The Sculpted Rocks at Saint-Chaptes

This short route through the village of Saint-Chaptes in the Gard allows you to discover the rocks sculpted in open garrigue and also gives you a view over the village, its old narrow streets and its castle.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.43 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 13 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 13 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 84 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 69 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S) Leaving the Champ de Foire (fairground), head to the right on to Avenue de la République for 40 metres. You will come to a crossroads with a Protestant church on your left with the first fountain beside it.
Take the narrow street facing you between the building and the pharmacy, which leads to Place Ducros.
At the Place, turn immediately right to take the first narrow street, Rue du Four.

Follow this narrow street and turn left at the first narrow street you meet. It leads to Place de l’Église, the second church in the village (Catholic). Go around the left-hand side of the church and take Rue Peirre Ducros.

(1) Turn right, advance down Avenue Raoul Vezol and pass by the front of the castle on your right. Continue onwards and pass in front of the post office on your left until you reach a crossroads. Take a left down Rue de la Tour and continue on for about fifty metres.

(2) Then take a left turn, before the tight bend, on to Chemin des Roques, the first part of which is tarmacked. After crossing over the stream which runs alongside the village, the Chemin des Roques is no longer tarmacked. Continue straight ahead, following the track until you reach the second crossroads situated at the corner of the large rocks to be visited.
Take the path to the left, then head to the right towards the structure with the famous contemporary sculptures, which overlooks the surrounding garrigue.

(3) On the rocks, you can see Mont Bouquet on the horizon to the north. Towards the east, depending on the weather, you can just make out Mont Ventoux in the distance.
After visiting the rocks, return to the path which you left, heading due north, and follow this path straight ahead passing by an initial intersection on your right.

(4) At the next crossroads, turn left onto a straight path - an old railway line, which was dismantled during the second world war. Follow this path until you reach the next crossroads where you turn left.

(5) Go over the bridge crossing the Ruisseau de l'Arrière (Back Stream) and take the left heading towards the village and the first houses to end up in Rue Adrien Levat.

At the end of the road, take a right angle turn on to the Grand-Rue and pass by the front of the first church again on the right-hand side. Follow Avenue de la République in order to return to your point of departure on your left (E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 71 m - Champ de Foire car park
  2. 1 : km 0.37 - alt. 71 m - To the right, Avenue Raoul Vezol
  3. 2 : km 0.63 - alt. 71 m - Chemin des Roques
  4. 3 : km 2.2 - alt. 84 m - Sculpted Rocks
  5. 4 : km 2.6 - alt. 82 m - Old railway line
  6. 5 : km 3.35 - alt. 75 m - Bridge over the Ruisseau de l'Arrière
  7. S/E : km 4.43 - alt. 71 m - Champ de Foire car park

Practical information

- Depart from, and return to, the Champ de Foire, with parking available.
- Easy hike on well-maintained paths, also possible on mountain/hybrid bikes.
- Take some water with you in the summertime.
- Standard hiking wear.

In the nearby area

To see:
- The village's old narrow streets, historic villages which are typical of the South of France.
- Two churchs (Catholic and Protestant), fountains.
- Delighful farm, family recreation park.
- 12th century chateau (visits are possible in July & August by appointment only).
- Garrigue landscape: alternating sections of crops (cereals and/or vegetables) and vines.
- Duché d'Uzès 15km away, Nîmes 20km away, Alès 40km away, Pont du Gard 30km away.
- Due to its position, Saint-Chaptes acts as a central base from which you can easily explore the area: from heading off to explore the Carmargue, to visiting the edge of the Cévennes mountains.

Events in the village:
-Town festivals in August,
- Witches' Fesitval on 1 November,
- The Camargue Races take place many times throughout the year, in arenas.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 35 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.7 / 5
Route interest
3.3 / 5
REVIENDREZ
REVIENDREZ

The date has not yet been set. Have a nice day.

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missmeteo
missmeteo
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

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SabineB30
SabineB30

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

Very pleasant walk, with no difficulties. The only downside is that access to the rocks is not very easy. A little cleaning or even clearing of undergrowth is necessary. But a pleasant walk for the whole family.

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J-P CLAUDE
J-P CLAUDE

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

Hi, this is a very interesting hike from the end of May, but you should avoid a lot of sunshine. Otherwise do it early in the morning.
Best regards.

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loulou30540
loulou30540

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

Hello. This walk is best done early in the morning or late in the afternoon. There are no trees on the way out of St Chaptes to the Roches Sculptées. It's a 45-minute round trip in the sunshine, depending on the season or the time of day you go, but it's something to see. The walk is not long: 1h15 and easy.

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passepartout
passepartout

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

date of the hike26/03/2022
Well signposted route, a good walk, the only interesting feature being the sculpted rocks.
Easy route for children.

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josianeV
josianeV

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

We did this short walk on 23 February. The signs allow you to follow the path perfectly. As for the interest of the walk, the sculpted rocks, I would say that these sculptures are the work of a local "artist", and are placed there for a reason, and to my taste disfigure the quarry on which they have been placed. I don't understand why such sculptures have been allowed. That's my personal opinion.
Nevertheless, a nice family walk.

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Lucas45
Lucas45

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Perfect for a family outing.
Thank you for showing us around.

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BerVis
BerVis

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Family walk with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside, but beware of the heat

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khoe
khoe

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No


Hi, very easy tour, no difficulties except...the heat
Can be done with children or a pushchair.
Thank you for helping me discover St Chaptes.

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daddle1
daddle1

Overall rating : 3.5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : N/A
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

walk in itself without more. Beautiful sculpted rocks. Worth a visit.

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Enae
Enae

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very easy hike and a pleasant discovery the sculpted rocks.

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Thomasine
Thomasine

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

Lovely walk. No change in altitude and a pleasant winter landscape with beautiful expanses of emerging cereal crops. The sculpted rocks are a real eye-catcher in this surprising setting. The small town of St Chaptes is well worth a visit if you know its history. It's a good time to get your feet wet for new discoveries.

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chanog
chanog

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 13, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

More of a "little stroll" than a hike...
The "Sculpted Rocks" are nevertheless well worth the diversions.

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saint victor
saint victor

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Lovely little walk with sculpted rocks. No difficulties. Thank you for this route

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