Departure from Poulx, a village at the gateway to the Gorges du Gardon massif
The "Classified Site" distinction is intended to highlight the protection of remarkable landscapes. Built areas of architectural interest that are an inherent part of the site can also be included in the classification. In this context, the site of the Gorges du Gardon du Pont du Gard and the Nîmes garrigues obtained this classification in 1982. Its protection perimeter was extended in 2013 to 7760 ha, encompassing the plateaus of the massif and the agricultural fringes bordering the gorges. The communes of Cabrières, Castillon-du-Gard, Collias, Dions, Lédenon, Poulx, Remoulins, Saint-Bonnet-du-Gard, Sainte-Anastasie, Sanilhac-Sagriès and Vers-Pont-du-Gard are concerned.
By granting this classification to the Gardon gorges, the public authorities are ensuring the durability of the site and its remarkable character by introducing regulatory measures commensurate with the heritage excellence of the territory. In addition, since 2015, the Gorges du Gardon have been designated by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve, thus enhancing the conservation of the territory's biodiversity, while ensuring that the public and human activities can be carried out in a reasonable manner.La Baume
From the plateau of Poulx, between the school and the stadium, a slow descent towards the Gardon promises an easy and spectacular walk, even if the stony path requires good footwear to walk well. From the first hairpin of the path, the landscape is breathtaking. The Gardon has carved out the valley to create harmonious gorges, less dizzying than those of the Tarn or the Verdon, but with astonishing geological features. This is where Henri-Georges Clouzot shot a large part of his Wages of Fear and sent Yves Montand and Charles Vanel's truck tumbling a few hundred meters down (the carcasses in the precipices do not date from that time). At the edge of the river bed, two mills have recently been restored by the joint management syndicate. On the other bank, you can admire from afar the cave of the Baume and its hermitage because the floods of 2002 ravaged the threshold that allowed the Gardon to be crossed on dry land. For this other bank, it is from Sanilhac that you will have to leave.
From Poulx to the Source de la Bastide
From " Poulx ", follow " Les Cazaux ", recover a track to join " Serre de la Croix ", cross the road to continue to " Plande Gardian " by the DFCI track B53. At "Plan de Gardian", take the road to "Mandre" and then to "La Boucade". At "La Boucade", turn left towards "La Font", arrive on the RD3, turn left and follow it for about 200m (be careful!) until you reach the post "La Font" and turn right towards "Les Planels". At "Les Planels", leave the small road to take the track on the right towards "Cabrières" to reach "Le Torton". You pass in front of the source of the Bastide.
Water and wind, markers of the territory:
In these landscapes of scrubland, often considered as wasteland, water and wind draw horizons that are pleasant to walk. To go in search of the source of the Bastide, is to traverse a playground damaged by the relief and the elements to finally arrive at a place of the most bucolic where it is good to be ressourcer. Clinging to the hillsides, in this nature of the Gard with the scent of garrigue, Cabrières shelters the remains of a windmill. Walk around it and admire the regularity of its circular construction in local stone. Although it is still standing, it is still a witness to the village's agricultural past. The mill is part of the small local heritage that marks the authenticity of the place nestled at 155 m altitude. From these heights, discover a panorama with shades of green, on the Costières de Nîmes, terrace dominating the plain of the Rhone, stained with vines, the Costières de Nîmes is an AOC marked by the Mediterranean typicity of the soil.From Torton to Poulx
At Le Torton, follow the small road to the right towards Cabrières until the Moulin de Cabrières post (be careful when crossing the RD3!). Then continue on Sariot and Arnon. From Arnon, return to Poulx via Les Paret / Jeu de Martin / Plan de Gardian, then take the same route as before via Serre de la Croix / Les Cazaux / Poulx.
