THE OLD COURSE OF THE THE HAMLET OF A WORLD UNDER THE EARTH... RECOGNITION AS A WORLDWIDE FORMATION OF THE ON THE PATH OF THE In this landscape, the underground world holds many natural riches. HERITAGE SITE The hamlet of Navacelles was first mentioned in writing in the Throughout the course of history, the caves found there will have tenth century. The monks of the Gélonne abbey in Saint Guilhem P. Ambert le Désert worked the land there. GRAND SITE DE DU provided water for the « caussenard’s » everyday life, clay and calcite The landscape of the Cirque de Navacelles results from a relatively Causse de for pottery, and shelter and refuge for them and their animals. Later on long geological development. The interaction from the river Vis on the The open spaces were dedicated to crops (mostly cereals in the CIRQUE DE NAVACELLES in history, mining of its mineral riches took place from the Middle Ages limestone began 10 millions years ago. The forming of the island in meander, allotments beside the Vis, and vines, fruit and olive to the start of the twentieth century. Navacelles took place 6000 years ago and the waterfall 1000 years ago. trees on the terraces) or to animal breeding, although fish from the river were also a principal component of people’s diet. « Navacelles takes the finder’s breath away : this LANDSCAPES SHAPED BY 5 000 In 1930, there were two school teachers in Navacelles who taught 613m about thirty children. The old school is opposite the church. At amazing rift ripping open the silent and infinite YEARS OF PASTORALISM that period, Navacelles was home to nearly a hundred inhabitants. Causse... » Georgette Milhau. Today, about twenty people live there all year round, alongside six businesses, and a number of second homes. RESOURCEFUL « CAUSSENARD » Alluviums Chalk La Vis Nestled in the heart of the gorges of the Vis, which seperate the Causse of Blandas (Gard) and that of the Larzac (Hérault), the Cirque de Arriving in an area completely covered by forest around 3 000 B.C., the The pronounced bends in the river-bed, meanders of the vis, are settlers opened up the landscape by felling trees, essentially to obtain another remarkable element of the landscape. The meanders are Navacelles is a unique geological feature. Three hundred metres deep, Waterfall VISITS the Cirque is an oxbow lake : a dried-up river meander, left as the Vis grass for their flocks. The people living on the needed to be chiselling themselves in the smooth slopes of the soft limestone. They forged a more direct route through the landscape, creating an eight resourceful and ingenious in order to cope with the challenge of living in are formed through the mechanical erosion of the water. an area of mixed climates : Mediterranean, oceanic and continental. THE HOUSES OF THE SITE metre high waterfall in the process. The emotion linked to this site lies 322m La Vis UNESCO recognised the territory by registering, on 28 June 2011, RIVER-BED FROM THE VIS 6000 THE BLANDAS BELVEDERES not only in the beauty of the Cirque itself, but also in the path that leads the Causses and the Cévennes on the list of worldwide heritage 408m Located only three minutes away from the village of Blandas, the to it, through the vast stretches of the Causse. WATER MANAGEMENT sites, under the title « landscapes depending on mediterranean YEARS AGO belvederes give three impressive viewing points over the Cirque de agropastoralism ». The entire perimeter of the « Grand Site de France The winters are cold and the summers dry and hot. Water is rare on GARD du Cirque de Navacelles » is included in this area. It is the biggest « Oyster » Navacelles and the alignment of the gorge of the Vis. The site building the surface. People collected water in caves, which they stored in water P. Ambert offers a tourist information point, a permanent exhibition about OPERATION «GRAND SITE DE cultural landscape registered in the whole of Europe (3 023 km²). Causse de Blandas containers close to their homes, and constructed extra roofs to increase agropastoralism, a film displaying the archeological remains found on NAVACELLES» The agricultural activity consists of large scale pastoralism, and the the amount of water they could collect. For drinking water for the flocks, growing of the necessary cereals or fodder for the animals’ needs. the Causse and in the Cirque de Navacelles, and