The Barrenc de Picaussel chasm from Belvis

To reach the starting point, return to the village of Belvis. You can park on the main street, Grand Rue du Moulin d'Abbé, along the wall with a large fresco, near the wash house.

(S/E) Head back up towards the village and take the lane on the left.

(1) After passing a few houses, take the small path opposite, leaving the return path on your left.

(2) When the path opens up on the left, leave it by turning right at the sign. You will need to cross a fence wire, and the path is not very clear, but 20 metres further on, you will reach a forest edge with a very steep track that you take downhill. The track narrows and you follow a winding path under the woods. You come out into a clearing.

(3) Cross it and follow the path, which crosses several other paths. You can switch from one to another without risk, as they all intersect very quickly. You will come across various crafts (chimes, pottery, etc.) hanging in the trees or on fences.

(4) Cross a road and continue on the track opposite, along a few fields. Stay on this track and approach a field where a few permanent structures house a summer camp (solar panel, tanks), which you will pass.

(5) Shortly afterwards, leave the track and take a grassy path that climbs to the left. Continue climbing steadily until you reach a crossroads where you will come to a track on your left.

(6) We join the track and take it to the right. We arrive at the Refuge du Maquis (open, with a fireplace and a table inside). A table outside provides a place to rest in the shade.

(7) With your back to the refuge, take the track that branches off to the right (east) in a hairpin bend and continues uphill. Follow this track to the chasm, which you cannot miss, on the right-hand side of the path.

(8) You can read the information panel and enjoy the view of the chasm, which is very well protected. There is a bench for hikers to sit on. Continue along the track to a beautiful viewpoint.

(9) You can see various peaks below you, between which our route will wind its way back to Belvis. Continue along the trail.

(10) Leave the main path and take a small path on the left that descends. Wind your way down the hills until you reach a wider path with two houses in sight.

(11) We leave them on our right and take a steep path on the left that leads to a wide track, which quickly becomes cluttered with dead branches and trees across the path. We continue on this fairly flat path until we reach the first crossroads of the hike.

(1) Continue to the right until you reach the village of Belvis (S/E).

You can visit the wash house in the street or continue on to the porch of the Grotte de la Gauna, visible from the road.

No water points along the route.

A hut with a fireplace and table + outdoor table halfway along the route.