To the Tarn Gorge and onwards.

[leedude03]

A brief trip report of our time away down in the Tarn Gorge and then moving on to take in Sid and Ann's chill out.

As usual we took the Newhaven to Dieppe ferry, we find the 11pm sailing the best as it gets us into France nice and early, and that gives us plenty of time to cover as much mileage as we want to down through France, although the downside is it becomes a very long day with a 4 hour break on board the ferry after the ride down from derby to the port, and then straight into the ride down through France.
this trip we would be using mainly peage and nationals on the way down to the Tarn Gorge just to get there as quickly as possible.
Our first overnight stop would be Bourges which is around 250 miles fom Dieppe and add that to the 230 mile down to Newhaven and your 4 hour crossing that becomes 5 hours with the hour added on for time zone change, you can see why it becomes a longish day.

From Bourges our next stop was the Tarn Gorge where we would be camping at Camping Municipal Aux Portes du Sauveterre. this was pre booked something we dont usually do but due to it being the French holiday period we thought it best to do so, an absolute gem of a place not to big, nice and quiet with great views, (ask for plot 11 12 or 13 ) we would be staying there for 8 days total before moving on to Sid and Ann's bash.

There now follows a partly pictorial broadcast (see what i did there) of some of the places we visited and things seen whilst in and around the Tarn Area.

First pictures are the views from the camp site and of the camp site. The Vultures were there every morning.

More to follow.

 

[leedude03]

Mont Aigoual Weather Observatory a little bit about the place coppied from the net.​

At the summit of Mount Aigoual stands the Weather Observatory, built in 1893 with the look of a Victorian manor.
The last inhabited weather station in France, it lets you discover the work of meteorologists through a free exhibition created by Jean Boulet, the station's director from 1981 to 2002. The second half of the exhibition is devoted to the Aigoual mountain; 800 photos will make you want to stay longer in this region to better appreciate it. Don't forget to climb the tower to consult the orientation table that provides the highlight of the show on clear days.

 

[Khulu]

It's a lovely area and great bike riding. I'll make a note of your campsite.

 

[EVskiy]

I am in...

 

[Lord Snooty]

Lovely stuff Lee, looking forward to the rest

 

[leedude03]

ENSEMBLE FORTIFIE DU VILLARD​

We past this little spot on one of ourr ride outs , again this is one of the joys we like about riding around with nothing planned.

A little piece about the place,

To defend the western flank of the Château de Chanac, the bishops of Mende built a particularly solid castral ensemble in Villard around 1220. There remains a vast platform with an entrance door flanked by two round towers and equipped with a portcullis . The whole is extended by a section of rampart provided with loopholes and a walkway. In the northern part, the bases of the square tower can be seen, a dungeon which, after the Revolution, was still 16m high

 

[leedude03]

saint eulalie de cernon.

For the Knights Templar, Sainte-Eulalie was a strategic location. info in the link.

Sainte Eulalie de Cernon, Templar and Hospitaller Commandery of Larzac | Explore Millau

Sainte-Eulalie was a strategic location for the Knights Templar. Nestled in the Cernon valley, the village boasts a number of advantages that successive

www.explore-millau.com

 

[leedude03]

La Cavalerie, We visited here on the way back from saint eulalie de cernon, as we were passing there.

La Cavalerie is an ancient village on the high plateau of Causse de Larzac, founded as Commanderie of the Templiers. The village includes the intact, walled Templiers fortress, where you can still walk the ramparts. With at least one good hotel, cafés and a few shops, this is a pretty tourist destination, but still remains calm and not very crowded.

 

[leedude03]

montrozier,
now i can not find much info on this place but we came across it on the way back from Rodez where we had to go to get a couple of camping gas canisters as we had ran out.

 

[wessie]

montrozier,
now i can not find much info on this place but we came across it on the way back from Rodez

should have gone in the musée

 

[leedude03]

should have gone in the musée

We would have but the arcealogical museum was. Closed so the best we could do was a quick chat to a local who told us the chateaux was privately owned and that we couldn't get to see it.

 

[Tinytim]

Lovely photos Lee.

 

[leedude03]

Viminet.
Vimenet is an old fortified village from the thirteenth century.

The fort of Vimenet was in place in 1360. It has an irregular quadrilateral shape. Of this fort there remains the site of the ramparts, two round corner towers and two portals. The fort was occupied by the English from 1360 (Treaty of Brétigny) to 1368. A wealthy family of farmers, the Costys, lived in their manor house in Aguès (a hamlet of the commune). Their genealogy extended from 1290 to 1909.

 

[leedude03]

And last but not least a few random pics from around the area.
We had fantastic weather while there, went to some great and interesting places, some of the roads we used were nothing more than tracks at times but on the whole the roads were fab.
We spent 8 days there and could have done with a a few more as there are a few places that are only a couple to three hours away that we would have liked to have visited.
I would certainly recommend paying the area a visit if you have never been as there is plenty to see and do, you could even rent a kyak and spend the day on the river tarn.
From the Tarn we moved on to Sid and Ann's where we had a fantastic time, have a look at the forum post of the event.

 

[leedude03]

Thank you all for the kind comments.

 

[Udders]

Excellent!

 

[Si Yates]

Tip top that thanks

 

[Wedgy]

Fantastic pictures and some really interesting background info, it's brightened up a very dull and soggy British evening I can almost feel the sun on my back ! can't wait to get back to France next year ️


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[timeandtide]

Crackiing report and pics - thanks Lee!

 

[snelly]

And last but not least a few random pics from around the area.
We had fantastic weather while there, went to some great and interesting places, some of the roads we used were nothing more than tracks at times but on the whole the roads were fab.
We spent 8 days there and could have done with a a few more as there are a few places that are only a couple to three hours away that we would have liked to have visited.
I would certainly recommend paying the area a visit if you have never been as there is plenty to see and do, you could even rent a kyak and spend the day on the river tarn.
From the Tarn we moved on to Sid and Ann's where we had a fantastic time, have a look at the forum post of the event.


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I've enjoyed your posts;; it was 2007 when we were last down that way and we camped at St Jean du Guard for a few nights and did like you just took rides out and had a look around; it was part of a longer trip that eventually took us up to Nevers for the 24hr racing so not too far from Bourges; and we also had the weather;; the Tarn is a lovely area for riding and exploring;