The gorges of the Rieutord
Following the Rieutord valley, you will enjoy exceptional views of the gorges. First foothills of the southern Cevennes, the Rieutord gorges offer a steep relief where the vegetation is dominated by scrubland with holm oaks and white oaks. The Rieutord crosses Sumène, where it becomes underground, to resurface in Ganges. Sumène is built around the river, which is often dry in summer, but a plaque on the wall of the old wash house reminds us of the levels reached by the Rieutord during devastating floods. Don't miss crossing the Old Bridge: all in stone, two square towers flanking one of its ends mark the entrance to the village. Stroll through the Recordier district, the main tributary of the Rieutord, where the 11th century bridge and the Bémis porch preserve the authenticity of the place.
The crossing of five tunnels and four viaducts will arouse your curiosity, and will punctuate the route with impressive panoramas. These engineering structures, made of stone or wrought iron, are the witnesses of a know-how and of the will of the man to adapt to the geography of the places in order to make progress the rails of this railroad today rehabilitated in soft way.
Cliffs and ledges dominate the route; continue through the Carrière tunnel and you will approach the remarkable Combe Chaude site, a Natura 2000 network, Regional Nature Reserve and Sensitive Natural Area.Interpretation trail of the Combe Chaude Regional Nature Reserve
Allow yourself a slight detour to walk the 3.5 km interpretation trail of the Combe Chaude Nature Reserve. On 56 ha, the reserve offers typically Mediterranean landscapes, a refuge of choice for many endangered species. The steep valley of the Rieutord, the cliffs and the steep ledges with their many caves, are a shelter for birds of prey, such as the peregrine falcon or Bonelli's eagle, but also for bats in hibernation. The trail will give you the opportunity to observe this biodiversity. Punctuated with interpretation panels evoking the landscapes, the fauna and the flora but also the human activities of the valley, this walk is a source of contemplation. So, be respectful of the site and take part in its preservation and tranquillity.
Return to the original route and head towards Ganges. It is always an imposing spectacle which is offered to your glance: the hole of the Eagle, the Aven of the Tunnel, the Baume of Dugou will punctuate your way in the hollow of these karstic rocks. The Minières and Magnanerie viaducts mark out the route. Between stone parapets and counter-ridges, the greenway takes pretty curves which lead you to the Tunnel of the Baraque then to the viaduct of the Bridge of the goats whose red railings are supported by 9 stone arches.
The arrival in Ganges is only a few kilometres away.The Viaduct Promenade
This loop can be done independently of the previous one. Like the greenway from Sumènes to Ganges, the viaduct walk is accessible to hikers, cyclists, rollerbladers and people with reduced mobility. Without danger, and with very few changes in altitude, the 3.5 km long walk leads not far from the villages of Molières-Cavaillac, Bez-et-Esparon and Arre.
Metal bridge of Lavassac
Following the route of the old railway line Tournemire (in Aveyron) - Le Vigan (in the Gard), this railway line built between 1884 and 1895, was disused in 1955. It is thanks to the presence of the remarkable metal bridge of Lavassac, of the "Eiffel" type, that the General Council of the Gard acquired a part of it. Remarkable structure of 418 tons of steel, the bridge stretches over 80 meters, opening your progression in the middle of a luxuriant vegetation.
An omnipresent nature
In order to better penetrate the mountainous terrain of the Cevennes, you will have to cross two tunnels lit by solar energy. This route runs along the large karstic plateaus of the Causse de Blandas on the right bank of the Arre valley which separates them from the granite massif of Linguas and Mont-Aigoual. During this walk, discovering villages and hamlets, and alternating passages along the river, you will also enjoy privileged observation points on the vents of Bez, Brun, Rognes and on the caves of Calles. The Viaduct walk opens onto the Arre river valley, a typical Cevennes valley, dominated in particular by the Rocher d'Esparon, a steep site with dolomitic rocks.
