The hundred-year-old cedars
When you enter the Clos de Gaillard natural area, take the left track and walk north-west. At the landmark "La Roque", turn right towards "Les Figuiers". At the first crow's feet, stay on the left track. Soon you will see the first capitelle of this circuit on your left. At the landmark "Les Figuiers", follow the wide track on the right towards the valley of Eau Rare. At the landmark of "l'Eau Rare", a round trip of about 100m in the direction of Clos de Gaillard, will allow you to admire a mazet in a typical environment of the region. Otherwise, the circuit turns left (East) on a track towards the "Cèdres Centenaires".
At the marker "Aire de pique-nique", cut the GR®700 and go up the DFCI track B74. At the high point, turn left to pass the viewpoint and go northwest on a wide track (viewpoints). At the intersection, go straight on (North) and end up at an orientation table (view of the Cévennes). Go back to the previous intersection. Follow the DFCI track B68 to the right. Go past the foot of the hundred-year-old cedars.
At the landmark "Les Cèdres Centenaires", take the GR®700 on your right towards the "Pins Noirs". You will pass in front of the rehabilitated enclosure of Gaillard, then in front of another "capitelle" called the "Grande Seule". Go north-west. At the level of a big tank, leave the GR® on your left and continue North-North-West on the DFCI B1. At the crow's feet, stay left on the main track. At the foot of the electricity pylon, take the track on your left. At the end of this stony path, take the GR® 700 on your right. This wide track runs along the ruisseau du Lac through a variety of vegetation.
At the landmark "Ruisseau du Lac", cross the stream easily and follow the GR®63 towards the Pont de la Farinette. The ascent and descent of this stony path are quickly forgotten in view of the landscapes that are offered to you. At the landmark "Rendez-vous des Chasseurs", follow the direction "La Roque" on your left. On this path, take the first track that goes up on the left. It winds its way up the hillside through the holm oaks, alternating between south and south-east. Arrived in front of a planted stone, continue straight ahead. This track will go along a meadow with a remarkable pine tree. You will see the marker "La Roque" slightly further on your left. At the "La Roque" marker, turn right and, following the same path as on the outward journey, reach your parking place.Le Vallon des chênes
Located in the heart of the Clos des Gaillards communal forest, the Vallon des Chênes is planted with oak trees. On a little more than one hectare, about thirty species were planted between 1995 and 1998. This collection includes oaks representative of the Mediterranean basin, as well as the western Pacific coast of America. These trees were chosen for their hardiness and their potential capacity to adapt to the Mediterranean climate. This "test" area is the object of all the attention of the ONF and the City of Nîmes in order to highlight the most appropriate oak species for the current local climatic conditions, and in the long term, against the backdrop of the climatic changes that we are already seeing.
The Clos Gaillard Sylvetum
Regularly prey to fire during the past centuries and decades, the Gard forest and in particular that of Clos Gaillard burned more than 80% of its surface in 1989. With a view to a rapid reforestation of the area, a reflection has been carried out to redevelop the land with fire-resistant species. In addition to a conservatory of dry fruit trees, a sylvetum was initiated. It is on 4 hectares that a new forest has been planted: resistant to fire, it is also resistant to drought, to the cold of winter and is potentially productive in wood. 7 species now thrive here: Cephalonia fir, Arizona Cypress, Evergreen Cypress, Cedar of Lebanon, Calocedar, Heavy Wood Pine, Salzmann Pine. Special mention should be made of this last species, which is particularly resistant to drought, and whose thick, insulating bark protects it from common fires. The Salzmann Pine is currently being studied for its possible resistance to global warming, an essential point in the evolution of the Gard landscape.
