Saint-Eugène hermitage

Description

Walk through an oak forest with spectacularly shaped rocks and then on top of a cliff overlooking the Chassezac gorge. You will pass the restful Saint-Eugène hermitage perched on the cliff. Entering the Bois de Païolive wood is a bewitching and captivating experience. Its nickname Bois des Fados (Fairy Wood) comes from an imaginative interpretation of its stone blockfield. Signposts will guide you all along this route. In the description below, the signposted place names and/or directions are given in bold italics between quotation marks : From Les Clairières car park, follow “Les 3 seigneurs 0,2 km” (blue waymarks). - At “Les 3 Seigneurs”, follow “St Eugène 0,9 km” (red-and-white waymarks). - At “St Eugène”, walk to “Ermitage St Eugène 0,8 km” (blue waymarks). - At “Ermitage St Eugène”, take a little detour for views over the Chassezac gorge (there-and-back). Then follow “La Gleysasse 1,1 km”. - At “La Gleysasse”, return to Les Clairières car park via “Les 3 Seigneurs 1,2 km”.

Difficulty

Official rating: easy, by Parc national des Cévennes.

Before you go

• This walk, while in the “easy” category, is rocky and steep in parts and slippery when wet. You must have appropriate footwear.
• Make sure your equipment is appropriate for the day’s weather conditions. Remember that the weather changes quickly in the mountains. Take enough water, wear sturdy shoes and put on a hat. Please close any gates and barriers behind you.
• You must stay on the waymarked paths to preserve this fragile environment, which is a protected site of the European network Natura 2000 and a sensitive natural space.

Getting there

Start: Berrias-et-Casteljau, Berrias-et-Casteljau (07).

Sources

• Track: Parc national des Cévennes, Licence Ouverte 1.0, Licence Ouverte 1.0 (Etalab) (destination.cevennes-parcnational.fr/trek/96984-Ermitage-Saint-Eugene). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
• Official elevation gain: 114 m, Parc national des Cévennes