Gagnières and its industrial past
The departure is from the parking of the town hall in Gagnières. From there, join the GR®44B at the marker "Gagnières - Sous le Puech" and continue on the right towards the Viaduct of Doulovy. Pass by "Gagnières - Ancienne Voie Ferrée" and "Les Hauts Fourneaux". Medieval city, Gagnières was at the time called Castillon. The alleys and porches still mark this medieval period of the village center. It became Castillon-de-Courry during the Revolution, then Castillon-de-Gannière in 1841, and in 1922 the name of the village was changed to Gannières, after the gold-bearing river that runs through it. Rich in anthracite deposits, mining companies were interested in the Gard town very early on, and from 1832 to 1929, nine pits were created in the industrial landscape of Gagnières. A blast furnace and a railway line were added to these: opened in 1871, the line crossed the mining town and was used to transport coal and metal products. A walk to discover the mining remains of Gagnières is possible by obtaining a description of the circuit from the Town Hall, the Library or the Mine Museum, the starting point of the loop. For 2 hours, walk through the streets in the footsteps of the many industrial, administrative or social buildings linked to this mining past, and in particular the Parran Well, impressive with its 810 m depth. Complete this discovery by visiting the Mine Museum.
The Mining Museum
Located in front of the church, the Mine Museum traces the history of a century of coal mining in the village, and highlights this heritage that forged the past and history of the town. Immerse yourself in the daily life of a coal miner in the mine gallery where miners, wagons, tools and ore-filled cuffat testify to the arduousness of the job. The room of the hanged men, the model of the station and the Parran Pit, written documents and an important collection of minerals testify to the working conditions of the men, but also of the women and children, who were also put to work by the mining companies.
From the "Hauts Fourneaux", continue straight on the GR®44B to reach the viaduct, passing the signposts "La Maisonnette /Tunnel de la Gadilhe", (Be careful, you are passing through the Ardèche, and you will therefore notice a change in the signposting), "La Vernadelle".The Doulovy Viaduct
In this territory where mining took off considerably in the middle of the 19th century, it became urgent to be able to link the whole territory to facilitate the transport of coal and mining products, even if it meant lifting mountains and spanning them! With the construction of the Alès-Bessèges railway, inaugurated in 1857, it was necessary to build a structure capable of crossing the confluence of the Doulovy and Merle rivers. The monumental viaduct stands out in the landscape with its enormous dimensions: 235 m long, 2.35 m wide and 24 arches, the highest of which reaches 35 metres. It is thus one of the three largest viaducts in the Cévennes. Taking this viaduct, which is now pedestrianised, is a unique experience, with the wonderful sensation of being able to touch the tops of the pine trees around you.
Leave the GR®44B to continue in the direction of Chavagnac, passing the signposts "Bois des Bartres", "Les Combes de Banne/Les Costes". At this point, you are back in the Gard. Turn left to reach Chavagnac passing by "Le Saumier". From Chavagnac, go back to Gagnières via "Complexe Sainte-Barbe" and "Les Hauts Fourneaux" to find the GR®44B and come back to the car park by the way of the outward journey : "Gagnières - Ancienne Voie Ferrée", "Gagnières - Sous le Puech".
