Hike a thousand years of French history
Fact File
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Seven nights, with six days of hiking and arrivals any day from April to late October.
Please click through the following points or scroll down the page. Alternatively, click the flyer image below to download and read the tour in pdf format.
a) Theme
This is arguably one of the most important trekking tours France has to offer. When Trekking France’s Regordane, you walk a 71-mile / 106-kilometre section of medieval Christendom's fourth-most-important pilgrimage trail. This segment was also the main historical trading route north-south through the southern Massif Central to Lower Languedoc. It was along this path that the Reformation arrived in Le Midi, ideas that proselytized entrepreneurs and tradesmen ultimately led to the Camisard Rebellion and, later, The French Revolution itself.
You walk high volcanic plateau, the schist slopes of the eastern Cevennes and the dry, stony and flatter surfaces of the Garrigue; through medieval villages and linear settlements, with their unique ‘Regordane architecture’. Arrival in Alès signals the end of a masterclass in French history.
Trekking France’s Regordane accurately traces the path that French kings, pilgrims, medieval traders, armies and pastors followed south to ‘Alaïs’ and The Mediterranean.
b) Further Information
This trek can be customised to your needs. Please ask for our advice.
c) Model Programme: Trekking France's Regordane
Day 1. Arrival in Alès.
Briefing in Alès, the gateway to The Cevennes and an interesting medium-size market town.
Night in Alès.
Day 2. The Road to Pradelles. 10 miles-15 kms
Train from Ales to Langogne on the Cevenol 'line of one-hundred tunnels'. Enjoy a fabulous circular walk along the medieval Regordane Way and visit the impressive granite city of Pradelles.
Night in Langogne.
Day 3. Langogne to La Bastide. 14.5 miles-22 kms.
Walk the volcanic plateau to Luc castle with superb views. Then its onward through charming linear settlements to your first overnight stop.
Night in La Bastide.
Day 4. La Bastide to Villefort. 10.5 miles-16 kms.
An unforgettable walk through French history, along hill crest
and volcanic plateau to a medieval village on the Chaussezac gorge and then onto Lake Villefort.
Night in Villefort.
Day 5. Villefort to Genolhac. 10 miles-15 kms.
There's the chance to visit a cliff-top chapel, subject of its own pilgrimage, before you enter the Gard via the villages at the foot of Mont Lozere, see the source of the River Ceze and visit typical linear settlements en route with their unique Roman churches.
Night in Genolhac.
Day 6. Genholac to Portes. 11.5 miles-17 kms.
March from the Huguenot stronghold through the countryside of the Cevennes' most famous writer, J-P Chabrol, to the impressive site of Portes Castle at the north-eastern gateway to The Cevennes.
Night near Portes.
Day 7. Portes to Alès. 18 miles-27 kms: with flexible options to shorten the final stage.
You descend over 400 metres in altitude along the watershed between the Ceze and the Gardon valleys, and traverse an apocalyptic mine as you pass from mountain to Mediterranean flora.
De-briefing on arrival and night in Ales.
Day 8. End of your France hiking.
The end of a memorable walking tour and 1000 years of French history. Collect your car, or taxi or train back to Nimes. Au revoir et bonne retour.
d) Access
Your tour commences at Ales. Best access is via Nimes airport or TGV railway station, with a short onward train journey to Ales. Montpellier is the next best option, with Avignon and Marseille close behind.
Alternatively, leave your car free of charge in off road parking near Ales and collect it upon your return. *
* Cars are left at owners risk.
e) Accommodation
A range of welcoming, comfortable, family-run accommodations await you, incl. auberge, chambre d’hote and hotel.
- Five nights in 2-star hotels
- One night in a 1-star hotel
- One night in a '2-star' chambre d’hote, with optional upgrade to a 4-star chambre d'hote with outdoor pool and use of bicycles. Please ask us for details.
Note: we reserve the right to vary slightly from these stated accommodation objectives depending on accommodation availability. The general standard of accommodation will remain the same.
f) What's included in Trekking France's Regordane
Included
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7 nights B & B
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5 picnic lunches and 5 evening meals - leaving you free to dine out wherever you wish in Ales and there are several options for lunch on Day Two.
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Luggage transfers¹ and transport integral to the programmme.
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Pre-tour briefing and post-tour de-briefing.
- Cell-phone loan for non-Europeans if required, subject to availability.
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Car parking in Ales for the duration of your trek where required*
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Hiking Insight Notes™ that empower & make orientation easy
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Themed vacation dossier
- Emergency telephone help-line service with local British backup.
Not included
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Remaining meals: your packed lunch for your first day's walking can be bought in Le Monastier before departure; and you are free to choose where to eat dinner in Le Puy - there are many options.
- Personal expenses
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Entrances into optional cultural visits and venues
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Travel, walking and personal insurance
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Single rooms – unless booking at single person rate
* Parking is at customer's risk.
g) Prices 2010: Trekking France's Regordane
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Price per person based on 2 persons sharing |
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Single person rate |
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Extra nights |
On Request |
Click to see more photos of the Regordane walking tour in France
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