a shop and restaurant The Cirque de Navacelles is an ecological and geological wonder. This the bottoms of natural ponds « lavognes » were lined with stones, to where you can buy and enjoy local products. It is accessible to people naturel protected area has obtained the label Grand Site de France in protect them from being trampled by their animals and to preserve the The spectacular Causses and Cévennes present a huge diversity with disabilities. January 5th 2017, given by the Minister of Ecology. The Cirque de of landscapes which have been shaped for thousands of years by Larzac quality of the water. Navacelles then became the 15th Grand Site de France. This label humankind and the environment : the limestone plateaus of the big HÉRAULT Waterfall is based on the exceptional character of the site and on sustainable Causses (the Causse Méjean, the Causse of Sauveterre, the Back development, coordinated through the « Syndicat Mixte du Grand Site EARLY FARMING Causse, the Causse of the Larzac, the Causse of Blandas...) divided by Navacelles du Cirque de Navacelles » partnership. On the plateaux, farmers removed and piled up the stones in « clapas deep gorges (the gorges of the Tarn, of the , of the , of the «The oyster» Vis...) or by green valleys (the valley of the ) and by the jagged relief HÉRAULT » in order to clear the ground to grow cereals and animal fodder. In the Calcium- Chalk of the Cévennes (schist), and the Mont Lozère and Aigoual (granite). carbonate The Cirque de Navacelles is a member of the Grand Site de France gorges, they constructed terraces, or « traversiers ». Around their plots Alluviums La Vis Deposit of Network which counts in 2017 39 most famous and most emblematic of land, the farmers built walls to protect their crops, or to keep the calcium-carbonate sites of our country (Pointe du Raz, Dune du Pilat, Pont du Gard flocks in the fields. They constructed small shelters « cazelles », or « etc.), and welcome more than 32 million visitors per year. capitelles », where they sheltered from the rain and stored their tools. Further information: www.grandsitedefrance.com Due to the process of erosion there is a deposit of calcium-carbonate in On the grazing lands « parcours », they built tracks which led to areas the meander. of higher altitude in summer where they found water and grass. Sheep pens « jasses » were constructed to hold sedentary flocks, or flocks KEY FIGURES making the transhumance. • 46 163 hectares, (462 sq km), 3 causses (Blandas, Larzac, Campestre CROSS SECTION OF THE THE BELVEDERES OF THE BAUME AURIOL et le Luc), the gorge of the Vis and of the Virenque and, at the heart, The « Caussenards » planted « buissonières » so that they were LANDSCAPE You can find the Belvederes of the Baume Auriol at Cirque de the pearl, the Cirque de Navacelles. sheltered from the elements while they herded their flocks. These Navacelles. There is a free, permanent exhibition, « the landscapes of were hedges of small box trees which created paths and archways • 12 complete villages, 7 hamlets, Broad leafed forest P. Ambert the Vis », and documentaries. There is a restaurant and, groups can still visible today, particularly on the Larzac. Downy oak, Beech groves, Tawny owl, Roe deer. Causse de Blandas book guided tours ! • 2 «intercommunalities» (Lodévois and Larzac, Pays Viganais), 2 «conseils départementaux» of the Gard and of the Hérault, AGROPASTORALISM TODAY • 5 257 hectares (13 sq km) of registered site, Over 80 % of the surface covered by the Grand Site de France is used TRACKS AND PATHS Information points are present at three other viewing points offering • 6 «Natura 2000» sites, for agropastoral activities. Larzac • 250 000 visitors per year. different panoramas over the Cirque de Navacelles: between Blandas Modern day agropastoralism is characterised by the diversity of and , between Rogues and Madières, and between St-Maurice production and of the animals that are farmed (sheep, cattle, goats, and the Vacquerie towards the Coulet plain. STONY LANDSCAPES horses, sometimes even llamas and bison). Waterfall By car or by electric bicycles, discover the megaliths, the “caussenards” KARSTIC RELIEF ingenious adaptations, agropastoralism landscapes or even plateaus Originally covered by the sea, the Causses were formed by marine Rugged relief A second important element in the formation of the