Day 18 of Travel in France started slightly reluctantly because of a very good dinner the previous night! But exercise is necessary and so we set off on a walk on a hill overlooking St Hippolyte du Fort, with views towards Sauve and Freyssac Castle. It was incredibly hot and humid and so we decided against walking along the Roman Road, but I am going to include photographs from a previous visit.
Park off the road in the Col d’Aubret on the Durfort road, D133, and immediately look out for a dolmen. Then we set off into the garrigue where there was evidence of the previous night’s storm. This area is limestone and you can usually pick up a trilobite or ammonite fossil, but I was not successful on this occasion.
The path dips below the Durfort road, the D982, for an uncomfortable walk along a disused railway, with views of the ruined Chateau de la Roquette and the gorges of the Vidourle. The river is notorious for its floods, vidourlades, and also runs underground, creating cave systems such as La Paulerie.
The visible section of the Roman Road lies above the Monoblet road, D133. This appears to the the Via Luteva, the road from Nîmes to Toulouse. (Lodeve was known as Luteva.) It was surprisingly difficult to find more about this road on the internet – perhaps someone can help?
And Les Jumelles, the distinctive hills above the town.
It was quite a short walk so I decided to explore Le Vigan later in the day.
You may be interested in
Dolmens around St Hippolyte du Fort
Fossil hunting from a B&B
Farming in a fossil-rich area
A long walk in this area, past the Dolmen of Rascassols, with a local walking club
The caves at La Paulerie
Mediaeval routes in the Lodeve
I would love to hear from you!