The walk takes you along beautiful paths to the ruins of the Château d'Allègre and the chapel of Saint-Saturnin. You go over the ridge and along cliffs with beautiful panoramas of the Cevennes and Mont Bouquet along the way. The way back goes along the défilé d’Argensol, a narrow passage of the river Argensol.
Distance: 10 km.
Time: 3h00.
Grade: Easy.
Type: Circular.
Gps Track: Yes.
Route description: Yes.
Wheelchair: Not suitable.
Dog: Allowed.
Height gain: 250 meters.
Trail: 98% unpaved.
Marking: PR - Yellow dash.
Hiking shoes recommended.
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Chapel of Saturnin.
From La Bégude you climb quite steeply to the Mas d’Allègre, here you cross the D37 and you reach the ruins of the castle of Allègre. After the visit to the ruins it continues over the ridge, with beautiful panoramas, in the direction of the chapel of Saturnin. After the chapel you walk on a dirt road along the cliffs that eventually descends into the Font d’Hasard valley. You cross the D37 a second time and follow a dirt road along the défilé d’Argensol back to the starting point.
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POI 1 - Castle of Allègre.
Initially, only a fortified tower was built on the hill to protect the residents of the nearby area. This reinforcement was probably built by the Allègre family. In 1163 the castle appears for the first time in the annals. The castle is a large complex built on an area of half a hectare and stands at an altitude of 275 meters. When the war between France and England broke out, which would last 100 years, in 1337, the castle of Allègre was strengthened by connecting the towers and houses with walls. Then 'the city of the knights' turned into a castrum. Where people had previously made an effort to build in the most beautiful way, nowadays defensive walls were erected. During the uprising of the Tuchins, farmers from the region, the castle was destroyed at the end of the 14th century. Some men later rebuilt their homes, but they still wanted more comfort and moved to the valleys. Since that time, the castrum fell into total decline, leaving only the ruins of the castle. The still usable buildings were used by farmers as barns or stables. As the village expanded, new houses were built on the medieval foundations. In 1780, the remains of the tower at the northern entrance gate were purchased by Jean Loubier from the hamlet of Boisson. He built a house on the foundations, where the family lived until 1910. When Simon Loubier, the last of the family, died, the castrum was abandoned forever. In the last 100 years, little has changed in the ruins of the castrum. Only the vegetation has naturally overgrown parts of the complex and the surrounding area.
No additional information.
POI 2 - Chapel of Saint-Saturnin.
Many sick children came to the chapel of Saint Saturninus to be cured by immersion in the well. It was believed that the disease disappeared from the body and turned into clothing. The clothing was therefore left at the altar.
No additional information.
