サンフロロンシュルオーゾネットのおすすめMTBライド

Despite its current state, which is essentially in ruins, the castle (or more accurately, Castrum) of Allègre remains impressive and bears witness to nearly 10 centuries of history. It features towers and stately homes, a double rampart, a chapel, and a village. Located at an altitude of 275 meters, overlooking the middle valley of the Cèze, the entire site covers one and a half hectares and offers a sublime panorama of Mont Bouquet and the entire Cévennes (orientation table). Very close to the D37, the tour is best done on foot after leaving your bike in the parking lot.

The Via Ardeche railway cycle path is a nice idea in itself, but unfortunately, the perfect surface (asphalt) is only present in the tunnel sections. The rest is rough concrete, gravel, and even worse. It's pleasantly cool in the tunnel.

The Via Ardeche railway cycle path is a nice idea in itself, but unfortunately, the perfect surface (asphalt) is only present in the tunnel sections. The rest is rough concrete, gravel, and even worse.

Anyone hiking through the hilly landscape around Saint-Jean and Saint-Florent today encounters silent traces of a rich past. Even before coal was mined here, iron was the most important commodity – since ancient times and especially in the Middle Ages. The medieval mines were simple and dangerous. Without ventilation and with shallow tunnels, they followed the iron-rich pyrite veins – often no more than 100 meters long. As early as 1512, a prospector's license cost a whopping 32 florins. The mined ore was further processed locally: From the Middle Ages to the 19th century, the valley was known for its nailsmiths – in 1676 alone, up to 45 masters worked here. Nature also tells its story: The strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo), typical of the garrigue, bears flowers and ripe fruit simultaneously. The rare Jason butterfly (Charaxes jasius), Europe's largest butterfly, lives in its environment and is clearly visible from June to September.

The lake is now virtually closed off. The owner allows fishing upon request. It's still a very idyllic spot.

It looks like another world. Beautiful old walls with lots of moss and trees. Sometimes it's really difficult to ride a mountain bike.

Very beautiful scenery, but in places very narrow for mountain biking.

The Doulovy viaduct is one of the three largest viaducts in the Cévennes. Built in 1876, it was once used to transport coal by train.