Château du Tournel

Description

Beyond its historical importance, the site of Le Tournel also bears witness to ancient schist architecture and reveals a vast landscape shaped over time. This imposing fortress stands out from the summit of a rocky piton encircled by the Lot. In the 12th century, it was the seat in the Gévaudan of the powerful Le Tournel barony. The site is now home to the vestiges of the castle and village of Le Tournel. In the Middle Ages, the barony's lands extended from Mont Goulet to the Bougès massif and from the foothills of the Causse de Sauveterre to Villefort and the Cèze valley. Beyond its historical importance, the site of Le Tournel also offers us a close look at its geological particularities and ancient architecture, and reveals a vast landscape shaped by human activities past and present. Some clarifications: • Your starting-point is opposite the car park, you need to cross the road at the tunnel exit • From Marker 3, you can join the mill on the bank of the river Lot via a staircase (there-and-back) • From Marker 9, you can join a belvedere that overlooks the site of Le Tournel and allows you to read the landscape.

Difficulty

Official rating: very easy, by Parc national des Cévennes.

Before you go

• Horse-riding or mountain-biking are not allowed on or adapted to discovery trails.

Getting there

Start: Parking, Mont Lozère et Goulet (48).

Sources

• Track: Parc national des Cévennes, Licence Ouverte 1.0, Licence Ouverte 1.0 (Etalab) (destination.cevennes-parcnational.fr/trek/38109-Chateau-du-Tournel---sentier-de-decouverte). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
• Official elevation gain: 90 m, Parc national des Cévennes