In the footsteps of the Picharlerie resistance fighters

In Moissac-Vallée-Française, park near the town hall, where it is best to arrive early as there are few spaces available. There may be space available behind the town hall, below (meeting room). This is an "official" hike in the commune called Sentier de la Carrière, which runs in the opposite direction to the one described here but is marked in both directions.

Yellow markings along the entire route

(S/E) With your back to the town hall, carefully follow the D983 road to the left and continue to a stone hut at the beginning of a bridge, where a path marked Le Serre branches off to the right.

(1) Follow this path. After about 250 metres, leave the path and take a trail that descends to the right. Continue along this beautiful but, in places, very overgrown trail that climbs up the Valats de Pébénorgue valley.

(2) Ford the Valat de Pébénorgue and continue along the path, which now climbs up the Valat de la Picharlarié. Pass a ruined house. Further up, the path climbs in short hairpin bends: pay close attention to the markings on this section, then take a sharp right turn. It leads to a wide path (cross a metal cable).

(3) Make a short detour to the left to the information panel about the Pacharlerie resistance fighters. Return to the intersection.

(3) Continue straight ahead on the path. You will come to a wide rocky path sloping off to the right.

(4) Make a return trip to enjoy a beautiful view of the Vallée Française and the surrounding mountains. Return to the path.

(4) Continue to the right. Shortly afterwards, the path makes a sharp left turn, passing through the Valat de la Carrière valley, which it climbs. Further on, about 250 m after turning south-east, note a right turn marked with yellow markings.

(5) For a round trip, continue straight ahead on the path to reach the ruins of an old hamlet of charcoal burners, La Carrière. Retrace your steps.

(5) Take the path, which is quite wide and therefore not yet too overgrown, that descends to the left. You will come to a sign (in 2023) indicating not to use a bridge under construction a few metres further on.

(6) Follow the marked path that descends to the left and wade across the stream. Continue along the wide path that continues its descent into the valley, crossing many small streams. You will come to the D983 road.

(7) Follow it carefully to the right to quickly find the car park (S/E). Take a very short return trip to the Pont de Moissac bridge, which has overlooked the Gardon de Sainte-Croix since 1910.

Moderate hike, but the first part is quite difficult because the trail is overgrown with brambles, ferns and other broom. The second part is not difficult.
Standard hiking gear, long sleeves and trousers, walking stick(s) useful.

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here

Photo album here

A beautiful view of the Vallée Française and the surrounding mountains (4).

The Picharlerie maquis

In 1943, STO resisters were housed in a building near (3) in the forest. Soon, the Bir-Hakeim maquis, who had come from Ardèche, joined them. The place then functioned as a "maquis school". Behind the ridge, at Galabertès, the Montaigne maquis took refuge, made up of anti-fascists, mostly German communists, but also Spanish, Luxembourgish, Czech, Yugoslavian and French. But soon, three Feldgendarmes on patrol were killed by Bir-Hakeim, and a fourth was taken prisoner. Reprisals were not long in coming, with 2,000 soldiers confronting the 120 maquisards in the area. Inflicting heavy losses on the enemy, they abandoned their untenable positions to slip through the German defences and, losing three men, later found themselves in the Aigoual maquis.

The hamlet of La Carrière (ruined and returning to nature)

This hamlet, surrounded by meadows, had a rich architecture, with a signal tower that communicated with the one at Castelas in Saint-Étienne. Linked to the proximity of the holm oak, the production of charcoal, used for cooking, was one of the economic activities of the hamlet's inhabitants. The pieces of wood were arranged in a circle around a pipe that served as a chimney. Then the whole thing was covered with broom and earth and the fire was lit. The wood had to burn steadily, without flames. The combustion lasted about ten days and, for the last five days, someone slept on site to ensure that the charcoal did not burn out, even sprinkling it with water if necessary. The earth was then removed and the charcoal was carried down to the valley in sacks.
Source of information: Cévennes National Park