Michel MonnotDiscovery trail: "The Arboretum of the Hort de Dieu"
L'Esperou
This discovery trail of the small Causse de Canayère is a fabulous journey through time, on the scale of geological time but also, on the scale of the occupation of the site by man, from prehistory to the present day.
This trail spans nearly one hundred million years. It leads from limestone deposits laid down during the Mesozoic Era by a shallow sea, to the schist bedrock that emerged during the Paleozoic Era. It follows fault lines along which the land has subsided by several hundred meters, and it overlooks a stream that has been carving its gorges for nearly three million years. It also allows us to glimpse, beneath this limestone soil, the kilometers of galleries, shafts, and cavities created by infiltrating water.
Have a good journey then, in space and in time!
Departure: Canayère Forest House
Duration: 2 hour
Distance: 3,4km
Elevation: 120m
Parking: access to the forest house via a forest track - 15 minutes - or near the Col des Rhodes on the D710 departmental road towards Camprieu
Markings: yellow
Hiking boots recommended. Pets must be kept on a leash.
The information sheet can be downloaded or is available at our offices in the Mont Aigoual Causses Cévennes Tourist Office.
This trail is part of a network of forest paths and sites that allow visitors to discover the forest and wildlife of the Aigoual massif, in partnership with the French National Forestry Office (ONF). Find information about the Aigoual state forest on the ONF website. The "Aigoual Massif 4 Seasons Nature Hub" project is co-financed by the European Union. Europe is investing in the Massif Central through the European Regional Development Fund.
Pet Friendly : Yes
Details concerning animals • Pets allowed on leash only
Type : Marked loop
Public : Special family with children
yellow markup
Forest track leading to the forester's house - the path has steep slopes and overhangs which present some danger. Significant elevation gain, good shoes recommended.
Discovery trails information sheet, 4-season nature center, Aigoual Massif
Map-guide Natural Areas of the Gard region - Aigoual Massif - €5