Gorge Du Tarn

[teejay]

As per title shall be staying 2 nights at Millau in June which will give us a spare day to explore the area around Gorge du Tarn.

I am sure we can sort a route out, or just bimble around the area, any suggestions for a days ride, must see etc,

Thanks

Teejay

 

[Gazzabart]

make sure u know how to cross the Millau bridge
cos its not in Millau
but the Gorge is stunning to ride round

 

[Dansin]

The ride up or down the gorge is great. Watch out for the seasoned bikers getting their knees down and be patient with the motor homes. The canoe hire vans also drive like men possessed and will sit six inches from your arse, but ignore them and enjoy the view.

We liked it so much we stayed at the place just over the little bridge for a couple of nights. Went a bit further up river, hired a canoe and paddled down the river for the day with a few beers, a bottle of vin rouge, some cheese and bread.

Edit:- If you use the autoroute, at Millau the far right lane of the peage was free for bikes the last time we were there (2009) too.

 

[Canuck]

if you use a garmin i can send you a track log of mine that has some great roads on it.

 

[teejay]

Yes run Garmin 2610 so route would be useful.

Have been to Millau in 2008 so know where the bridge is!!!! but planned extra day this time for the Gorge hence the post.

Gorge du Verdon after this to get the whole set!!!, but I know where I am going on that one


Teejay

 

[Wapping]

We liked it so much we stayed at the place just over the little bridge for a couple of nights.

Does the place have a name, as it's nice?

Hotel any good? Name?

 

[modelman]

Does the place have a name, as it's nice?

Hotel any good? Name?

yes - names would help

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Does the place have a name, as it's nice?

Hotel any good? Name?

I've been there, it's on the road through the Tarn Gorge on the way to Florac

I shall research my archives & a smashing b&b nearby

EDIT - I think it's St Enimie

 

[Dansin]

Does the place have a name, as it's nice?

Hotel any good? Name?

The hotel is the Auberge de la Cascade at St Chely Du Tarn. Chap who owned it insisted we keep our bike in his garage. Rooms we're ok for a couple of nights and the setting is great.

I've been there, it's on the road through the Tarn Gorge on the way to Florac

I shall research my archives & a smashing b&b nearby

EDIT - I think it's St Enimie

We tried to stay in St Eminie (the next town up the river) but everywhere was fully booked when we got there. That's where we hired a canoe from.

 

[Wapping]

Cheers

I asked because if bods enter +tarn+hotel into Search, your post should pop-up..... and it does, top of the list.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Cheers

You're welcome

I shall determine the b&b details shortly

 

[SM46]

As per title shall be staying 2 nights at Millau in June which will give us a spare day to explore the area around Gorge du Tarn.

I am sure we can sort a route out, or just bimble around the area, any suggestions for a days ride, must see etc,

Thanks

Teejay

Staffordians invade Millau We're there the 1st week in June, probably the second half of the week as we'll have done the Pyreness by then
Have good un

Sorry for the hijack

 

[gspod]

If you're with a loved one and have a spare afternoon try to find the 'cascade de Ruins'. Don't ask me where it is as it was too long ago to remember - ask at a tourist information. It's a fantastic waterfall, well off the beaten track so very quiet. After the initial high fall it cascades down into lots of small pools. We followed the river for about 10 minutes and spent the afternoon skinny dipping.

 

[Wapping]

If you're with a loved one and have a spare afternoon try to find the 'cascade de Ruins'. Don't ask me where it is as it was too long ago to remember - ask at a tourist information.

Cascade de Runes (loved ones optional. If you don't like 'em, push them off) I guess you mean?

It's a fair way away, but maybe 'worth a detour' as Michelin would say.


http://www.francerama.com/escapades/bondons_mont_lozere/en/index.htm

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Cheers

I asked because if bods enter +tarn+hotel into Search, your post should pop-up..... and it does, top of the list.

