The Tour du Canourgue

Description

This trail takes you in the footsteps of the lords of the Tour du Canourgue through the remains of a fortified hamlet, where history and architecture mingle. Archaeological excavations carried out at the Tour du Canourgue have shown that it was the keep of a château, which was probably abandoned in the late 14th or early 15th century. A whole set of buildings once backed onto the keep outside the fortifications. Their ruins are today covered by vegetation. Mediaeval castra were built for both prestige and defensive purposes. Did Le Canourgue castrum ever have to defend itself? For two centuries, scholars have evoked the existence of a network of “signalling towers” designed to keep locals safe. Was that Le Canourgue's purpose? The trail passes through a grove of holm oaks before offering you several panoramic viewpoints over the Vallée Française. It then winds uphill through a ruined hamlet to the rocky spur on which stands the keep of Le Canourgue castrum (late 12th or early 13th century). After the defensive ditch, the path follows in the traces of disappeared buildings... Maps and illustrated scenes of mediaeval life have been reproduced inside the keep.

Difficulty

Official rating: easy, by Parc national des Cévennes.

Before you go

• Steep path with sections that are slippery when wet. Be sure to hold children by the hand. Going all the way around the tower is dangerous. After Marker 10, it is advisable to retrace your steps to reach Marker 11. Horse-riding or mountain-biking are not allowed on or adapted to discovery trails.

Getting there

Start: Sur la D 983 entre Barre-des-Cévennes et Pont-Ravagers (Molezon), Molezon (48).

Sources

• Track: Parc national des Cévennes, Licence Ouverte 1.0, Licence Ouverte 1.0 (Etalab) (destination.cevennes-parcnational.fr/trek/37461-La-tour-du-Canourgue). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
• Official elevation gain: 118 m, Parc national des Cévennes