St Marcel de Fontfouillouse

Description

Explore the handsome hamlets and villages of this schist valley, and walk the ridge with its high-up views onto Mont Lozère, Fageas mountain and of course Mont Aigoual. The highpoints of this pretty circuit dotted with abandoned hamlets and bancels (crop terraces) is the magnificent 12th-century church of St-Marcel de Fontfouillouse and the 14th-century keep of Monteils. 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: From the car park, start at the signpost “Les Plantiers”. Walk to "Col de Tinquos" via - "Auminières" and - “Fontfouillouse”. - At "Col de Tinquos" continue on the track past the signpost - "Aygues Bernesse" to “Col de l’Espinas”. - At “Col de l’Espinas” take the path on your left and then on your right and go down to the valley floor to “Faveyrolles”. - At “Faveyrolles” walk to “les Plantiers” via “Faveyrolles-Parking” and - “Les Monteils”. NB: in Monteils, take the path below the tower and cross the hamlet going downhill towards the tarred road. Return to “les Plantiers” via “Auminières” (1).

Difficulty

Official rating: moderate, by Parc national des Cévennes.

Before you go

• Before committing yourself to a circuit, ensure that it is suitable for your activity level and ability. Remember that the weather changes quickly in the mountains. Take enough water. Please close all gates and barriers behind you.

Getting there

Start: Les Plantiers, Les Plantiers (30).

Sources

• Track: Parc national des Cévennes, Licence Ouverte 1.0, Licence Ouverte 1.0 (Etalab) (destination.cevennes-parcnational.fr/trek/74828-St-Marcel-de-Fontfouillouse). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
• Official elevation gain: 783 m, Parc national des Cévennes