The Grotte de Mueron and Gorges du Blavet in Bagnols-en-Forêt
A stroll in an exceptional place, discovering the gorges of the river Blavet and the cave of Mueron which was inhabited in the Bronze Age.
Ideal in summer and on warmer days, avoid periods of heavy rain.
Technical sheet No. 4098610
Calculated time: 2h20 ? 
Distance : 6.28 km
Vertical gain : 189 m
Vertical drop : 182 m
Highest point : 270 m
Lowest point : 96 m 
Difficulty : Moderate
Back to starting point : Yes
Walking
Location : Bagnols-en-Forêt
(83600) 
Starting point : N 43.528684° / E 6.655044° 
Today's forecast :
Description
Start from the Gorges du Blavet car park.
(1)Take the small path straight ahead which follows the river bed (southwest).
(2)At the crossroads of trails, fork right (southeast) and down to the ford.
(3) Cross the ford then go up the trail on the right (south-southeast) toward the cave. You'll notice a number of climbing routes around the cave.
(4)Continue along the trail up to the Piste de la Lieutenante (GR®51).
(5)Then go left (east) on the GR®51, with read and white route markers. Arrive at the bridge and look bellow at the channel dug into the rock which was used to feed a mill.
(6)Continue east on the GR®51 toward the Piste du Château d'Eau.
(7) When you get to the water tower, climb (northwest) on the small path to reach a track and leave the GR®51, continuing northwest and remaining on the Piste de Bayonne.
Admire the view of the gorges and a large Gallo-Roman oppidum (the former Bagnols).
Continue to the car via the track lined with chestnut trees.
Waypoints :
D/A : km 0 - alt. 212 m - Gorges du Blavet car park
1 : km 0.1 - alt. 213 m
2 : km 1.29 - alt. 181 m - Fork
3 : km 1.42 - alt. 167 m
4 : km 2.34 - alt. 102 m - GR51
5 : km 2.59 - alt. 102 m
6 : km 4.29 - alt. 201 m - Water tower
D/A : km 6.28 - alt. 213 m
Useful Information
No specific equipment, good shoes. In rainy periods the rocks are slippery.
A pleasant stroll throughout the year but avoid periods of rain. Also good in summer as you can take advantage of the shade.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
During the walk or to do/see around
Website link for the Gorges du Blavet and Grotte du Mueron Blavet
Opinions and comments
Average
Global average : 4.11/5
Number of opinions : 3
Clarity of route description : 3.67/5
Clarity of route map : 4.33/5
Walk interest : 4.33/5
Walker
Global average : 4 / 5
Date of walk
: 04/09/21
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest
: ★★★★☆ Good
The first part of the walk is lovely (from 1 up to halfway between markers 3 and 4). At this point the local map recommends turning right back towards the road, I would do this instead of following the walk as recommended here. I did the walk as per this website, and do not recommend doing the walk to 4,5,6 and back to 1. It is a long, boring, tiring and hot walk along a road with no remarkable views of the gorge.
Walker
Global average : 4 / 5
Date of walk
: 13/06/21
Clarity of route description
: ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
Fascinating landscape! The small river with very clear water, the fantastic grotte - and the first half of the walk was in the shade which was very pleasant. It was a bit difficult to find the way here since you need to cross the river twice and it wasn't entirely clear to us when and where that should happen. But there are multiple places this can be accomplished, so with a bit of adventurous spirit it was fine. The second half of the walk is a bit more boring along sandy paths in the sun, but you still get nice views the higher up you get.
Walker
Global average : 4.33 / 5
Date of walk
: 10/05/19
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest
: ★★★★☆ Good
Enjoyable walk, but we did get a little lost early on, as the route description does not mention that you need to cross the river from the right bank to the left bank (going down steam) between waymalkers 1 & 2, before you the re-cross the river from left to right at the ford, to climb up to the cave. You can see this on the map if you look closely.
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.