Article summary: A camping vacation in the Gorges du Tarn takes you up one of France’s most spectacular canyons. We suggest an itinerary to follow during your camping vacation. You’ll discover charming villages (Sainte-Enimie, ranked one of France’s most beautiful villages, Castelbouc, Saint-Chély, La Malène) as well as exceptional natural sites such as the Détroits (600-metre cliffs), the Point Sublime (panorama at 870 metres altitude) and the Cirque des Baumes. The Rocher du Capluc at Le Rozier is the starting point for a beautiful hike from the Gorges du Tarn to the Gorges de la Jonte. All along your itinerary, campsites offer camping pitches for caravans, vans or motorhomes.
Straddling the departments of Lozère and Aveyron, the GORGES DU TARN are among the most spectacular natural sites in France. Be sure to discover them on your camping vacation in Lozère or your camping vacation in Aveyron.
The Gorges du Tarn are a magnificent, winding canyon carved out by the Tarn between the Causse Méjean and Causse du Sauveterre. In the limestone soil of the Grands Causses, the river has taken its time to carve out a deep gash. Bordered by a road that links Millau to Florac without ever straying far from the river, the Gorges du Tarn can be explored by car, on foot or by canoe. Hiking trails allow you to play tightrope walker on the ledges overlooking the high cliffs, veritable stone walls encircling the Tarn. The Route des Gorges is a superb route to take by car. Never boring, this route takes you from village to village through some of the most spectacular scenery in the gorges. A canoe or boat trip offers a different view of the gorges. In particular, you’ll discover the cliffs on the right bank, which can only be glimpsed from the road.
Driving up the Gorges du Tarn with your van or caravan
Castelbouc
As you stroll through the Gorges du Tarn, take time out to visit some of the villages that dot the water’s edge. If you’re discovering the Gorges du Tarn by following the current from Lozère to Aveyron, make Castelbouc your first stop. On the left bank of the Tarn, this semi-troglodytic hamlet seems to be suspended from the cliff, in the shadow of the ruins of its medieval castle on a 60-metre-high crag. Legend has it that a lord left alone among his subjects during the Crusades lived a life of lust. At the time of his death, the silhouette of a goat was said to have flown over the castle, giving the village the name Castelbouc.
Sainte-Enimie
Listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France, this terraced village lies at the foot of an ancient Benedictine monastery in a meander of the Tarn. Legend has it that Princess Enimie, stricken with leprosy, came here to cure her illness in the Burle spring. She withdrew to a cave to live as a hermit high above the village. A chapel now protects the grotto. A path starting opposite the Sainte-Enimie bridge leads to the hermitage (approx. 3/4 hour round trip). From here, you can enjoy a beautiful view over the village.
Saint-Chély
On the left bank of the Tarn, the charming village of Saint-Chély nestles at the bottom of a cirque surrounded by high cliffs, at the foot of the Causse Méjean. In addition to its beautiful church with its square bell tower, its old bridge and its medieval houses, the village is especially noteworthy for its magnificent setting. Two resurgences that cascade into the Tarn complete the picture. Below the village, the beach at Saint-Chély is one of the most beautiful in the Gorges du Tarn.
La Malène
Although La Malène is a pretty village with medieval buildings, it doesn’t have the charm of Sainte-Enimie or Saint-Chély. It is, however, an important stopover in the Gorges du Tarn. It’s the starting point for many canoe trips, and the base for the Malène boatmen. The latter offer boat trips on the emerald waters of the Tarn from La Malène through the Détroits to the cirque des Baumes. Morning is the best time of day for a boat or canoe trip from La Malène. There’s plenty of sunshine during this part of the day.
Les Détroits, the most spectacular part of the Gorges du Tarn
The Straits are the most beautiful and narrowest part of the Gorges du Tarn canyon. Here, the Tarn is hemmed in between sheer cliffs that plunge sheer into the river. In some places, the canyon is no more than 30 metres wide at the bottom of the gorge and 100 metres at the top of the cliffs, between the Causse Méjean and the Causse du Sauveterre. A boat or canoe trip is the best way to enjoy the spectacular scenery of the straits. It’s also the best way to appreciate the depth of the gorges, which at certain points sink 600 metres below the plateau.
Le Cirque des Baumes
The straits end in the cirque des Baumes. Here, the canyon of the Gorges du Tarn widens into a cirque of caves, known as baumas in Occitan. The red-tinged cliffs are home to many nesting birds. With its cliffs and ruiniform rocks, the cirque des Baumes is a particularly popular climbing spot.
Le point sublime, breathtaking panorama of the Gorges du Tarn
Arriving at the village of Les Vignes, we leave the Gorges for a moment to reach the Causse du Sauveterre, which rises to an altitude of 870 metres. Follow the signs to the Point-Sublime lookout. Here, you’ll be left speechless by the breathtaking panorama that encompasses a large part of the Tarn Gorge, the Tarn River meandering 400 meters below and the steep ledges of the Causse Méjean. If you have to take just one photo during your visit to the Gorges du Tarn on your camping vacation in Lozère, this is the place to do it!
Hiking on the Corniches of the Tarn and Jonte starting from Le Rozier
Back in the valley, the road takes us to Le Rozier. This village lies at the confluence of the Tarn and Jonte rivers, where the Causse Méjean, Causse Noir and Causse du Sauveterre meet. There’s no reason to visit Le Rozier. However, just outside the village, the Rocher de Capluc awaits you. At the top of this rock, accessible by ladder, you’ll find one of the finest viewpoints in the region, with views of both the Gorges du Tarn and the Gorges de la Jonte. But beware: climbing the rock with ladders can be difficult if you’re prone to vertigo. One of the region’s most beautiful hikes starts from the Rocher du Capluc. This looped itinerary takes you first to the corniches of the Tarn, then on to the corniches of the Jonte, famous for the vase de Sèvre and vase de Chine, surprisingly shaped rocks sculpted by erosion. During this hike, look up to the sky. You should catch a glimpse of the many vultures that nest in the Jonte Gorges. Allow 3 to 4 hours for this tour.
Once past the village of Le Rozier, the Gorges widen. The river Tarn, with the waters of the Jonte, forms a valley where vines and cherry trees grow. Less spectacular, but no less beautiful. And there’s no shortage of excuses to stop off, starting with the medieval village of Mostuéjouls, with its cobbled streets, or the Château de Peyrelade. The latter is a perched medieval fortress (12th century) that watches over the entrance to the Gorges du Tarn. During the summer season, visits to the château are enhanced by medieval animations. Check the château’s website for the exact dates of these events.
Our campsites in caravan, tent or motorhome in the Gorges du Tarn
We offer you a selection of campsites with at least two-thirds bare pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes in the Gorges du Tarn.
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