Laval-du-Tarn walks

In the heart of the Tarn Gorges, Saint-Chély du Tarn is a little gem nestled in the cirque of the same name. Its wealth comes from the limestone plateau above and the bridge that crosses the river. What a contrast between the cool, green gorge and the arid plateau! But these are two sides of the same interactive landscape. It's up to you to discover them.

A walk to discover this pretty little medieval town in the Gorges du Tarn, one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France".

This descent between the two beautiful villages of the Gorges du Tarn is ideal for those who want to explore the gorges at a leisurely pace, with an easy route and plenty to see.

This beautiful and varied hike combines a walk along the banks of the Gorges du Tarn with the discovery of magnificent hamlets and villages in the Causse region, followed by a return trip across the Causse Méjean plateau in a remarkable wooded environment. The absolute calm of the causse contrasts with the hustle and bustle of La Malène and the constant stream of canoes descending the gorges. But the prospect of a welcome swim in the summer months will quickly help you forget this inconvenience. The harmonious blend of majestic landscapes and picturesque, well-preserved traditional buildings makes this circuit particularly appealing.

This walk takes you on a journey through the Causse de Sauveterre, the Causse de Séverac, the Causse Méjean, the Aubrac mountains and all the way to the Aigoual. A small car park is available in the centre of the village of Soulages.

A trail linking Caussenard heritage, an old drovers' road and breathtaking views: from the heights of the Causses foothills, you can see the Lot Valley stretching into the distance, as well as the Aubrac plateau.

An easy hike on the Causse Méjean, passing through three hamlets. You can visit a protohistoric enclosure at the highest point of the hike and see the karstic cave near the hamlet of Hure.

Starting from the charming hamlet of Drigas, this short hike offers a condensed version of the Causse Méjean with the discovery of a dolmen, a lavogne, a karstic cave, a beautiful stone cross and two typical hamlets with remarkable architecture. All this in an open landscape, with wide open spaces interspersed with wooded areas where pine trees reign supreme. An ideal half-day break to recharge your batteries in the great silence of the causse.

On the rocky spur overlooking the Lot, downstream from Chanac, there are two settlements: Le Villard Vieux, the first hilltop village, and Le Villard Jeune, the second village. In the Middle Ages, Le Villard was part of the domain of the Château de Chanac, an episcopal possession of which only the famous keep remains today.The route differs from the marked route by remaining below the Causse du Villard before reaching the "fortified" village. The return to Chanac, along the Lot, allows you to see the Château de Ressouches (private) along the way and offers the opportunity to visit the village at the end of the walk.

An easy hike on the Causse Méjan starting from Nivoliers via La Bégude Blanche and La Fretma, a remarkably restored hamlet on the Causse. TheGR®60passes through the wide open spaces reserved for Przewalski's horses... but you'll need a bit of luck to spot them!

Starting from the small village of Paros (no, don't dream, it's not the Cyclades!) above Molines (commune of Ispagnac) in Lozère, this is a beautiful hike with views of the Tarn in the first part, then of the Causse du Sauveterre.

To the west, the Ispagnac valley is closed off by the Causse de Sauveterre, which overlooks it by about 500 metres. The route takes you up from this pleasant countryside to the much harsher landscape of the causse. The two hamlets of Paros and Mas André mark this route, which winds through the woods for almost half of its length.

An easy hike in the mineral world of the Causse Méjean: a plateau marked by both austerity and gentle tranquillity. You will stroll through a landscape full of curves, between hills and sinkholes at the bottom of which you will discover a lavogne (a small, circular depression in the ground) or a small cultivated field: one of the characteristic landscapes of the UNESCO-listed sites. (Route information provided by the Gorges du Tarn, Causses & Cévennes tourist office).

A short walk above Massegros among boxwood, juniper and Scots pine trees, with a beautiful panorama of the western part of the Causse de Sauveterre, the Monts du Lévézou and the foothills of the Aubrac.

Hike on the Corniches du Causse Méjean above the Gorges du Tarn.

Hike on the Causse Méjean, in an environment that was inhabited thousands of years ago...

This route allows you to discover the unusual "Lion" that dominates Balsièges. From its rocky outcrop, it watches over the valley. The hiking trail that runs along the Ravin du Choizal and the slopes of the Causse de Sauveterre will take you to the village of Les Fonts.

Discover the troglodytic chapel and hermitage of San-Chaousou (Saint-Joseph in the local dialect) on the slopes of the Causse de Changefège.

Starting from the hamlet of L'Hom, this hike first takes you to discover the endless spaces of the southern part of the Causse Méjean. Endless grassy and rocky hills, interspersed with cultivated plots and coniferous woods, allow you to take in the immensity of the landscape. It concludes with a visit to the discovery trail of the chaos of Nîmes le Vieux, bristling with hundreds of strangely shaped rocks sculpted by erosion. Informative panels are strategically placed along the trail to complement the experience. A beautiful day, punctuated by visits to the Causse hamlets of L'Hom, Le Veygalier and Villeuneuve, with their remarkable architecture.

A beautiful hike along the edge of the Causse de Sauveterre, above the Tarn valley. Hike modified on 17/05/2023. See practical information. Author's note, July 2023: I redid this route (July 2023) and found it completely disrupted by a recent fire in the upper part of the route. A well-marked trail has been marked in yellow since this event. It deviates slightly from the original route in places but is easy to follow.