Larzac Oppidum

(S/E) Route des fermes du Larzac, Millau

(1) Enter the tunnel to pass under the D809, then turn right towards the Larzac school. Pass the school sign and take the path running to the left of the school. Pass the first fence via a chicane, then, further on, step over the second fence and leave the track that climbs to the left. The path continues through oak woods and along the edge of fields, always skirting the edge of the Causse. Further on, turn left and climb up to a second chicane. A few metres on, you’ll reach the panoramic viewpoint above Millau (views over the Lévezou and the Causse Noir).

(2) The path heads towards the second rocky outcrop above Millau, running along the edge of a field and the edge of the Causse. Take care at the edge of the cliffs. Pass a hairpin bend and, 100 m further on, reach a junction.

(3) Take a 10-minute round trip to the right to explore the Roman ruins of the Oppidum de la Granède. Continue along the path skirting the plateau and pass the next hairpin bend.

(4) Then turn left onto the small path that runs across the plateau towards the D809. Before the ruins of Les Coulons, veer slightly to the left to rejoin a small, shaded path. Turn left and follow the D809 until the first junction. 

(5) Continue along the tarmac road running parallel to the D809 to return to the starting point. (S/E)

Access:
7 km from Millau, heading towards Montpellier on the D809, turn left towards Pierrefiche and Saint Martin du Larzac. 20 m further on, there is a car park on the left.
 

Public transport:
Travelling by bus or train: https://lio.laregion.fr/Covoiturage: BlaBlaCar, Rézo Pouce, Mobicoop, Idvroom, LaRoueVerte, Roulezmalin

Car park:
D809 towards Pierrefiche and Saint-Martin-du-Larzac; 20 metres further on, there is a car park on the left

Panoramic views of the Causse Noir, the Lévézou, Millau, the Millau Viaduct and the Dourbie Gorges
The Causse Noir, made up of dark forests – hence its name – and wide open spaces, boasts several spectacular sites, including the rock formations at Montpellier-le-Vieux and the Dargilan Cave. The Lévézou is known for its lakes and the Micropolis Insect Centre in Saint Léons.The Millau Viaduct, opened in December 2004, holds the world record for height, with a pylon rising 343 m above the valley. A canoe trip down the Dourbie is the ideal way to immerse yourself in a wild and unspoilt setting.

Oppidum de la Granède
Overlooking the town of Millau, the Oppidum de la Granède stretches across a promontory jutting out from the northern slope of the Larzac plateau. A strategic fortified site situated high up on the border between the plateau and the valley, it allowed for surveillance to the south, covering the roads leading from the plateau as well as trade and traffic between the south and the north. The City of Millau, together with the Department and the State, is contributing to the archaeological excavations at the Oppidum de la Granède, which have unearthed the remains of an early Christian church and ancient substructures.