This is a good place, about 20 mins below St Enimie at a place called Les Vignes

Les Vignes is a small village, with a few hotels and inns, plus B&B's etc

Useful because it has a bridge

I say that because with a bridge - you can make circular routes, in and around the Gorge - rather than being stuck somewhere 'landlocked' with steep cliffs on one side and water on the other

We stayed here in 2009 - La Maison Tranquille in Les Vignes

http://gorgesdutarnchambres.com/accommodation_10.html

Very nice, good food and after dinner a good pub to walk to for a few beers - only has 3 rooms though - so unsuitable for a full tour convoy

Rooms are very, very nice

Another plus, from Les Vignes you can be up and away out of the Gorge to the m/way north of Millau - should you need to press on

Having stayed an extra night longer than we should (because it was so nice), we left the B&B at 8.30am, were on the m/way before 9am - scooted up to the south Loire area and then crossed the Loire Valley and Tours on N roads northwards and were near Caen for 5pm, for an overnight stop before catching the ferry home the next day

 

[AlanI]

A good day tour (without naming every single village etc) is to run up the Gorge south > north to Florac and then head up onto the plateau making your way in a southerly direction. If you locate L'Esperou and the road D986 there are some scary bends around there. You want to then continue on downhill where you'll meet the southerly Gorge. Not perhaps as pretty as the Tarn but impressive non the less.
Whilst riding the Tarn look right from time to time at the top of the cliff faces. There's a good chance you'll see several Eagles sitting on the edge and presumably taking in the view.
Keep in mind that this area is very touristic and the traffic can reflect this. East of the Gorge and down the other side of the plateau are some really nice old world type French villages. There's a lot of recent history around here concerning WW2, Resistance and Collaborators etc which I won't bore you with, but as people either died off or were shot a lot of these villages became deserted and became popular with the Hippy Trippy set who took up residence. A lot came from Holland in the sixties but also a fair few of the English.

 

[Wapping]

Excellent

Thanks to all. This is turning into a good thread.

 

[AlanI]

Now found the scrap pieces of paper/postcards/toilet paper that the wife collected of our route in the area of the Gorge du Tarn. This is all pre GPS days and since we have friends in the area we've never really used a map either.
For anyone interested in camping there's a nice small campsite in the village of Saint Germain de Calberte. Be advised - you're really up in the sticks here. It's owned (still I think) by a Dutch crime writer who lives a stones throw away and managed by relations. For more rural accommodation right up on the plateau there's a place called Le Courby just outside the village (NE) of Saint Pierre des Tripiers. Once again you're right in the sticks but sleep comes easily. We stayed for 3 days a few years back during a long long tour (trying to travel the world in a month LOL) basically to give my right wrist a break which was now starting to bother me.

A nice day trip I can recommend is as follows and starting from Florac as that's easy for everyone to find. Adjust the route accordingly from a convenient starting point. I won't mention all the places to stay/see when travelling through the Gorges as some of these places have already been mentioned and other attractions are really hard to miss along the way.

From Florac travel East along the N106 to the junction of the D984 signposted St Germain 16km - here you turn right.
Really old village this with a small typical French cafe and an interesting bronze statue in the village square behind the Church. I won't spoil the surprise and say why it's interesting but for anyone who can't wait, Google street view shows part of it.
Continue on through the village for a km or two and then turn right onto the D13 signposted Barre de Cevennes 22. You're heading off onto the plateau now (Causse Mejean). At the Barre turn left onto the D62 to Le Pompidou then turn left onto the D61 followed by a right turn onto the D10. Left onto the C1 and right again onto the D19. Right again onto the D18 heading in the direction of La Rozier.
If you've got time, turn right off this road at Le Truel and head for Saint Pierre des Tripiers. Real oldie village and church.
If you want to press on, continue to La Rozier. This is the meeting point of the Gorge du Tarn and the Gorge de la Jonte.
Now turn left (East) onto the D996 and return to Florac. Alternatively, after a few km's turn left off the D996 and return to Florac via the D63/D16.

 

[teejay]

Thanks for everything so far

Teejay

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

I discovered this last year 'by accident' looking for accommodation near the Millau bridge.

This was part of a ride taking in the Pyrenees, Spain and France. Ride report here.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=274632

I was recommended L'Auberge de la Cascade

and was not disappointed

Plenty of outdoor activities and plenty of camp sites

I would go back again without hesitation.