The panorama of Gardonnenque
In Saint-Geniès-de-Malgoirès, park in the car park between the temple and the boulodrome. If you arrive by train, go to the centre of the village to the street of Marquis Folco de Baroncelli (writer and manadier (1869-1943), disciple of Frédéric Mistral). This is where the route begins. The Marquis made the bullfighting traditions known and codified the free race. Notice the tower of the old bullring, a vestige surmounted by an iron bull (probably "Lou Gandar" which was awarded the "Biou d'Or" in 1955). Go to the traffic lights before the railway and turn left. Take the path to Pouverières and follow the railway line on your right. Admire the panorama on the Gardonnenque plain which is offered to you shortly after your departure. Here, the Bois des Lens are dotted with picturesque villages, and the landscape is divided into plots of land planted with olive trees, vines and mulberry trees, ancient witnesses of the crops that, from the middle of the 18th century, contributed to the growth of the silk industry until the middle of the 19th century.
The cultivation of mulberry trees
At the stop sign, turn right and go straight on. You start to discover olive trees, vineyards and ancient mulberry trees. Around 1740, the cultivation of mulberry trees to feed silkworms in the Cévennes valleys and around Nîmes contributed to the development of this industry until the middle of the 19th century. Originating in China, the silk industry, called sericulture, reached France in the 13th century. It is to Henri IV that we owe the plantation of numerous white mulberry trees, feast of the silkworm, thus changing the landscapes which were dotted with these new cultures. The great frost of 1709 decimated all the chestnut trees, which were then cultivated almost intensively. Thousands of mulberry trees were then planted, whose rapid growth ensured an economic future. In the 18th century, sericulture became an important part of the manufacturing landscape of the Gard, with the construction of numerous silkworm factories recognisable by their high chimneys and large windows. The middle of the 19th century saw the apogee of this industry, which was unfortunately swept away in the 1850s by the pebrine, an epidemic which ravaged all the silkworm farms.
The Loubes cheese factory
Turn right onto the departmental road, pass under the railway bridge. Cross the road before climbing the main street of the village of Montignargues and follow the sign for the cheese factory at Loubes. On the left you can see the old bread oven. The bread baked in the oven by the village baker is celebrated every May 1st. Continue on your way and stop at the cheese factory to discover the goat and sheep milk products. The nearby Leins massif offers beautiful walks.
The Loubatières estate
Go straight on and cross Saint-Bauzély. Small heritage elements are scattered throughout the town. Find the Roman tombstones on the wall of the old home opposite the fountain, go in search of the gargoyle located in the rue du Temple, observe in the town hall the jaw of a Plagiolophus annectens, an extinct mammal. Take a detour to the Domaine des Loubatières, certified High Environmental Value, for a wine and grape juice tasting and/or a guided tour, on Tuesdays, Saturdays, or by appointment. Turn into rue du stade and follow the road to Nîmes until you reach the D210A road, which you take for 10m before turning off onto a vineyard path on your right.
The black truffle
Alternate between vineyards and the countryside, winding your way between roads and paths to La Rouvière. Shortly before arriving at the village built on a hill, enjoy the panorama. You will see around you plantations of truffle oaks. The black truffle of the Pays d'Uzès is one of the 5 "Sites Remarquables du Goût" (Remarkable Sites of Taste) of the Gard (with the Fig of Vézénobres and the AOP Sweet Onion of the Cevennes, Bull of Camargue, Olive and olive oil of Nîmes). This mushroom is harvested in winter with the help of an auxiliary with a developed olfactory sense: dog or pig. To develop and bear fruit, the truffle must be associated with the roots of a tree such as the oak and with specific climatic conditions: a hot summer and a mild winter. This black pearl obtained the national label of Remarkable Taste Site in 2016, raising it, if it were needed, to the rank of treasure of French gastronomy! As you walk around, keep your eyes open: around the oak trees, you may notice the "brûlé", a round mark on the ground where the grass does not grow due to the presence of the precious mushroom. Soft, crunchy and subtly intense, the black truffle can be enjoyed all year round at the best restaurants in the area.
La Rouvière and its tower
Head to the centre of La Rouvière and walk through the old narrow streets to the Place de la République. Take a detour to see the tower. Set on a high place, it rises up to the sky through the roofs of the village. At the bend in the streets of La Rouvière, the tower is firmly anchored on the Place de la République. Square-shaped, it is the water tower of the town. Built in 1951 by the architect Brunel, its structure is made of reinforced concrete covered with a facing of Lens stone whose creamy white finish blends in perfectly with the local habitat. The old wash house is behind the library. Head down the square, past the Temple. Follow the road for about 300m (beware of the busy road), cross over to follow a path on the left.
Saint-Geniès-de-Malgoirès
Continue towards Saint-Geniès-de-Malgoirès in the heart of the vineyards. At the intersection you passed at the beginning of the route, turn right. At the end of this street, walk along the old Combarmond wine and marc distillery, an industrial vestige. Stroll through the village to discover the medieval streets and historical elements. For example, admire the Place du Griffe fountain decorated with three little boys representing the seasons. Follow "Les Boulevards" to find your starting point on the left. In Saint-Geniès-de-Malgoirès, discover the old windmills. The commune has only two windmills left on its territory, whereas the oldest plans of the village underline the existence of 5 to 6 of them along the Esquielle river. The first, the Fontayne mill, located on the road to Uzès, dates from the 17th century. Ceded by the Fontayne family in 1998, renovation work was then undertaken. They were the occasion of a surprising discovery, those of bones having belonged to the last miller, Scipion Laporte (according to the Fontayne family). Inaugurated in 2013, a commemorative plaque marks the access to the mill. The second windmill is visible from the road Salt, north-west of the village. It is the mill of Tavillan. The stone lintel of the mill indicates its construction date, 1723. Surrounded by pine trees, the building is accessible to all. A little anecdote, the mill illustrates the wine bottles of the nearby cooperative cellar!
Also, taste wine or make "Balades Vigneronnes", accessible to all (7.3 km and 10.1 km), proposed by the cooperative cellar Les Vignerons du Malgoirès.
