Saint-André-de-Cruzières walks

Vineyards and olive groves at the foot of the Montagne de la Serre and Serre de Cruzières. Panoramic view of the Barjac plain and the Cévennes.

A short hike with no major difficulties, but best avoided during hot weather. The elevation gain is low, and overall the paths are not too difficult and are often marked in yellow. It is possible to descend to the Cotepatière resurgence and back, preferably after rain, otherwise it is dry. I am providing the details of the "les résurgences" hike, which you walk along for a while.

An unusual walk and nothing too complicated if you’re not claustrophobic.

Starting from the village of Saint-Brès, a lovely walk through the heath between Gard and Ardèche with stunning views from the orientation table at the Chapel of Saint-Privat. The direction indicated is the easiest; this avoids a fairly steep climb to reach the chapel. Do not attempt in very hot weather. You can visit the village of Saint-Sauveur and its church, as well as the village of Saint-Brès, on the way back.

A short walk through the heath dotted with a few dolmens in varying states of repair, but nonetheless interesting for their burial mounds and magnificent limestone slabs, which have unfortunately partially collapsed. You can also see two shepherds’ drystone shelters, known locally as ‘drystone shelters’, one of which is in good condition.

Starting from Saint-Ambroix, a pretty village in the Gard, set off to explore the Gisquet tower and the ruins of the medieval Château de Montalet. A beautiful hike through holm oak woods and chestnut groves.

The Granges Necropolis is one of the most important dolmen sites in Ardèche. This short, easy circuit allows hikers to discover some of them while enjoying the landscape, vegetation and waterways of the limestone plateaus of lower Ardèche.

An easy hike to discover the landscapes of the Ardèche and Gard regions at the Carabasse rocks and, a little further on, the archaeological remains.

The village of Banne is charming and the view from the ruins of the castle, destroyed during the Revolution, is quite breathtaking. The walk described here is very short and easy, unless you prefer not to walk on a stony path. Perfect as a pre-dinner or after-dinner stroll.

The Granzon stream canyon is a magical place that tour operators won't take you to. Go there, but don't tell anyone... The return route is via the plateau and a small road. Those allergic to tarmac may prefer to do a round trip.

A pleasant hike offering the chance to discover, first and foremost, a typical landscape of lush vegetation (particularly holm oaks) interspersed with limestone formations. Also particularly interesting is the crossing of a sharp limestone pavement at the summit of Bannelle. This is a limestone plateau that has been eroded over time, forming joints that give it a ruin-like appearance.

From the Château de Saint-Victor-de-Malcap to the banks of the Cèze, this walk through the fields and small villages of the Gard is an easy one. The only downside is that there are many tarmac or gravel sections. On the plus side: - firstly, this walk remains accessible even after rain - and secondly, these small roads leading to farmhouses have almost no traffic.

A short walk that climbs up to the heights above the charming little village of Banne and descends back down via a pretty paved slanting street.

Starting from Saint-Victor-de-Malcap, this hike consists of two circular loops: the first to the Moulin du Roc Tombé on the banks of the Cèze and the second on the shores of the Lerou lake. Beautiful passages through a forest of fir and pine trees.

Following good paths through holm oak trees, this hike will take you to the ridges of the Grospierres hills with beautiful views, sometimes towards the Basse Ardèche on the south side, sometimes towards the mountains on the north side. On the way back, you can see the Notre-Dame des Songes chapel, the abandoned village of Chastelas and the Font Vive resurgence with its green water.

This hike will take you to a megalithic necropolis and a desert plain inhabited long ago by those who were buried there. It will take you to the village of Berrias, up to the Païolive woods, which you will cross, and then to the hermitage of Saint-Eugène, which is still in use, before allowing you to admire the Chassezac gorges from the magnificent cliff.

This circular loop starts in Saint-Jean-de-Maruéjols and heads into the heath via Avéjan, Cabiac, then Serre du Barri and the Ermitage Saint-Ferréol on the banks of the Cèze. It then climbs back up towards Barjac, passing through several charming hamlets. After Barjac, you walk through fields on the plain, along the border of the nearby Ardèche region, through meadows and farmhouses, before returning to the starting point. This circular route is nothing exceptional, but it allows you to discover the heath and the plain with its agricultural activity. Its appeal lies in combining a challenging hike with very clear and easy-to-follow signage, except for the short passages indicated in the description where you move from one signpost to another.

A hike to discover the banks of the Chassezac, the villages of Berrias and Casteljau, Ardèche hamlets with, as a bonus, a passage through the Bois de Païolive and a view of the Gorges du Chassezac. At the start, when you walk along the Chassezac and in the Bois de Païolive, there are many paths. A GPS may be useful.

A beautiful loop that allows you to discover the Chassezac Gorges with passages at river level and others on the heights with beautiful views. For the more adventurous, there is the possibility of exploring caves. And to wash off (depending on the season), you can relax in the river. Ideal for children, although the cliff passages require parents' full attention.

