HOW TO GET THERE
This weekend, we went to the Gorges du Tarn to spend some family time. And if you've never been there, I'll make you discover them !
My first advice, and especially if you are a rider, is to go there by the D807Bis from the South of France : the road passes through mountain’s dug several times, and will make you cross picturesque and beautiful villages. The wonder is incessant (to get an idea, go see this video).
We even had the chance to cross the road of a fawn, near Sainte-Enimie.
TO VISIT & ACTIVITIES
In the Gorges du Tarn, there are plenty activities : Canoeing, Via Ferrata, Caving, Castles, villages visits, etc ... But I will just tell you about our canoe trip and the anecdotes we got !
We rent a small apartment in the village center, right next to the Auberge du Moulin, in Sainte-Enimie (village classified among the most beautiful villages in France).
& For canoe rental, we chose Le Canophile, located 2 minutes walking away from the village’s exit. Their welcoming is very warm, the owners are extremely nice. Moreover, they do not let us leave without some information : they give us our hiring contract, with on the back, a map of the Gorges and the places we’re about to met during the descent.
The service providers even advised us (and indicated on the map) some stops including Saint-Chely-du-Tarn and the village of Hauterives.
This year, the Gorges have been in heat wave for several weeks, the level of the Tarn in the beginning of July was abnormally low : the quantity of water on which we sailed is usually the one of the end of July.
All this to tell you, that for the rapids lovers with sensations, I do not advise the descent Saint-Enimie to Le Soulio, which is very flat. We even had to get off the canoes several times to clear us to a deeper place (yeah, we have big asses so what ?!).
Along the descent, we stopped at Saint-Chely-du-Tarn to picnic, the setting was so beautiful : the stone bridge, the resurgences that fall in successions of waterfalls, the greenery, the water color …
The canoe owners had strongly advised us to visit the village, and more particularly the Moulin de Cénaret. It is a craft shop crossed by a resurgence that feeds the Tarn (if you are curious to see it, go here).
Do not hesitate to explore the surroundings of Le Moulin :
Under the Moulin, you will find a natural basin filled with resurgence, the copper sulphate present in the water gives it this turquoise color
After the Mill, you will come across a little chapel, really cute (and Granny will be happy to light a candle)
While we continued our expedition, we passed under the Chateau de la Caze and the "abandoned" village of Hauterives. The Hauterives village is accessible only by water for people, or by Tyrolean for mail and goods. There is no road access and no drinking water. There are still a few people there and only a small bar supposedly open in summer for those who go down the Tarn and would like a refreshment (closed during our visit in early July).
There is still so much to discover in the Gorges du Tarn ... but it will be for another expedition! :)