Gorges du Tarn Attractions 
The canyon-like gorges of the Tarn, which are at their most impressive between Ste-Enimie and Les Vignes and are continued by the fine Gorges de la Jonte between Le Rozier and Meyrueis, are one of the most striking scenic features in France. They can be followed by road and also, in some stretches, by boat.
The Tarn, rising on Mont Lozère in the northeastern and highest part of the Cévennes, follows a winding course hewn deep in the limestone of the Causses. The valley was carved out in a number of phases, the last of which extended over something like a million years, forming sheer cliffs which tower above the valley bottom to heights of up to 500m/1,650ft. After a course of some 375km/235mi the Tarn flows into the Garonne at Moissac, northwest of Toulouse.
The Tarn, rising on Mont Lozère in the northeastern and highest part of the Cévennes, follows a winding course hewn deep in the limestone of the Causses. The valley was carved out in a number of phases, the last of which extended over something like a million years, forming sheer cliffs which tower above the valley bottom to heights of up to 500m/1,650ft. After a course of some 375km/235mi the Tarn flows into the Garonne at Moissac, northwest of Toulouse.
Point Sublime
From the little village of Les Vignes a side road winds steeply up to the most impressive viewpoint in the Gorges, the Point Sublime, 400 m/1,300ft above the bed of the river.
Gorges de la Jonte
The Gorges de la Jonte are less imposing than the Tarn gorges but equally romantic. The gorges are particularly impressive between Le Rozier and Meyrueis; the best viewpoint is the Belvédère des Terrasses, just off the road.
La Malène
After passing Aven Armand, on the Gorges du Tarn driving tour, the next place of any size in the Tarn valley is the finely situated village of La Malène, the starting point of a boat trip of more than one hour through the narrow Détroits ("Straits"), which cannot be reached from the road, to the Cirque des Baumes. The road then runs past the Pas de Souci, where the river disappears under a tumble of rocks.
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Le Rozier, France
From Les Vignes it is possible to take a boat trip to Le Rozier, at the junction of the Tarn and the Jonte. Le Rozier gets its name from the roses grown Gorges du Tarn here by monks in the 11th C. Above the village is the crag of Capluc, with a ruined castle and a view of the Causse Méjean.
Meyrueis - Aven Armand
From Ste Enimie, it is possible either to go south on D986 to the Aven Armand, a magnificent stalactitic cave, with stalagmites up to 30 m/100ft high, which was discovered in 1897 but opened to the public only in 1926.
The 100-meter long cave can be reached through a direct 50-meter vertical chimney. A further shaft goes down a further 90 meters, although it is blocked. The cave is filled with speleothems, many of which are said to resemble animals.
The 100-meter long cave can be reached through a direct 50-meter vertical chimney. A further shaft goes down a further 90 meters, although it is blocked. The cave is filled with speleothems, many of which are said to resemble animals.
Hours
March 20 to April 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Open | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
May 1 to May 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Open | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 |
| Close | 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 |
June 1 to June 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Open | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
July 1 to August 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
September 1 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Open | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 |
| Close | 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 |
October 1 to November 11
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Open | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Disabled
Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Guides
Audio-visual presentations available.
Meyrueis - Dargilan Cave
Near Meyrueis, at an altitude of 850m/2,790ft is an interesting stalactitic cave, the Grotte de Dargilan, 1,600m/1,750yd long, with magnificent stalactites and stalagmites.
In 1890 this became the first cave to be open to the public, although it has been extensively renovated since then. It includes a chaos cave, as well as several erosion galleries. Four new rooms were opened in 1988, and has since been ranked as one of the largest caves in Europe.
In 1890 this became the first cave to be open to the public, although it has been extensively renovated since then. It includes a chaos cave, as well as several erosion galleries. Four new rooms were opened in 1988, and has since been ranked as one of the largest caves in Europe.
Hours
April 1 to June 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 |
July 1 to August 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 |
September 1 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 |
October 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 |
Guides
Guided tour included with admission.
Millau, France
From Le Rozier it is possible to continue to Millau (pop. 21,371), situated in the Tarn basin at an altitude of 379m/1,245ft, a glove-making town with old arcaded houses and a Gothic church.
Millau - Site Archéologique de la Graufesenque
Graufesenque was a center for ceramics. The remains of the site have uncovered more than 600 workshops of potters who manufactured a red terra cotta crockery.
Site Archéologique de la Graufesenque
12100 Millau
F-12100 Millau
France
12100 Millau
F-12100 Millau
France
Hours
January 1 to December 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
May Day / Labor Day (May 1)
All Saints' Day - Christian (November 1)
Remembrance Day / 1918 Armistice Day (November 11)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
May Day / Labor Day (May 1)
All Saints' Day - Christian (November 1)
Remembrance Day / 1918 Armistice Day (November 11)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Montpellier-le-Vieux
From Le Rozier or Millau there is a rewarding trip (12km/7-1/2mi or 18km/11mi) to the rock labyrinth of Montpellier-le- Vieux, a series of bizarre rock formations which in places looks like a ruined town. A walk round the site (signposted) takes about 1.5 hours. From the higher points there are fine views of the Causses.
Sylvanes - Abbey Summer Music, France
This annual month-long festival takes place in the twelfth-century Cistercian Abbey and runs from mid-July to mid-August. There are over a dozen concerts by major symphonies, choral groups, chamber orchestras and famous pianists, as well as various lectures.
Rencontres Culturelles de l'Abbaye de Sylvanès
Abbaye de Sylvanès
F-12360 Camares
France
Abbaye de Sylvanès
F-12360 Camares
France