Cirque de and gorges. These tours are available at the Cirque de Navacelles’ sediment : ocean mud accumulated 200 million years ago. The Cultivated land Dolmitic « chaos ». Navacelles is the erosion of the river-bed surface which results in webiste : www.cirquenavacelles.com/decouverte/les-circuits- numerous fossils present there today bear witness to this. After the last Lucerne, cereals, cornflower, poppy, skylark, quail, waterfalls on the chalk rock. This remarkable landform, from 1000 decouvertes-du-patrimoines marine retreat, 70 million years ago, they dried up and slowly turned goldfinch, kestrel. years ago, is associated with human settlement. Since the cultivation of into limestone rocks. The land mass experienced pressure : 15 million Farming area the fertile land, there is no further deposition. Instead the river erosion Short walks enable you to discover the heritage of the « Grand Site » : years ago, the Causse began to rise, and progessively the relief of the formed a waterfall. - the geology, along the Sotch de Sorbs path (4 km, 1h30) current landscape was formed. - the history, with the walk within itself - the river, along the Moulins de la Foux paths: the resurgence of the Vis Sinkhole and the old mills EROSION AND WATER SHAPE THE EARTH Bats. The water that runs on the surface changes, wears and shapes the In this area, the old mill buildings, renovated between 1999 and 2000, relief. The water rushes underground, through the numerous fissures in are home to a permanent exhibition about the history of the mills, the the plateau, forming wells and river and the amazing speleological research carried out here. galleries, only to emerge lower It is also characterised by the way in which the products are marketed down at the bottom of the valley : either being sold with no « middle man », or directly from the farms A NETWORK OF SPOKESPEOPLE and flow into the Vis. The river themselves, by an increasingly recognisable management strategy (for FOR THE CAUSSES AND CÉVENNES Vis begins on the schist and example agropastoralism and biodiversity, agropastoralism and upkeep Since 2013 a new network has been set up of about 100 people and granite slopes of Saint-Guiral, of the landscape) and a recognition of other uses of/for the land (for organisations to provide an authentic and up-to-date exploration of goes underground at example places to cross fences so paths are accessible to walkers). the Causses and Cévennes. These spokespeople and organisations when it reaches the limestone are passionate about the land and its history, and enable visitors to rocks, and re-emerges at the discover the exceptional and outstanding value of the Causses and the Crags and cliffs Moulins des Foux (old mills). A MIXTURE OF ENVIRONMENTS Cévennes, recognised by UNESCO. Golden eagle, Eagle owl, Peregrine AND EXCEPIONAL BIODIVERSITY falcon, Red billed chough. By visiting and taking part in the different activities offered by the people HISTORY The altitude, the climate, the character of the rocks and human activities working in tourism (farm and site visits, EVERYWHERE (essentially agropastoralism) have shaped a diverse environment which Pine plantations museums, outdoor activities, restaurants While wild in appearance, these has, in turn, favoured exceptional biodiversity : Corisca pine. and cafés) visitors can begin to have gorges and plateaux have long an understanding of the interaction and Les Moulins de la Foux been inhabited and shaped by • The open spaces on the Causse dynamism between/ the landscape and man. Numerous remains bear witness to this rich history, sometimes • The gorges and the cliffs the people who populate it. obvious, sometimes buried in the landscape : at Saint-Martin-de-Castrie • The river Scrubland Grassland an achaeological study revealed the remains of an ancient priory, at the • The « Cirque » and the hamlet www.causses-et-cevennes.fr Roc Castel a ruined castle lies among boulders and we can see the Rock bunting, Tawny pipit, Woodlark, Red-backed shrike, Dartford warbler, Nightjar, River Vis templars’ fortified city at the Couvertoirade. The adjacent diagram illustrates the different areas >>>>> Feather grass, Fescue, Brachypode, Orchids, Box, Juniper, Dog rose, Blackthorn. Watering hole Trout, Kingfisher, Otter, dragonfly The spokespeople can be recognised by this badge : Tree frogs, Toads, Newts.

