The Tavel Solar Nave

A walk to discover a highly accurate sundial at the La Languedocienne motorway service area (A9). Plenty of information on the different types of sundials. The route is a bit noisy along the motorway, but the rest is much quieter!

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.01 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 305 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 305 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 594 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 289 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Tavel (30126)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 44.012041° / E 4.706902°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3041OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

From Avignon or Bagnols-sur-Cèze, head to the village of Tavel and park at the cemetery car park on Chemin des Oliviers.

(S/E) With your back to the cemetery, turn left onto Chemin des Oliviers. Walk through the garden of the war memorial, cross at the pedestrian crossing and turn right onto Route de la Commanderie (D4).

(1) Turn left onto Rue des Lavandières, passing the wash house.

(2) Continue right along Rue de la Fontaine until you reach the square where the fountain stands.

(3) Return to the previous junction.

(2) Carry straight on along Rue de la Condamine. Walk alongside the gardens, turn left where the road bends, then right to leave the village.

(4) Cross the bridge over the Ruisseau de Malaven, veer to the right, pass through the vineyards, then turn right, following the fence of the motorway service area.

(5) Take the track that climbs to the left towards the water reservoir, and continue to follow the fence until you reach a sliding gate.

(6) Open the gate by lifting it upwards and cross the car parks to reach the Nef Solaire.

(7) Return to the sliding gate.

(6) Turn left and continue along the motorway service area fence until you reach the junction with a track that runs underneath it.

(8) Leave this track and take the path on the right which climbs into the woods, then descends towards the vineyard.

(9) Turn right to continue downhill through the vineyards. You’ll come out onto the Chemin des Vestides; follow it to the right towards the village.

(10) At the junction, go straight on.

(2) Turn left onto Rue de la Fontaine, which you took on the way there, then turn immediately right onto Rue Saint-Ferréol, which leads to Route de la Commanderie. Follow it to the right.

(1) Pass Rue des Lavandières on your right and follow the outward route in the opposite direction to return to the cemetery car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 289 ft - Cemetery car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.27 - alt. 331 ft - Rue des Lavandières
  3. 2 : mi 0.36 - alt. 325 ft - Junction where the two circular loops meet
  4. 3 : mi 0.39 - alt. 331 ft - Fontaine de Tavel
  5. 4 : mi 0.72 - alt. 302 ft - Malaven Stream
  6. 5 : mi 1.03 - alt. 381 ft - Junction
  7. 6 : mi 1.49 - alt. 463 ft - Sliding door
  8. 7 : mi 1.62 - alt. 443 ft - Solar nave
  9. 8 : mi 2.15 - alt. 436 ft - Junction
  10. 9 : mi 2.8 - alt. 443 ft - Junction
  11. 10 : mi 3.48 - alt. 367 ft - Junction
  12. S/E : mi 4.01 - alt. 289 ft - Cemetery car park

Worth a visit

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.