Gorges du Tarn sport climbing AREA

[9b]

In Gorges du Tarn You can find limestone crags, riddled by holes, mostly two fingers pockets, with routes from 10 to 70 meters, from 3+ to projects (mostly around 7c).

You can walk between a couple of sectors during the same day in order to accommodate sunshine/shade requirements: everything is very accessible.



Getting there:

the climbing area is situated about 30 kilometres from Millau with the crags themselves being found along a short stretch of river between the villages of Les Vignes and La Malene.

If You drive, when in France head for the A75 and follow it south towards Millau.
Come off at Severac le Chateau and from here the quickest way into the Gorges is to take the D995 towards Le Massegros and then down to Les Vignes.

If you're approaching from the south get on the A75 (from the A9 come off at Junction 31) and continue up to Millau.
From Millau itself, take the D907 to Le Rozier and then on to Les Vignes.

You can also approach from the East more directly by taking the D986 from St. Enimie.
Be warned though, this is an arduous journey although fine and actually quite picturesque if you don't have any time constraints.

If You fly: Ryanair and Easyjet.

Best period:
from Easter until the end of October.
In early June very few shops are open, the campsites are empty and the restaurants and bars are all shut up.
In summer can be hot, more or less like Rodellar.
The winter months can be cold and wet, as always with the sun you can climb.


To sleep:

- Camping Beldoire in Les Vignes (Tel [phone]) and La Blaquiere (Tel [phone]), both with river access (for cooling off and relaxing on rest days), excellent facilities including small shops, a bar (awesome pizzas).

- there are many "gites" in the area if you go out of season.


Food:

- Les Vignes has a (tiny) supermarket, bakery and tabac as well as bars and restaurants.

- Le Rozier (12 kilometres away), a little bigger, has a Spar, bakery, tabac, post office, cyber-cafe and a reasonable selection of bars and restaurants.

- Millau is a little further (30 kilometres) but has everything you'd expect of a large town including internet access, shops, supermarkets and a climbing wall (useful to ask about new routes in the area), all costs less than at the shops in the Gorges.

Intersport in the centre of Millau sells chalk and some climbing gear.


SECTORS

- C.e.s beach / Gymnaze
- Shadocks / Gymnaze
- Le trone + Diabolo gum / Gymnaze
- 400 coups / Gymnaze
- Le grand toit / Gymnaze

- Foetus + Le za / Baumes basses
- Foetus triplex
- De' que' fas aqui ? / Baumes basses
- Figues au cul / Baumes basses

- Tennessee / Cirque des baumes
- .... SEARCH others


Rest days:

- hugely popular canoe trips down the river.
Many companies exist where you can hire the necessary equipment.
Shuttle buses will even pick you up and take you back upstream to your car.

- drive to Millau in order to buy food/gear, ceck internet and feast your eyes upon the dominating and breathtaking, Millau Viaduct.
Built in 2004, it stands at a staggering 343 metres in height, making it the tallest bridge in the world.

- hike the GR6a (a variant of the GR6) which crosses the Causses.
It's a beautiful outing which starts by winding its way steeply out of Le Rozier, up onto the Causse Mejean and then follows the rim of the Gorges before descending to join the GR6 at Les Vignes.
If you're lucky then you may catch a glimpse of some very impressive birds, with Vultures and Eagles both being regularly spotted in the area.

- check out the impressive caves of Aven Armand and Grotte de Dargilan

 

Links:

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[9b]

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