L'Avès

Description

On the slope opposite Vialas (the avès), discover hamlets that existed before the village. A treasure trove of heritage is waiting to be discovered on this hike: hamlets with typical architecture, land art in dry-stone walls and the Bonijol mill, restored by stone enthusiasts! Signposts will guide you all along this route, as well as yellow painted waymarks. In the description below, the signposted place names and/or directions are given in bold italics between quotation marks: Climb to “Castagnols” via “Gendarmerie”, “La Vigne”, “Plagette”, “Lou Devez”, “La Tranchée”. At “Castagnols”, return to “Vialas” via “Le Pradet”, “Le Luech”, “Le Crépon”, “La Fontaine du Foirail”. This hike is taken from the guidebook Mont Lozère - Pays des sources, published by the Pôle de pleine nature du Mont Lozère.

Difficulty

Official rating: moderate, by Parc national des Cévennes.

Before you go

• No particular difficulty. 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 all gates and barriers behind you. Shortcut possible via the Valat du Colombert.

Getting there

Start: Entrée de Vialas (en venant du Pont-de-Montvert- Sud-Mont-Lozère), Vialas (48).

Sources

• Track: Parc national des Cévennes, Licence Ouverte 1.0, Licence Ouverte 1.0 (Etalab) (destination.cevennes-parcnational.fr/trek/41400-L-Aves). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
• Official elevation gain: 636 m, Parc national des Cévennes