The Pont du Gard from Sernhac

Follow in the footsteps of the Roman aqueduct of Nîmes, between Sernhac and its tunnels and the Pont du Gard, passing through Saint-Bonnet-du-Gard and its fortified church.

Details

n°1901782

Creation:
24 Mar 2019

Last update:
06 Mar 2023

Last review:
10 Nov 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 14.73 km
Average duration: 5h 15
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 377 m
Descent: - 371 m
Highest point: 153 m
Lowest point: 28 m

Country: France
District: Sernhac (30210)
Start/End: N 43.916933° / E 4.551915°
IGN map(s): Ref. 2941OT, 2942OT
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Description of the walk

Park in the tunnel car park in Serhnac.

(S/E) Head towards the Tunnel de la Perrotte, north of the car park. Go through it. At the tunnel exit, turn left and take the drovers' road de Perrotte for a nice climb. Beautiful view of the village of Sernhac. Begin a short descent to reach the^GR®6crossroads.

(1) Take this path on the right towards Saint-Bonnet-du-Gard. You will arrive in front of the cemetery and the^9th-century church, which was fortified in^{the 14th century}.

(2) Descend following the^GR® west-northwest through the village to the D6086 road to Nîmes.

(3) Cross it with caution. Continue straight ahead, then follow the^{GR® trail}, passing in front of the Town Hall and its drystone shelter.
Take the Chemin du Sablas, which climbs gently, then becomes steeper and stonier at the end of the asphalt. You will reach a large DFCI track at the Le Sablas sign.

(4) Take this wide track on the left. Pass a large graffitied cistern and reach a crossroads.

(5) Keep to the right on the^GR®6, which leads to another cistern further on.

(6) Continue along the path on the left which leads into the oak trees. You will reach the remains of the Pont de Valmale. Access the Pont du Gard via a tunnel which opens out at the same level as the aqueduct, on the third floor of the Pont du Gard.

(7) Descend to the water level via the stairs, then take the road that leads to the left bank.

(8) Go back up the stairs, which also support the^{GR® trail}, to reach the^third level. Turn left to reach the Panorama. Then continue along the ruins of the Nîmes aqueduct to the Pont Roupt.

(9) Please note: if a closed gate prevents you from taking the tarmac path that crosses "Mémoires de Heath", pass under the last arch of the aqueduct to head south and return to the banks of the Gardon.

(10) Admire the thousand-year-old olive trees, then cross the Pont du Gard again.

(7) Walk along the right bank of the Gardon to reach a prehistoric cave from the Reindeer Age, then continue on to the seminar area.

(11) Turn right onto the small Combe Roussière path, which leads back to the Sablas crossroads.

(4) Follow the same route as on the way out until you reach the initial^GR®6crossroads.

(1) Stay on the^GR®6, which initially heads south, then east, until you reach the Les Sources sign.

(12) Turn left here and leave the^GR®6. Go through the Cantarelles Tunnel before reaching the tunnel car park in Sernhac (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 59 m - Tunnel car park in Sernhac
1 : km 1.05 - alt. 108 m - Crossroads of the GR6
2 : km 2.22 - alt. 82 m - Church of Saint-Bonnet-du-Gard
3 : km 2.48 - alt. 51 m - Crossing the D6086
4 : km 3.6 - alt. 120 m - Le Sablas
5 : km 4.06 - alt. 144 m - GR6
6 : km 4.96 - alt. 116 m - Cistern
7 : km 5.61 - alt. 67 m - Valmale Bridge - Pont du Gard
8 : km 5.98 - alt. 39 m - Pont du Gard (left bank)
9 : km 7.21 - alt. 61 m - Pont Roupt
10 : km 8.37 - alt. 39 m - Thousand-year-old olive trees on the banks of the Gardon
11 : km 9.24 - alt. 28 m - Building for seminars and conferences
12 : km 14.21 - alt. 107 m - Sign: "Les sources" (The springs)
S/E : km 14.73 - alt. 58 m - Sernhac Tunnel Car Park

Notes

A hat and sunglasses are essential. A small torch is also useful for appreciating the work in the tunnels.

Worth a visit

(S/E) Pérrotte Tunnel: note the work of the labourers, theshield strokes, the location of the oil lamps for lighting and the three chimneys for extracting rubble.
If time permits, visit the beautiful museum at Pont du Gard.
(2) Note the herringbone wall and the remains of a chimney through the gate of a rear courtyard.
(3) Admire the pretty pools and fountain on the right.
(Between 7 and 8) The road that runs parallel to the Pont du Gard was built between 1743 and 1747 by engineer Henri Pitot.
(8) Panorama: This viewpoint allows you to admire the magnificent Pont du Gard.
(10) Admire the thousand-year-old olive trees transplanted here in 1988.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5

Based on 21 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5

Ease of following the route
3.7 / 5

Route interest
4.6 / 5

User 26820524

10 Nov 2025 at 23:15 3600

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route was poorly signposted at the start and on the return journey in certain places. That's a shame.

