Читать книгу Walking in the Cevennes. 31 walks and the Tour of Mont Lozere онлайн

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The path continues under a metal bridge where there is a sluice gate and an old mill on the other side. The river becomes calmer now before going over another weir. The main river flows to the right round an untidy island of willows, and there is a wide channel beside the path which leads to a dam – the water has obviously been channelled off here to use for some former industrial process.

Follow the path into Le Vigan, with a disused factory on the left, then go ahead at a crossroads past the Centre Culturale and a swimming pool – on the right is a school. Continue on, crossing a bridge over the road, and turn right onto the Rue Barris, following signs‘Centre ville’to the church and into the main square (1hr 45mins).

WALK 2

Circuit des Maures

Start point Parking at the Hôtel de Ville (Mairie) of Le Vigan Height gain 306m Difficulty Easy – some medium steep uphill to start Time 3hrs 15mins Maps Didier & Richard Top 25 2641 ET Mont Aigoual/Le Vigan 1:25,000 How to get there (from Le Vigan) This walk is from the town itself. Park behind the town hall (Mairie) where there is a lot of space. Signposting Excellent – the GR60A goes to the col where it meets the GR60. Continue on the GR60 until you turn down the mountain. There are also wooden posts with PR21 on them and yellow splashes all the way round the walk – you can’t go wrong!

A relatively easy walk up to a low pass above the town of Le Vigan and then along a delightful ridge before dropping down to walk along the river. According to legend, when the Saracen hordes invaded this area at the start of the eighth century and destroyed the town of Le Vigan, they came by way of the Col des Maures (Maures meaning‘moor’in the ancient Occitan language), which is now indicated as Col des Mourèzes on the IGN map.