MEGALITHS... FROM MYTH TO REALITY DISCOVERY GUIDES : Standing and lying stones mark the landscape. Remains from the first Water courses peasants, the dolmens make up collective graves, megalithic witnesses Narrow leaved ash, Alder, The « Regards Vagabonds » collections and the Lodévois and Larzac Willow, Poplar. of complex funeral rites. The menhirs remain mysterious, marking books can give you more up-to date information about this heritage. out territories, and making us think of the people from a little-known society. The stone circles tell the tale of those who lived and gathered together there in an earlier time. GR66

GR71-66 Parc national des Cévennes WELCOME TO THE «GRAND SITE DE Massif de l’Aigoual WALK FRANCE DU CIRQUEGR71D DE NAVACELLES» Circular walks around the Grand Site de France GR60 du Cirque de Navacelles

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c GR71C e Parc naturel régional s GR71 n Source Le Vigan You are in mountainous territory. In order to discover and folllow these different e de la Vis n des Grands Causses n walks, use the following guides available in the tourist offices and in shops : e U ’ v l Millau é e GR7 Map : C d

l e r a i Molières- r • « Causses et Gorges de la Vis, Cirque de Navacelles » Accessible by & d Sauclières Cavaillac A n ’ foot, on horseback and mountain bike. s o L e m Bez-et-Esparon s D999 L’Hospitalet- s e Arre Avèze Guide : u in du-Larzac Ca o GR71A rim Le Pont • « L’Hérault à pied » from the high to the Mediterranean at P GR71D 19 1 Alzon 7 GR60 R • « Le Gard à pied » G D49 18 • « Le Chemin de Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert » D7 La Blaquererie G

Campestre- R

Le Quintanel GR7 48 P Saint-Bresson Leaflets : 1 8 et-Luc D814 Pommiers Navas Ganges • « The Cirque de Navacelles » Causse D158 • « Sorbs et les vallées sèches » Larzac La Rigalderie GR7 de Campestre Montdardier A75 Causse D25 D273 Time Difficulty E11 méridional Height et Luc Distance GR71D GR71 de Blandas Walk D55 D113 Cazilhac gain is 14 Saint-Laurent- (average walking speed) V 7 Blandas le-Minier 13 a Navacelles From the viewing point la L 8 L D413 1 Baume Auriol « The postman’s path » there 4 km 2 hours Difficult 319m a e Nîmes u 17a 5 Rochers and back enq Le Barral de la Tude 895 862 Vir Moulins de 5 Pic d’Anjeau 3 Navacelles From the viewing points Average to 17 Vissec La Foux 5a D48 2 5,7 km 2 hours 300m Cornus Cirque de at Blandas on the GR7 difficult

1 Gorniès 1 ¾

7 12 4 11 3 Les Moulins de la Foux from Vissec 8,4 km Easy 147m MERIDIO R hours

Le Bauras Sorbs Navacelles G

NAUX 10 Les Moulins de la Foux, family version, CAUSSES D7 3a 2,6km 45 mins Easy 154m 4 there and back from the D713

Saint-Affrique M 20 GORGES DE LA VIS LA DE GORGES L D130 Rogues s T Le Cirque de Navacelles and the Moulins 3 ½

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V 10 km Average 167m de la Foux hours CIRQUE 20 D142 a G 6 L 5 Path from Blandas to Navacelles 9,3 km 3 hours Average 300m D151 Roc Castel o 6 r Path from Blandas to the viewing point at 49 864 5a 4km 1 hour Easy 63m GR71C Puech Tudes g 942 Navacelles e Le Roc Blanc 5 ½ s 6 Saint Maurice path 18km Difficult 350m Plateau hour de Madières Guilhaumard d 1 ¼

Saint-Maurice- e is 7 Fontaret wood (bois) path 5,3km Easy 87m D152 hour

Saint-Michel Navacelles V Saint-André- la D1 Calo Rouge path around the Causses at 2 ¾ 50 de-Buèges 8 8,4 km Average 177m M NAVACELLES 7

