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In the heart of the Cévennes

in the countryside

Jaunts around the gîte du Pin en Cévennes

The territories to discover from the cottage of Pin en Cévennes
The Gîte du Pin is located in the Cévennes National Park, in a commune in the Lozère department bordering the Gard department. This location makes it easy to organize day trips in either the Gard or Lozère departments. For hiking enthusiasts, numerous trails start very close to the gîte. The local tourist office can provide you with detailed information for these walks. To explore the wider area, a vehicle will be necessary. This page suggests a few ideas for discoveries and walks.
General view of the Cévennes from the Signal de la Lichére, summit of the Mortissou mountain (7km from the cottage)
For hiking enthusiasts, starting from the Col du Pendedis, you can reach the Signal de La Lichère by following the GR trail that runs along the mountain summit.
The views over the Longue and Galeizon valleys are magnificent. For those who prefer a more leisurely pace, the orientation table can be reached by vehicle; the last kilometer is on a dirt track. From this vantage point, there is a 360° view of the Cévennes mountains, and in the distance, you can make out Mont Ventoux, the Pre-Alps, and other peaks..
Discovery of the stream "Le Galeizon" labeled "Wild river"
The "Wild Rivers Site" label's main objective is to serve as a tool for managers of flowing water environments to improve the protection and conservation of rivers that exhibit good ecological functioning. It should therefore serve to develop both a mark of recognition among the public (environmental quality), a distinction for managers (fishermen, natural parks, etc.), and a collective appreciation of an exceptional territory!
Discovery of a chestnut basketry workshop (1 km from the gîte)
The chestnut tree is the emblematic tree of the Cévennes.
For years, its fruit has allowed the local population to live frugally in this harsh landscape.
The dead wood provided them with warmth during the cold season. Young chestnut saplings were used to make baskets of all sizes for carrying heavy loads on their backs, or smaller items for harvesting fruit.
Serge Bruguière continues these basketry workshops.
Discovery of the French Valley from the Col de Prentigarde (4 km from the gîte)
Cairn on the hiking trail passing through Prentigarde.
Prentigarde orientation table, view over the Vallée Française.
The castle of Calberte (10km from the cottage)
Built on a rocky promontory at an altitude of 410 meters, the fortified castle of Calberte comprises several buildings.
The large, square keep, 11 meters high, dates from the 12th century. An older, rectangular dwelling is attached to it. This dwelling has two levels, and in the 14th century, merlons, crenellations, and a machicolation above its gate were added. Four outbuildings, a round tower, and a castle chapel complete the complex.
Swimming at Lac des Cambous in the Long Valley (16 km from the gîte)
Nestled in an exceptional green setting, the water sports center on Lake Camboux offers a variety of activities: Stand-up paddleboarding, very easy to access, where, standing on a wide, stable board with your long paddle, you can glide peacefully across the calm waters.
You can picnic on site, relax on the banks, rent a mountain bike, enjoy an ice cream, or have a refreshing drink.
Walks around Mont Lozére
The Tarn River rises on the southern slopes of Mont Lozère, at an altitude of nearly 1,600 meters.
Between the peaks of Finiels and Pic Cassini, on a high plateau above Mas Camargue, you will find its main source.
These vast open spaces are ideal for hikers and transhumant herds.
At the Roman-style bridge over the Tarn, you can refresh yourself in the pure, invigorating water of the Tarn, not far from its source.
Walks around the Bougés
The Bougès massif is entirely within the Cévennes National Park. It is part of the Cévennes mountain range.
It is bordered to the north by the Mont Lozère massif, to the south by the Mont Aigoual massif, and to the west by the Sauveterre plateau.
The Signal du Bougès summit reaches an altitude of 1,421 meters.
From this massif, composed of granite boulders, the ancients built magnificent structures.
Walks around the Cham des Bondons site
With its 154 granite menhirs, the site constitutes the second largest concentration of megalithic monuments in Europe after the Carnac alignments in Brittany.
La Cham des Bondons is a limestone plateau of approximately ten square kilometers extending southwest of Mont Lozère, about ten kilometers from Florac.
Located at the entrance to the hamlet of Runes, the waterfall of the same name plunges 58 meters into the Miral River.
Canoeing in the Gorges du Tarn
In the heart of a wild landscape spanning the Cévennes National Park and the Grands Causses Regional Natural Park, this area has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011.
Designated trails allow you to admire these majestic gorges from the Tarn River.
The bamboo plantation of Cévennes in Générargues (50 mins from the gîte)
Ranked among the most beautiful gardens in France, the Bamboo Garden in the Cévennes offers you a moment of connection with nature.
This unique and singular botanical garden showcases more than 1,000 varieties of bamboo, rare flowers, trees, and remarkable plants, creating a magical and completely unexpected escape in the Gard Cévennes.
Discovery of Roman sites in Nimes (1 hour from the cottage)
Nîmes is a Roman city rich in monuments and boasting an exceptional ancient heritage, which can be explored by visiting the Museum of Romanity.
In a single day, you can visit the amphitheater, discover the Maison Carrée, climb to the top of the Tour Magne, stroll through the beautiful Jardins de la Fontaine, and admire the Temple of Diana.
Walk in the Duchy of Uzés (1 hour from the cottage)
The beautiful town of Uzès invites you to lose yourself in its narrow streets, discovering doorways richly decorated with rusticated moldings, pointed and diamond-shaped motifs.
Simply stroll around the famous
Place aux Herbes to enjoy the charms of this ducal city.
Discovery of a medieval Lozère village: La Garde Guerin
From its plateau, La Garde-Guerin overlooks the impressive Chassezac canyon.
A former strategic site on the Régordane Way, which linked the Languedoc coast to the Massif Central, the village was attacked several times but has preserved its watchtower, its houses, and its cobbled streets.