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Jean-Luc H

26 Oct 2025 at 19:19 3600

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Many difficulties at the start. The tunnel car park seems to no longer exist. At the exit of the Perrotte tunnel, there are paths everywhere, themed trails, we couldn't find the direction of the Drovers' Road of Perrotte and joined the GR6 using GPS.

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PIERRE MONNIER

16 May 2025 at 09:56 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful and fairly easy hike. I completely agree with "contemplative," which perfectly sums up the route.
Nothing more to add except that it's even better in spring.
Don't hesitate to give it a go.
PP and MM

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contemplatif

31 Mar 2025 at 10:03 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike: beautiful scenery + historical interest. At the start of the hike, the Escaunes valley is very pleasant (and informative), and the climb towards Roc de Perrotte with its low walls, olive trees, drystone shelter and view of Sernhac is a real treat! The arrival in St Bonnet is a wonderful discovery: a magnificent fortified church and a beautiful southern village! The rest of the route, ending at the Pont du Gard (whose architecture never ceases to amaze!) and the return journey are also a pleasure (even if you retrace part of the route). Added to this is the passage through two tunnels, one on the way there and one on the way back... All in all, a very enjoyable and enriching day, with sunshine to boot!
Thank you for suggesting this hike.

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chespeel

24 Mar 2025 at 20:54 3600

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a few difficulties at the start. Many paths cross each other along the route, making it difficult to find the right one. Sometimes a little crowded at the Pont du Gard. Interesting route. The Gallo-Roman ruins after the bridge are superb

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valygo

14 Jan 2025 at 08:56 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

As mentioned in all the reviews below, the start and finish are very complicated. We couldn't find the start, but after a few detours we followed a path that went through the middle. After the climb, there were no more problems. The finish at the bridge is splendid.

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Sandrine.B

13 Jan 2025 at 09:04 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful, well-marked route that is easy to follow with GPS guidance. After point 12, we couldn't find the descent, so we took the blue path on the map. After the Roupt bridge, there is a beautiful botanical garden worth seeing. For my taste, there were too many DFIs, so when we could, we took small parallel paths. Despite the freezing cold and gusts of wind (12 January), there were a lot of people, but despite everything, the dogs we encountered were fine (I had mine with me).

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vince07700

18 Nov 2024 at 08:41 3600

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

It's not easy to find your way around the different trails, so you need to keep your phone handy or you risk walking a few extra kilometres.
The walk alternates between footpaths and forest firebreaks.
We came across quite a few hikers on this sunny Sunday.
The first path back from the Pont du Gard seems endless.
A wonderful discovery.

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Candrivainque

29 Oct 2024 at 22:02 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The route is very well marked, except for point 12 (return to Sernhac), where the yellow trail is blocked by a cross, even though it is the one that leads back to the starting point

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Robin.

14 Oct 2024 at 21:52 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Route with a steep incline for the first kilometre, then fairly easy and easily passable. Two places after the Pont du Gard where you have to detour slightly for about ten metres due to vegetation, but this is not difficult. The route is approximately 16 km long with an elevation gain of 450 m.

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yves.drapp

30 Sep 2024 at 08:34 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk that allows you to see the Pont du Gard and follow part of the Roman aqueduct.

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m30

27 Dec 2023 at 23:06 3600 • Edited: 27 Dec 2023 at 23:13 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike, but in my opinion there is too much backtracking on the same paths. I would agree with gillou30 that point 12 needs to be reviewed. The Pont du Gard, tunnels and Gallo-Roman ruins are magnificent.

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Bernard 10

18 Oct 2023 at 11:15 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, easy hike. The destination is the Pont du Gard. The tunnels at the start are worth seeing.

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gillou30

07 Mar 2023 at 17:08 3600

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk in a very popular area.
However, there are two major errors on the route:
at the exit of the first tunnel, you must turn RIGHT and not left as indicated (we lost 20 minutes trudging through the heath trying to find the trail, when the correct path starts 10 metres to the right of the exit...)
2) The route from point 12 needs to be completely revised, unless you bring a machete... It is better to extend the route by 200 metres to avoid arriving at the second tunnel with your legs and arms covered in blood.

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Flo R1.

06 Mar 2023 at 08:17 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A magnificent hike. The start, and therefore the very end, is a little tricky to find compared to the route indicated in the description, due to the multitude of small paths created by the many walkers. We did the hike with our dog in complete safety throughout. There are plenty of shaded spots to take a break if needed. We did it on 5 March and it was already very busy. Avoid it in high season if you don't want to hike with crowds of people.

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Author

clpernes84
12 Walks

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