D155 D155 GR Le Ranquas Blandas hours 21a L P a D9 T

t 4 ½ C r 9 Les Rajols from St Maurice-Navacelles 14 km Average 186m

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Le Clapier u h s o e CIRQUE DE CIRQUE La Vernède m Saint-Jean- s i D152 10 Path la Mare to Rogues 2,4 km 45 min Easy 20m n Saint-Félix- i n 9 GR74 e de-Buèges

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07 11 Oppidum path at Rogues 3 km 1 hour Easy 125m

22 &

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Romiguières orges n G 07

d 2 MAP C e e la Buège 21 d d 12 Cirque de Vissec 4,1km Average 442m é i hours a 08 v l D25 838

e d Puech Agut 08 13 Regagnas path : between Vis and Virenque 10,6km 4 hours Difficult 466m rb Sai 05 O n e n L’ Pégairolles- t- 4 Pégairolles- GR74 G 05a 7 n u de-l’Escalette l i R de-Buèges 2 ½ ’ lh 05a e 14

U e G Path the Tude at Montdardier 8,4 km Average 273m

51 Saint-Pierre- m hours s

The Cirque de Navacelles, inscribed on UNESCO’S world heritage list, n D130

D902 e de-la-Fage Bergerie (sheepfold) du Ténédat from la 2 ½

is at the heart of the Causses and the Cévennes. s 05 05a 15 7km Easy 124m

Roqueredonde c 03 Vacquerie hours

At the feet of the Larzac and the Cévennes, the magnificent o 05 15 La Vacquerie-et- 03a Notre Dame de Parlatges between St Pierre 3 ½ o 05 16 9,5 km Difficult 586m landscape of the gorges of the Vis and the southern Causses bears Saint-Martin- c lt 02 and la Vacquerie hours 16a s 0404 u D151 e D4 a witness to the exceptional relationship between its inhabitants and de-Castries n r 2 ½ U 16a Notre Dame de Parlatges short version 6 km Average 300m ’ é 16 l hours the land : biodiversity, megaliths and agropastoralism... H te ’ D25 n ia Causse L Average to e r va 17 Sorbs and vallées sèches (dry valleys) 11 km 4 hours 243m d Soubès Sainte-Étienne- 3 04 01 difficult 5 de la Selle 6 LEoue Come and discover this fragile and protected area through activities de-Gourgas R s 1 ½ GR71 M G e 17a Sorbs and vallées sèches family version 4km Easy 30m that respect the environment : walks, alone or with a donkey, horse L l hours GR7 T a n 06 i n riding, by electric bike, accompanied and/or explanatory walks.... 52 d 2 e 06 18 Cardabelles path from Campestre and Luc 7,3 km Easy 70m n hours o v é m 2 There is a wide and rich variety of local produce grown and developed C 19 Mont Redon path leave from Homs 6,1 km Easy 119m Les Plans e hours Saint-Privat n here in this amazing landscape. Fozières i & o s From Caylar to la Couvertoirade : South im e 20 17,5km 6 hours Difficult 125m The dedicated producers make their goods available. r s Larzac t s a u GR653 P a Saint-Guilhem- 5 ½ Lodève GR74 21 Haute Vallée de la Lergue path 17,5km Difficult 339m C le-Désert hours GR653 Haute Vallée de la Lergue path family 3 ½ 21a 12,4km Average 173m ALÈS 53 version hours DURING THE D9 MILLAU sses e Cvennes Cau 5 ½ SUMMER TRAVEL Clermont-l’Hérault 0 5 km 22 Falaise de l’Escalette path 17km Difficult 835m BY BUS Saint-Jean- hours Le Vigan Le Lac du Salagou de-la-Blaquière Gorges 0 5 km Ganges du Gardon Le Calar HERE TO HELP YOU : GR (long walk) Green pathways NÎMES Restaurant Tourist offices Crops / farming area Cirque de Navacelles Pont du Gard Outdoor activity offered Causse Footpaths Lodève Lodgings Saint-Guilhem path Picnic area OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES ON THE Heritage site Bridleways/footpaths/moutain bikes St-Guilhem-le-Désert Petite Camargue ARLES Hydraulic valley (may Rugged relief gardoise Camper van car park with Flying site facilities be dry) Bridleways/footpaths MONTPELLIER Leisure activity / themed Grand Site Cirque GRAND SITE DE FRANCE Lac du Salagou activity Camper van car park Car park and departure Area inscribed on de Navacelles Circular trails for mountain bikes. More trails on : without facilities