Pont du Gard

Description

At Saint Bonnet-du-Gard, take the 'chemin du Sablas' towards the north and park at the Place de la Fontaine or 30 m further on, in front of the Town Hall.

(1) You start directly on the GR 6 waymarked in red and white. The tarmacked route ends after the windmill and turns into a gravel path. You will reach a plateau. At the Sablas post, at an altitude of 121 m, don't follow the signs in the direction of Pont du Gard-Combe de Roussière, 2.8 km, as this will be the return route.

(2) Take the left (still on the GR, but the waymarkers are often sometimes quite far apart). Carry on for about 400 m and turn to the right (to the NNE, not shown on the signs, but still on the GR).

(3) Follow the path slightly downhill for about 2 km, you will cross over the remains of the aqueduct. Leave towards the left (still on the GR) where you will find the markers. Take the tunnel to end up directly on the Pont du Gard at the height of the canal. (4)

Leave in the direction of the look out on the left - there are waymarkers. Make the most of the viewpoint and continue on the path downwards toward the bridge. You are on the right bank of the Gardon, go under an arch of the bridge, continue on and take the ramp to cross the bridge over the Gardon.
On your right, you will see the centre with its shops.
You can climb directly ahead to reach the level of the aqueduct.
This second part is not quite as nice as the first part.
Continue on following the GR waymarkers slightly to the left, through the shrubs. The path winds, then goes alongside the ruins of the aqueduct.

(5) It meets a tarmacked route, without traffic, at 57 m, take the left (waymarked GR), cross through a barrier. At the fork, take the left, then a small steep path heading downward to re-join this route. Pass in front of the Saint Pierre chapel, which is in a very bad state.
The route ahead takes you to the Gardon where you can picnic.
Continue on the route in the direction of La Bégude Saint Pierre, waymarked GR, passing by the post of les Bégudes, at an altitude of 34 m, in the direction of Barque Vieille.
Continue along this route which goes alongside the properties, after having passed by a small stream. While the route turns to the right, straight on you will see a path which heads towards the Gardon with warnings about swimming. Access is fairly easy along a large band of gravel. (6)

To return, take the path in the opposite direction to the Pont du Gard. You can find variations in the surroundings of the Pont du Gard. Cross the bridge, take the left and continue in the direction of the car park on the right bank.

(7) After the building marked 'Séminaires & congrès', take the path to the right which climbs upwards, signposted to Bonnet du Gard.
At the end of this long and steady climb through the forest, you reach Le Sablas at an altitude of 121 m, (2) and continue forwards on the stony path which goes back down to the village following the GR waymarking.