Corbès and the Grotte de Valaurie

An easy walk with few real difficulties offering stunning panoramic views of the valleys of the Gardon in Saint-Jean and Mialet. On the trip you can discover the concretions and gours of the Grotte de Valaurie (300m of underground galleries) if the entrance is still open.

Technical sheet

4098859
A Corbès walk posted on 20/02/16 by djhoward. Last update : 23/03/16
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.35 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 2h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 206 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 206 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 402 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 195 m

Description

Leave from the Temple de Corbès.

(S/E) With you back to the temple, go right along the road. After 200m, follow the tarmac climb opposite, then turn right towards a place called le village.
Cross this village and continue for about 150m on the path up to the start of a trail on the left when you get to a house on your right-hand side (this will be the return leg).

(1) Remain on this passable track, fork left at the junction and follow the stream.
Continue, passing the last house on the right, then cross the stream on the right (yellow markers). Attack the climb to get to the entrance to the cave on your left after 100m (2).

After visiting the cave, continue on the right and climb up to the col.

(3) At the col, take the path that climbs up to the left until you reach the viewing point.

(4) Continue to climb until an intersection (5) at spot height 392 and turn left on the trail when you get to the sign.

Go back down the main trail, passing the trails on each side and enjoy the view over the Gardon and Salendrinque valleys.
Follow the path to return to the intersection :1(, veer to the right and go back the same way you came to reach Temple de Corbès)D/A::.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 196 m
  2. 1 : km 0.55 - alt. 209 m - Junction
  3. 2 : km 2.2 - alt. 281 m - Grotte de Valaurie
  4. 3 : km 2.49 - alt. 277 m - Col
  5. 4 : km 3.16 - alt. 352 m - Viewing point
  6. 5 : km 3.95 - alt. 390 m - 2nd junction
  7. S/E : km 7.35 - alt. 196 m

Useful Information

No difficulties on this walk. Visiting the cave requires good lighting. The entrance is low, then you come to large rooms covered with clay, so be careful of the slippery ground!
There are 300m of galleries with beautiful concretions, and you have to tread carefully as there are drops of several meters and complete darkness at the bottom of the cave.

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

During the walk or to do/see around

The Grotte de Valaurie, viewing points over the valleys of the Salendrique, the Gardon de Mialet and Saint-Jean-du-Gard.
The village of Corbès.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 2 reviews

Clarity of route description
4.5 / 5
Clarity of route map
5 / 5
Walk interest
4 / 5
timason
timason

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : 20/05/19
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The description for finding the walk was not great but we got there in the end.

Lovely walk through the garrigue with some great views in the latter half. Highly recommend it and a visit to Anduze for a drink afterwards.

mathpaul
mathpaul

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : 28/04/19
Clarity of route description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The caves noted are closed off. On the track there is a waypoint stating "view". That's no longer possible. There are great views during the walk, but not on that spot.
The track could use an update. There are new signposts which could be used as marker.
A great walk, but track and description could use a little update. The walk is worth it.

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