This family hike begins with magnificent views of the Chassezac gorges, then crosses a karstic rocky chaos in a Tolkien-esque forest. Further on, you will find drystone shelters, ancient dry stone shelters. The return journey offers a classic route through the limestone landscapes of southern Ardèche along a small road that is little used out of season (those allergic to tarmac will find some alternative routes through heath).

A long route through the heath around Chandolas with some very wild paths. The highlight is a final section along a ledge above Chassezac, which is dizzying but not difficult provided you remain cautious. The use of a map app is strongly recommended, preferably OpenStreetMap, as there are many tracks in the heath.

This route offers beautiful views of the cliffs and gorges of the Chassezac, rocky terrain, ancient dry stone constructions and a return route through a landscape of heath that is perhaps less poetic but nevertheless typical of the southern Ardèche.

A hike with no particular difficulties, on good unpaved paths. You’ll pass through chestnut and pine forests and be treated to some splendid panoramic views. Here and there, traces of past activities remind the hiker that this mountain, now uninhabited, was once a refuge for many people.

After crossing the Bois de Païolive, the route follows the Ruisseau du Granzon. After climbing out of the canyon, the return journey is via the plateau. An enchanting route and landscape. The use of GPS and the Visorando app may be necessary.

This unmarked route, which sometimes even leaves the trails, requires an IGN map and GPS, and leads to remote and wild areas of the Bois de Païolive and the upper part of the Ruisseau du Granzon.

The Païolive forest is an ancient forest in the south of the Ardèche, occupied since prehistoric times, with a remarkable geological context and biodiversity. It overlooks the Chassezac gorges. In this karstic landscape, there are numerous zoomorphic rocks, a multitude of trails and viewpoints, not to mention many caves. Much of the walk is shaded. Really very nice.

A very pleasant hike along the Chassezac, then on the Sentier des Drystone Shelters. Return via the Sentier Roche and a small wood in Païolive. Superb landscape of the Ardèche Cévennes.I recommend using the GPX track as there are countless small paths.Hike for experienced hikers. I rated the walk as difficult not because of its length or elevation gain, but because of the many rocky areas and scree slopes to cross. It is physically demanding between (9) and (10) and from (15) to (S/E) Warning: do not attempt this hike in rainy weather as the rocky, limestone terrain is very slippery.

Discover a particularly interesting wood above the town of Les Vans.Comments about this route: I did this route in 2013, and it turns out that some signs have been added since then (signposts and probably markings), which is to be expected. Hikers can then explore other trails but will always find something unique and interesting in this remarkable wood, with no chance of getting lost.

A beautiful hike in the Auzonnet valley, with stunning scenery but also the constant presence of the region's industrial past, linked to coal, which is sure to captivate you. The medieval village of Saint-Jean-de-Valériscle is also worth a visit. The route is well marked and does not present any particular difficulties.

This is a challenging hike that allows you to discover different aspects of the southern Cévennes countryside, passing through forests and superb panoramas, as well as villages and hamlets. The climb from Robiac to the Chapelle Lacham is challenging, with some steep sections, but the scenery is well worth the effort. The descent from the chapel to Saint-Florent-sur-Auzonnet is also challenging, due to the large unstable rocks typical of the Cévennes over much of the descent.

This hike allows you to discover the Combe Fille Dolmen, then the Sous-Planas Dolmen, different views of the Ardèche foothills to the Lozère Mountains, a small drystone shelter in a magnificent holm oak undergrowth, the Chapel of Notre-Dame des Songes, the ruins of the "Chastelas" and finally the Font Vive Resurgence.

The easiest and authorised route to reach the ruins of "Chastelas" and the Font Vive resurgence is via a superb ridge line above the village.

One of the most beautiful routes in the Vans region, both in terms of scenery and heritage. Balcony paths, chestnut groves and drying rooms, a gold-bearing river, low walls and beehives carved into chestnut tree trunks: everything invites you to discover this enclave of the Ardèche and its hamlets, which were once only accessible on foot. Be careful, there are steep and very steep ascents and descents. Allow 5 hours for the route, plus extra time for wandering around.

This is an easy hike that takes you to the summit of the Pays des Vans at an altitude of 910 metres. Beautiful 360-degree panoramic views.

Contrasting landscapes between the southern scrubland and the deep gullies in the clay-limestone marl. Fossil footprints, botanical path, abrupt change of vegetation between limestone strata and Cevennes shale, and return by a path overlooking the Chassezac river. Very pretty and picturesque village of Naves. That's what's on the menu of this spectacular hike which takes you around the west of Les Vans.

Short circular loop in a cirque near the charming village of Naves, next to Les Vans. You can combine this outing with the Cirque du Bourdaric. A great outing for geology enthusiasts.

A very beautiful walk from the charming village of Naves. This walk can be combined with the Malarce cirque.