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Cirque de Saint-Marcellin

  • Author: TrailExplorer

Cirque de Saint-Marcellin

This walk takes you high above the Tarn to the ancient cave dwellings of the hamlets of Eglazines and Saint-Marcellin. In the Cirque of Saint-Marcellin you have beautiful views of the Tarn valley. Afterwards you walk over the immense Causse de Sauveterre with panoramas that reach in clear weather to the Millau viaduct.

Distance: 14 km.

Time: 5h00.

Grade: Heavy.

Type: Circular.

Gps Track: Yes.

Route description: Yes.

Wheelchair: Not suitable.

Dog: Allowed.

Height gain: 796 meters.

Trail: 99% unpaved.

Marking: GRP and PR.

Hiking shoes recommended.

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Ancient cave dwellings.

From the hamlet of Liaucous you climb to the edge of the cliffs of the Tarn valley. You go around the Roc des Agudes and eventually end up in Eglazines. At the end of the 19th century there were still 20 people living in this very old hamlet. The route now continues high above the Tarn and you reach the Cirque de Saint-Marcellin. In this cauldron the second hamlet was built in the rock walls, Saint-Marcellin. The hamlet includes a priory adjacent to a Romanesque chapel and the remains of a rock fortress. The walk now continues in the direction of the Causse de Sauveterre, a completely different landscape opens up. You pass the Des Paillaisses cave and the water source of the same name. (note: the spring may be dry during the summer). On the Causse you have a beautiful panorama on the plateau at an old farm in Vors and even on the Millau viaduct in clear weather. Over the Causse and a piece of forest it goes back to the departure point.

De Borrekens

Download PDF for route description.

Take a headgear with you to protect yourself against the sun.

Take enough drinking water with you.

Map & Poi's.

POI 1 - Eglazines.

This old hamlet was first a site where a castle of the glory Gladinas stood, around this fortress the hamlet of Eglazines was built. This hamlet of cave dwellings was still inhabited by 20 inhabitants at the end of the 19th century. Like Saint-Marcellin, the hamlet was the only connection between the plateau and the valley via mule paths.

No additional information.

POI 2 - Saint-Marcellin.

The old hamlet of Saint-Marcellin lies in a beautiful cauldron valley at an altitude of 680 meters in the flanks of the cliffs of Sauveterre. It consists of a mixture of cave dwellings and other buildings such as a priory adjacent to a Romanesque chapel and a small cemetery. You can also view a house in the typical Caussenarde style as well as a rock fortress and a bread oven.

No additional information.