Walk on the Causse du Larzac.

In centre of Pays de Roquefort you can visit the Roquefort caves and the Templars cities of Ste. Eulalie-de-Cernon, Viala du Pas de Jaux and la Couvertoirade. From here you'll cross part of the Plateau du Larzac and go down to green and colorfull Sorgues Valley.  The next part of this walk you will be heading up to the Plateau de Guilhaumard.

Past rugged rock formations on these limestone plateaus where dinosaurs were found you'll be walking over a steppe-like landscape with fantastic colours and exceptional vegetation.
The ravine, Cirque de Tournemire,  you'll pass beneath as well as to top over footpaths and at save distance of the abyss. Beautiful villages such as Ste Eulalie remind you of the late presence of the Templars.
Often you will meet the only dwellers of these causses: the shephards and their Border Collies with flocks of sheep occasionally passing small brooks walking up the Plateau de Guilhaumard.

http://www.tourisme-aveyron.com/visite_virtuelle/index_uk.htm

History Many different cultures have made their mark on the area of Aveyron and the evidence of very early civilisations is shown in the stone monuments and rich architecture of the past, which include dolmens, menhirs, fortresses, fortified castles, abbeys, churches and in the rock worn out cart tracks. The Romans were in Aveyron from 118BC. The road which linked Rodez and Millau was littered with villas and grand estates. It also connected to the Via Domitia, giving access to the whole Roman Empire. In fact Millau was one of the largest centres of pottery production in the Roman Empire. The early Middle Ages saw the presence of the the Knights Templar in Aveyron. Rouergue and Rodez were sold to finance the Count of Toulouse’s part in the 1st Crusade. rugged rockformations of the causses.

Geology Wide karst plateaus extend in the carbonate rocks of the Grands Causses area, north of Montpellier (south of France). They are surrounded by a hard rock base that feeds important rivers, such as the Tarn River and tributaries, and crosses the plateaus creating deep gorges. The Larzac plateau, the most southern, makes a link with the Mediterranean region. It is traversed by one of the main national roads and another main road under construction from Clermont-Ferrand to Montpellier and Spain. The karst water resource of the plateau, from springs, is used as a water supply for the Millau area (30,000 inhabitants); but it also recharges surface rivers, mainly during the summer and fall when the water level is low, in a region that is well known for water recreation activities, for fish farming and, above all, for sheep farming and Roquefort cheese production.

This is a walk for the walker with some experience.

• Daily distances of 15 - 21 km.
• Walking Grade 2 - 3 (... of  8; see the interpretation)
• Standard package 6 or 7 days (you can add extra consecutive days in any of the hotels you wish)
• Plus package 8 or 9 days (you can add extra consecutive days in any of the hotels you wish)
• In Fondamente you will get the Michelin recommendation "Soirée Gourmande".
• We recommend extra walking days in Ste Eulalie de Cernon , Fondamente and St.Affrique; for a restday we recommend you take and extra night and day in Fondamente.
• For booking this tour, please complete our booking form.

More pictures of Pays de Roquefort

This site provides many pictures of the towns and villages of this walk, (Camarès, Brusque, Abbaye de Sylvanès, le Rougier, Eglise Russe, St.Affrique): http://picasaweb.google.com/Bousiquier/Aveyron2007

Standard & Plus packages.   Basic rate: in €   p.p. in double room, sharing.