Discover the unspoilt, breathtaking landscapes of the Gorges de la Jonte as you cycle along the trails, not forgetting the many unusual sights to be discovered!
I’d already heard about Lozère from Victor and Damien, some cycling friends of mine, but I’d never actually been there. One sunny Sunday, they suggested we go for a ride in Lozère. As I’m new to gravel cycling, I asked them to take it easy. So they put together a smooth, rolling route of about fifty kilometres for us, punctuated by stops to explore the area, with a bit of elevation gain. We hopped on our gravel bikes, and off we went!
See you in Meyrueis
Victor and Damien arranged to meet us in Meyrueis. Apparently, Meyrueis is the ‘town’ of the Gorges de la Jonte, though it’s still on a human scale. As soon as you arrive, you spot the castle rock – that structure topped by a statue of the Virgin Mary, who seems to be watching over Meyrueis. And then, little by little, we discover the picturesque streets lined with medieval houses, towers, mansions and religious buildings… which give the town plenty of charm. But we’ll be wandering through the narrow streets this evening; for now, it’s time to set off on our tour!
From the Jonte Gorges to the Causse Méjean
We set off on our journey along the D996 – and what a start! A steep, scenic climb through the Gorges de la Jonte. The lads head off ahead to try and bag a KOM on Strava. We spot our first vultures, gliding on the wind between the cliffs of the Gorges. Our calves are burning, but every turn of the pedals is so worth it – new vistas open up as soon as we climb a little further. We eventually reach the Causse Méjean, leaving the cliffs of the Jonte Gorges behind us.
The Aven Armand: an underground adventure
The climb is rewarded with a complete change of scenery. In the space of a few kilometres, we’ve gone from cliffs to vast limestone plateaus stretching as far as the eye can see. And it is first underground that we’ll explore this environment: we’re heading to the Aven Armand for our first stop to explore the Earth’s depths. We take a funicular down into the Aven. As we make our way through, our guide explains the various geological formations, the stalactites and stalagmites (Aven Armand contains a forest of over 400 of them!), as well as the sheer scale of the cavern, which could accommodate Notre-Dame-de-Paris Cathedral! Impressive!
The Chaos of Old Nîmes
Off we go again on our bikes, across the Causse Méjean. We weave our way between meadows and sinkholes along smooth, rolling paths for a good hour until we reach the rock formations at Nîmes-le-Vieux. This cluster of dolomitic rocks takes on strange shapes: some see a lion, others make out a cooking pot, whilst others see an arena… Anything is possible! One thing’s for sure: you wouldn’t expect to see dozens of rocks with such unlikely shapes in the middle of the Causse Méjean!
The Brewers of the Jonte
We did tell you that the route was better done in reverse! On the way down to Meyrueis, a few kilometres before we arrive, we stop off at Les Brasseurs de la Jonte! 5 pm sharp – time for the tour.
After a few explanations from Thomas and Jean, the brewers, on the brewing process from grain to beer, we discover La Jonte’s range: from the classic white and lager beers to the more original spiced or blueberry varieties, there’s something for everyone. They even make their own lemonades for children and beer enthusiasts!
We sit out on the terrace to finally enjoy a nice, cold beer in the garden, with our feet in the water, and we take the opportunity to share our route and a few snaps from the outing on Instagram. What a lovely, delicious way to round off the day!
Plan your stay
Where to eat, where to stay, what to do?
Discover all our top picks for a wonderful stay in the Gorges de la Jonte.
How do I get there?
- By car: From Montpellier, you’ll need to cross the Cévennes to reach Meyrueis. Leave the A75 at Le Caylar and follow the signs for Mont Aigoual. At Lanuéjols, follow the signs for Meyrueis.
- By tourist shuttle: in July and August, you can easily reach Meyrueis on the tourist shuttles from Mende or Millau. And the good news is, bikes are allowed on board!
- By bike, for the more adventurous among you 😉
