Saint-Laurent-le-Minier walks

A beautiful autumn walk. Moderator's addition: For a slightly tricky section on the descent, it is advisable to do this hike in the opposite direction to the description

From the village of Laroque, take a tour of the Thaurac plateau and its many karstic caves.

A short but fairly difficult hike offering exceptional views of the Gorges de l'Hérault. The climb is on a shady but stony path to reach the vertiginous edge of a cliff. The route is generally well marked except for one section. Moderator's warning on 02/04/2021: Caution! Some sections are overgrown with vegetation; see the reviews of this hike at the bottom of the page

Tour of the Rieutord valley via the ridges between Sumène and Ganges, with the unique feature of crossing the Baume Clauside cave. You will enjoy the typical panoramic views of the southern Cévennes.

This circular hike takes you through the Combe Chaude Nature Reserve, a nesting area for birds of prey and bats in the numerous caves. This limestone barrier overlooks the Rieutord valley and offers a beautiful view of much of the Cévennes in the Gard department. Don't miss the unusual crossing of the Baume Clauside, the climb up the Ranc de Banes offering a 360° panorama from Pic Saint-Loup to Mont Aigoual, and a short tour to discover the village at the end of the circuit.

Le Vigan is not a particularly pretty or touristy town. However, if you stop off there, here's a walk to discover a few aspects of the historic centre and the banks of the river Arre.

This is an easy hike offering sweeping panoramic views of the Buèges and Hérault valleys and the Vis Gorges. The route is straightforward.

This hike will take you to the highest point of the Séranne mountain, the Roc Blanc. Throughout the hike, you will enjoy wide panoramic views of the Buèges and Hérault valleys, the Gorges de la Vis, the Pic Saint-Loup and the Hortus.

From Molières-Calaillac (greenway car park), climb towards Esparon, then descend towards Bez, then Lasfons and along the greenway.

These paths lead to terraces that were once cultivated and offer views of the surrounding hamlets. Most of this hike is in the shade of holm oaks and chestnut trees. You'll feel like you've stepped back in time in these typical Cévennes landscapes.

The hamlet of Cézas, in the commune of Sumène, clings to an altitude of 650 m between the Cagnasses and Fage mountains, in the heart of a national forest. This short mid-mountain route alternates between numerous shaded passages and views of the Cévennes and beyond. On the way, a visit to the 12th-century Priory of Saint-Martin is a must, offering a peaceful spot for a picnic.

This moderately difficult hike offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and Saint-Roman de Codières from the ridge of the Montagne de la Fage.

In the Cardonille massif, south of Ganges, this lovely hike offers beautiful panoramic views of the Cévennes, Mont Aigoual and the Thaurac plateau with its Grotte des Demoiselles. It then approaches the banks of the Hérault via shaded paths and trails, offering a real haven of coolness in the summer. The circuit, which sometimes runs along a balcony, offers beautiful views of the river and its meanders before reaching the picturesque Moulin de Clauzel.

From the cliff top, there is an exceptional view over the Cirque de Navacelles. The Blandas plateau is at an average altitude of 700 metres, offering unobstructed views of the surrounding region. The vegetation is constantly changing, with black pines, cedars, box trees and meadows. This plateau also conceals many prehistoric remains.

This is a magnificent hike in the hills above Saint-Jean-de-Buèges and its valley. The village is worth exploring on the way back. The Buèges valley is well worth a visit. We enjoyed repeating this hike in January 2025. Cold weather but bright sunshine. No notable changes except for a new muddy patch at point 6 and the absence of the pierced rock at point 5. The hike is almost entirely on a balcony, so you'll be in the sun.

A walk downstream along the banks of the Buèges is a bucolic, relaxing route that will delight the uninitiated. Blend into the landscape where nature, in season, displays its thousand colours and seasonal scents, offering a changing and picturesque landscape in all its generosity. The area is cool and the silent, blue-coloured river is ideal for swimming. Pass through the medieval village of Saint-Jean-de-Buèges, which you can visit if you wish.

Take a short tour of the Gorges de la Buèges and, in summer, enjoy this beautiful clear river to cool off.

From the beautiful village of Saint-Jean-de-Buèges, set off to explore the Séranne plateau along paths that are paved with slanting stones in places. After passing through Peyre Martine and the Cirque de la Séranne, the trail takes you back to Pégairolles-de-Buèges where you will discover the source of the Buèges.

A beautiful hike in a magnificent setting, with one of the most beautiful cirques in the region and the resurgence of the Vis.

This walk takes place entirely within the "Les Causses et les Cévennes" site, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Navacelles, you climb up the Gorges de la Vis to its resurgence. After visiting the Moulins de la Foux, the return journey halfway up the southern slope of the Causse de Blandas offers spectacular views of the Gorges de la Vis and the Cirque de Navacelles. You have to walk in the Cirque de Navacelles at least once in your life, that's all there is to it! Don't think twice: just go!

A fairly conventional circuit that lets walkers admire the Cirque de Navacelles and hike in the gorges of La Vis. The ruins of the Moulins de la Foux are the ultimate goal of the hike, with beautiful explanations of these water mills and on the underground portion of the screw, not yet fully explored.

A beautiful walk for the whole family that leads to a spring through the heath.

The route follows part of the drovers' road from Colognac to Mont Aigoual.

A spectacular cirque with breathtaking views.

This magnificent hike is featured on the beautiful Massif de l'Aigoual map published by the Mont Aigoual Causses Tourist Office. Enjoy the diversity of the forests you will pass through, where you will constantly switch between beech, oak, fir and spruce trees. The panoramic views at (3) and at the André Chamson Monument are sublime.

Departure from Mas Baume, where the Asphodèles trail begins.

A circuit on the southern slopes of the Aigoual massif around the Lac des Pises, which can be done in winter on snowshoes (average altitude 1250 m) or on foot.

For experienced hikers, here is a 40 km loop starting from Valleraugue and reaching Aigoual via the famous 4,000 steps. It descends to Lac du Bonheur near Camprieu, then climbs back up to Espérou and ends along the ridges facing Mont Aigoual, which you will have discovered a few hours earlier. This hike is not technically difficult but is very long with some steep sections and requires good stamina.

From Valleraugue, take the famous 4000-step trail that climbs up to the Mont-Aigoual observatory. To complete the loop, follow theGR®6for a long descent through the forest towards Aire de Côte, before finishing with a crossing of the chestnut grove above the hamlet of Berthezène.

This short hike will take you to a remarkable site off the beaten track. From the charming Saint-Étienne de Gabriac chapel, the trail takes you to the banks of the Lamalou before reaching impressive strata of white limestone. These very thick strata have staggered ridges and form a huge staircase, hence the name of the site. This hike must be done in sunny weather to admire the dazzling whiteness of these rocks.

Located at an altitude of 600 m, in the foothills of the Cévennes, Colognac is a typical Cévennes village. The lush vegetation of the meadows, chestnut and oak trees contrasts with the arid heath. You are in the mountains. From the Col des Fosses (900 m), the views stretch north over the Borgne valley to the Barre des Cévennes, and south-west over the Viganais and beyond. At the start, the Mouleyrette mill is a little gem.

Set amid pastures and wooded hills covered with chestnut trees, this Cévennes getaway offers splendid views of the surrounding peaks and valleys.