Circus of Navacelles

In the arid Causses of the Larzac to the north and Blandas to the south, the Vis river has carved an impressive green valley, dominated at its heart by a hill. This is the Cirque de Navacelles, a geological wonder shaped by 600,000 years of patient work.

Straddling the Gard and Hérault departments, the Vis river has carved its bed into the limestone of the southern Causses (Blandas and Larzac), thus forming vast meanders.
Over time, erosion of the rock allowed the river to take the shortest route and abandon its former bed.

Thus was born the Cirque de Navacelles.

To fully appreciate it, you mustn't miss the descent to the bottom of the cirque, which is 300m deep. There, in a verdant oasis near the Vis waterfall, lies the village of Navacelles. A botanical trail, accessible to all, has been created there.
Today, the Cirque de Navacelles is a member of the Grands Sites de France network, and can boast of welcoming more than 250,000 visitors per year.
Since 2011, it has been nestled in the heart of an area listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Causse & Cévennes).

The heritage of the Cirque de Navacelles Grand Site
A joint work of humankind and Nature, the former used its full power to sculpt the land and shape the site's major geological features; the latter patiently added the finishing touches: built-up areas, roads, bridges and paths, retaining walls supporting the terraces, all at the cost of painstaking work to shape the landscape. Magnificent archaeological, geomorphological, and agropastoral heritage sites are found at the Cirque de Navacelles Grand Site.

Hiking and outdoor activities
The Grand Site of the Cirque de Navacelles is a territory where nature and heritage reveal themselves to those who take the time to observe, listen to, and feel it… Walks in complete freedom are wonderful ways to discover the fauna, flora, and also the heritage: lavognes, pastoral enclosures, old bread ovens… Reference works allow you to discover them (map guide, hiking guide…).

THE BELVEDERS OF BLANDAS
Located just 3 minutes from the village of Blandas, they offer three breathtaking viewpoints overlooking the Cirque de Navacelles and the Vis gorges. The Visitor Centre houses a tourist information area, a permanent exhibition on agropastoralism, a film showcasing archaeological discoveries made on the Causse plateau and in the Cirque de Navacelles, a local produce shop, and a restaurant serving regional products. The facilities are accessible to people with disabilities.
Since July 2013, the viewpoints of Les Chênes, La Doline and La Cascade, on the Causse de Blandas, have offered visitors a view of the magnificent geomorphology of the Cirque de Navacelles and have established a respectful dialogue between Man and Earth.

Site accessible to four forms of disability.

​​Spoken Languages:

Pet Friendly : Yes