for walks Woody area UNESCO’S world Farming / local produce www.tourisme-lodevois-larzac.fr/pratiquez/velo-vtt.html Sports tours Grand Site heritage list Viewing point, panorama Perimeter of clas- de France Grocery Under the plan the letter or number refers to the table next to this map. Heritage interpretation site sified site Numerous activities are on offer: (NB these are not offical numbers) Mountain bike tours BÉZIERS Grand Site All our travel and mountain bike guides are available at both Maisons de • Walks with a donkey, great for everyone. sites as well as the Tourist Offices in Le Vigan and Lodève. problems I see around me. is being cultivated. I’ll close gates 6 I am aware of the importance • Itineraries on an electrical bicycle, which allow you to explore the CODE OF behind me. I will not disturb any of security for me and the people area without worrying about the hills. FURTHER INFORMATION 2 I’ll find out about and respect animals. I will keep my dog on a lead. Download GPX tracks here: CONDUCT the rules related to the « Grand I am with. www.tourisme-lodevois-larzac.fr/site-vtt-ffc-lodevois-et-larzac • Rides on horseback, accompanied by a guide, who can plan the Site » 4 I respect this natural The « Grand Site de Navacelles » is et tourismecevennesnavacelles.com/circuits-vtt.html best routes for discovering the vast stretches of the Causse. Respect for the Grand Site environment : vegetation, situated in a steep mountainous area. www.cirquenavacelles.com I’ll find out from the tourist offices • A network of varied activities paths de Navacelles where it is possible to camp, bivouac animals, geology. In order for my trip to be a success I need to be well equipped and well 1 I will behave responsibly or park a camper van. I won’t light The natural environment I am in is Trail tours: prepared. I will protect myself from IN THE GARD IN THE HÉRAULT before, during and after my fires : don’t underestimate the risk fragile. Taking shortcuts erodes the Find all the trail running tracks the sun, wind and from falling and I Office de Tourisme Office de Tourisme activity. of fire ! Overnight stays in tents, ground and vegetation, so I’ll stay on at the Belvédères de Blandas des Cévennes Méridionales Lodévois et Larzac will rehydrate myself regularly. I will I’m involved in before I leave and caravans and camper vans are not the paths. I won’t create unnecessary or the Tourist Office in Le +33 (0)4 67 81 01 72 +33 (0)4 67 88 86 44 allowed in classified sites. I will noise. Not take anything home with make sure that at least one other [email protected] [email protected] I’ll take the precautions that are person is aware of my route. Vigan. necessary. stay on signed paths and I will only me. If I see any damage or potential www.tourismecevennesnavacelles.com www.tourisme-lodevois-larzac.com I will give way to people who are use authorised parking places and damage then I will indicate this on services. sentinelles.sportsdenature.fr You can download the Relais du Grand site part of an organised group, and tracks on the website: de Navacelles when necessary to other people in 3 I respect agricultural 5 I respect the environment. http:// Belvédère de Blandas the Grand Site, for example farmers, activities : crops, animals, tree NB no phone network in Philippe Galant, CPIE CM / © cartographies : Jean-Philippe Guillerme C&L / © textes et illustrations : SMGSNav, Cigale Aventure, CPIE CM, CCL&L, CCPV, 2014 © photos : SMGSNav, ANATOME 30770 Blandas I won’t leave any litter in the tourismecevennesnavacelles. forestry workers,or others. I’ll let the plantations countryside and I will take my rubbish the Gorges. +33 (0)9 62 64 35 10 site manager know of any damage or com/espace-trail.html I won’t pick or harvest anything that away with me. © création graphique : © création