Stay Tour of the Aigoual in VAE

A stay combining days on electrically assisted bikes and days of hiking allowing a 100% natural discovery of this territory in the heart of the Cévennes National Park, Biosphere Reserve and International Dark Sky Reserve.

Between the summit of the Aigoual and the Grand Site of the cirque of Navacelles, we will discover, through enhanced itineraries, the "Serres", the "Valats", and the Cevennes villages with a strong heritage, historical and human identity.

Program :

• Day 1: Vigan - Mas de Vézénobres

Arrival at 2:00 pm at the accommodation, the Mas de Vézénobres, in the commune of Avèze near Vigan. Old spinning mill renovated with a lot of charm and taste by a couple of artists. Installation and presentation of the stay. Small pedestrian loop in the afternoon on the banks of the Arre. At the end of the day, you will be able to use your electrically assisted bicycle. Possibility of access to the wellness area with the Finnish sauna fed with wood.

Evening meal taken at the accommodation

Lodging : bed and breakfast (2 nights).

• Day 2 : Loop on the Grand Site of the cirque of Navacelles

Very nice loop from the accommodation. Beautiful ascent to the village of Montdardier, located on the edge of the Causse de Blandas and decorated with its Viollet-le-Duc style castle. Continuation on this arid plateau in limestone landscapes with numerous vestiges of prehistoric occupations: cromlech, dolmen, menhirs. Stop at the panoramic point on the unique site of the Cirque de Navacelles. (Possibility to go and return to the heart of the site and to the resurgence of the mill of Foux)

Duration : 4h30 of cycling without breaks - Course : 55 kms

Elevation gain : 850 meters

Lodging : same as the day before.

• D-3 : E-Bike : Terraced cultivation and sericulture : from Vigan to Valleraugue

Departure by electric bike from the lodging in direction of the High valley of Herault and Valleraugue with crossings of typically Cevennes villages surrounded by terraces of sweet onions (AOP) offering landscapes extremely identity: Mandagout, Taleyrac, Le Mazel, Ardailhés... All these names remind us that we are also in the heart of the country of the Huguenots with all the history around the wars of religion between the King's dragoons and the Camisards at the beginning of the XVIIIth century. Finally, we will pay particular attention throughout the route to the heritage of sericulture (silkworm breeding): from magnaneries to spinning mills, a culturally rich day. A very nice welcome will be reserved for us at the Coconnière in Valleraugue!

Picnic lunch : surprise preparation with its bread oven at Jérôme's, a young producer of sweet onions

Duration : 4h00 of cycling without breaks - Course : 35 kms

Elevation gain : 700 meters

Lodging : Bed and breakfast in the heart of the village of Valleraugue in an old spinning mill (2 nights).

• D4 : Loop at the Col de l'Elze and chestnut tree (hiking)

Very beautiful path from Valleraugue which climbs through the chestnut tree cultures, called "the breadfruit tree" by the Cevennes people. A little before the pass, a stele reminds us of the "maquisards" episode during the second world war. At the Elze pass, a large open area formerly cultivated with rye and buckwheat has become a grazing area for sheep. It offers a superb panorama on the inhospitable foothills of the Aigoual, the valley of Taleyrac and the limestone mountains of Sumène. Return by the village of Campredon and the hamlet of Bessède (birch wood) exposed to the Ubac.

Duration : 5h00 - Course : 12,5 kms

Difference in altitude : 700 meters

Lodging : same as the day before.

• D-5 : VAE : Climbing the Aigoual by the state forest of Aire de Côte

Very nice little road from Valleraugue along the Clarou valley with its incredibly well preserved "bancels". Then the road climbs first to the Pas pass (848m), and after a small flat area to the Espinas pass, moderate ascent to the Aire de Côte lodge, an old forest house built during the replanting of the Aigoual forest at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. Big break at the forest house to recharge the batteries (of the bikes and the men!). Then continuation of the ascent by a very beautiful shaded forest track on the northern slope until the mythical summit of the Aigoual (1565 m) and its weather station. A breathtaking panorama from the sea to the Alps while sweeping the Plomb du Cantal and the Canigou... All this on a very, very, clear day! Visit of the weather museum then great descent to the village of l'Espérou with the ski resort of Prat Peyrot and a last pass: the Serreyrède (1300m) marking the limit of the watershed with its forest house hosting the OT and an exhibition of the Cevennes National Park. A very family and friendly welcome at Monique and Michel's with a real local cuisine!

Duration : 4h30 of cycling without breaks - Course : 37 kms

Elevation gain : 1200 meters

Lodging : bed and breakfast and rural gite in l'Espérou, meals at the inhabitant's (2 nights).

• Day 6 : Cycle option : Lake of Pises and Saint Guiral

Hiking option : Vallée du bonheur and Gouffre de Bramabiau

Option VAE : Route starting from Espérou on the Lingas plateau with little difference in altitude on beautiful forest tracks through wild moors or beautiful beech and coniferous forests. Passage by the site of the lake of Pises, bucolic place in the middle of the massif of Aigoual. Continuation by the equestrian track on the south side of the plateau with beautiful views to the sea. Arrival at the foot of the granite block of the legendary place of Saint Guiral, deposit of the bikes and small hike to go up on this granite block with splendid sight on the causse of Larzac and the plain of Languedoc. Return to l'Espérou by the forest tracks and the small roads.

Duration : 4h00 of cycling without breaks - Course : 44 kms

Elevation gain : 500 meters

Hiking option: departure on foot from Espérou by the "draille", the transhumance path of the ewe flocks still used every year by the flocks of the valley. Small stop at the Serreyrède pass with its pure water fountain, then descent by the Bonheur valley and the ruined abbey of Bonahuc dating from the 10th century. Continuation by this wide valley until the loss of Bonheur and the entrance of the site of the abyss of Bramabiau, phenomenon of underground river and resurgence on a small relic limestone plateau, before joining the village of Camprieu at 1100 m of altitude. Possibility to visit the site of Bramabiau. Then return to Espérou through the forest.

Duration : 4h30 - Course : 12 kms

Difference in altitude : 350 meters

Lodging : same as the day before.

• D7 : Vigan - Col de la Lusette :

Departure from L'Espérou by the small departmental road D329 crossing the whole plateau. Stop at the Col de la Lusette, and a short walk to the monument dedicated to André Chamson, Cévenol writer and academician of the 20th century. A magnificent panorama extends at our feet over the Hérault valley, the Southern Cévennes and up to the Pic Saint Loup. Beginning of the great descent with a stop at Cap de Côte, a stopover place for the transhumance with its gîte (old forest house) lost in the middle of the woods. Continuation of the descent with wide views on the valley, crossing beautiful villages like: Mandagout, Aulas, Bréau... and their protestant history. Arrival in the middle of the day at the Mas de Vézénobres, picnic on site and end of the trip around 2:00 pm.

Duration : 3h00 of cycling without breaks - Course : 32 kms

Vertical drop : 200 meters // negative vertical drop : 950 meters