Circuit N°13 - 165 kms
De la Beaume-Drobie à la
vallée du Chassezac
JOYEUSE
: 180 m. "The city of Charlemagne" Gallo-Roman ruins.
Ancient fortified town with its houses and cobbled
alleyways in the form of stairs. Fortified
enclosure, La Récluse Tower, Jalès and Le Barry gate
of the 12th c. Renaissance castle: 16th c portal of
Joyeuse's Cardinal (the castle now serves as the
town hall).17th c Church of Gothic Style. Dolmens.
Musée de la Châtaigneraie (Chestnut museum).
LABLACHÈRE
: 289 m. Vast panorama. La Saumes 16th c castle –can't
be visited-: nice façade and beautiful embossed door
dating back to the 17th c. St julien 12th c church.
The basilica Notre Dame de Bon Secours founded in
1680 –pilgrimage on August 15th and september 8th –
Megalithic bridge. Numerous Dolmens. Fountains and
chasms.
PAYZAC
: 400 m. Payzac possesses a church of the 12th c
listed as a historic monument with its altarpiece
and its statue of St Pierre. On the square stands a
funerary crypt. Hamlet of Brès built with red
sandstone.
Explore : Private exhibition of 500 footprints of
vertebrate dinosaurs from the early Triassic period,
found locally. Ask about days and times for visits.
LES VANS
: 170 m. Small town at the foot of the Cévennes
range close to the Chassezac vallley. Old quarter:
Ancient houses, fountains, arches. St Pierre 17th c
church the stalls and altarpiece of which are listed
as historic monuments. Temple with columns. Museum
of Archeology, Geology, Arts and popular traditions.
Naves medieval village. Hermitage St Eugène at
Chassagnes. Magnificent panoramic view. Brahic
Church of the 12th c. "Bois de païolive" (wood).
Dolmens and tumuli. Rural crafts.
SAINTE-MARGUERITE
LAFIGÈRE : 250 m. to 1 000 m.
Romanesque church. Narrow Gorges of the Chassezac
and La Borne Valley. EDF Dam. Former argentiferous
lead mines.
CHAMBONAS
: 110 m. Picturesque village bordering the Chassezac
with its ancient houses. Castle of the 13th c and
18th c: inside decoration of Italian type -non
opened to the public- Park designed by Le Nôtre. A
bridge of the 13th c spans the river Chassezac.
Hamlet of Marvignes and Sielves. Romanesque church
dating from the 12th c listed as an historic
monument, unique nave with its oven vaulted apse.
LES ASSIONS
: 230 m. Situated between Lablachère and Les Vans.
Ancient houses.
Cornilhon: ruins of an old village deserted between
the 14th c and the I5th c.
St-Appolonie: Chapel on the summit of Le Puech hill
at 327 m from which the nearly entire district of
Les Vans and its surroundings can be seen. The old
people would say they could see 21 steeples from
this place. At the foot of the hill : cross-country
cycling route. Chassezac and Salindres banks.
BERRIAS
ET CASTELJAU : 130 m. Lies 10 km from Les
Vans, after driving through the Bois de Païolive
(Païolive woods). the Chassezac Gorges. Historic
headquarters of the Templiers of Jalès -guided tours
all year round, conferences- Casteljau Manor –holiday
residence for family-. 19th c Church.
CHANDOLAS
: 145 m. Alleyways and characteristic houses
in this village located to the most southwesterly
point of the limestone. Maisonneuve 19th c neogothic
Church and 19th c Church. Also to be seen is the
monolithic Ronrédon separated from the cliff and
overlooking the beach of Maisonneuve as well as the
Ranc d'Aven with its caves, dolmens and resurgent
springs
SAINT-ALBAN-AURIOLLES
: 110 m. Alphonse Daudet Museum –Mas de la Vignasse-,
old house dating back to 1515. Wide collection of
family memories, Silk museum.
3 rivers –La Beaume, Ardèche, Chassezac- Natural
resurgences of Bourbouillet and Réméjadou.
14th c Château de Baumefort –Private-.The stations
of the cross and Chapel of the calvary. Numerous
Dolmens.
Banne
: 12th century village with shady and vaulted
streets. Neo-Gothic church. All that remains of the
castle are the very well conserved stables, 54
meters long and 8 metres wide.
