnes le Bas. Parking in the small square opposite the church.

(S/E) From Place des Deux Fontaines, take the paved Chemin des Vignals and follow this path, which further on turns into a track.

(1) Look for the return path on the right and continue straight ahead. Pass by the water treatment plant and its lagooning system.

(2) At the next fork, take the path on the right towards the banks of the Ruisseau de Rhonel. Follow it to a ford where you can cross and walk along the right bank to the fork at a ruined shed.

(3) Turn right at the hairpin bend, passing in front of it and walking alongside a vineyard. Continue on the GR® trail, heading towards the Saut du Chien or Col du Pèlerin. This is a gap in the cliffs overlooking Cazedarnes, providing access to the plateau.

(4) At the top of the pass, leave the GR® leading to Foncaude and continue to the right on a path bordered on one side by old vineyards and on the other by a stream that flows into the Rhonel. Follow this path to a place called Fontaine Gaillarde, where there is a fork in the road.
Leave the path leading to the fountain on your left and take the path on the right , which runs alongside a vineyard for a short while, then climbs towards the top of the cliffs.

(5) From this point, it is advisable to follow the GPS track. At the top of the path, there are two options: turn right, but this will be a round trip, to reach the top of the cliff overlooking the Saut du Chien, or turn left to continue the route (choice of route). Continue for about 150 m and don't hesitate to head right towards the edge of the cliff to enjoy the view of the village and, in the distance, the Caroux, including the "femme allongée" (lying woman): take care if it is windy.

(6) Resume the route by walking along the edge of the cliff at a distance and ignoring the left-hand starts. Continue straight ahead until you reach a pine forest and a steep descent leading to the D134.

(7)Turn left for about 50 metres, then cross the road carefully and turn right onto a path leading to a pine forest. Pass the antenna and walk about 250 metres to reach a fork in the tracks.

(8) Ignore these and turn right onto a small path. Cross the first road and continue straight ahead on another path that leads back to the D134. Cross carefully, turn left for a few dozen metres, then take another path on the right. Follow this path until you reach the tarmac road called Chemin des Prés at the first houses.

(9) Turn right and rejoin Chemin des Vignals, which you followed on the way there.

(1) Turn left and retrace your steps to return to the car park in front of the church (S/E).

Good walking shoes are recommended. Take care on the path to the pass! Do not walk side by side. At the top of the cliffs, take care in strong winds.

Visit Saint Amans Church and its frescoes.

The church is usually closed, but group visits can be arranged for the modest sum of €3 per person. This money will be used to finance the restoration of the frescoes. A fundraising campaign organised by the town hall and the Fondation du Patrimoine de France is underway to restore these frescoes, which have suffered damage due to previous water infiltration. If you wish to contribute, here is the link to register. https://www.fondation-patrimoine.org/les-projets/eglise-saint-amand-cazedarnes/67462

Foncaude Abbey

Abbey listed as a Historic Monument. A Premonstratensian abbey in the heart of Languedoc, near a sacred spring and a stop on the Way of St James. The last example of Romanesque architecture in the region.