• The Cirque of Mourèze is ideal for scenic walks, that should be undertaken mainly during springtime and autumn. Throughout the entire Cirque there is not a single water fountain nor a spring or creek and the summer heat can turn out to be very dangerous. Very few trails are shaded. Some trails are even scarcely signposted, others hard to walk on. You are strongly advised to bring a sufficient supply of water, hiking boots, adequate headwear and some food...

It might happen to have an encounter with a boar along the sides of Mount Liausson or , still with some luck, with the largest serpent of Europe, the Adder of Montpellier, which can grow up to one to two meters; But do not panic: it will not bite , but feeds in chasing those vipers, which can become really dangerous for human beings.
For this reason; there are no venomous snakes on the side of the mountain towards the Cirque of Mourèze.

Each year several tourists need to evacuated out of the Cirque, partly even by helicopter, due to not having adequate boots, not having water supply or having tried to climb the fragile rocks. In opposition to the information, irrespondably forwarded in the village of Mourèze, a walk through the Cirque can not be improvised with regular shoes and for sure not within one hour. G. COMBARNOUS described in his books for all trails needing between 8 and 9 hours of walking time, even the shortest would last for 3 and a half hours.

The classical trail starts out from the last house in the village of Mourèze (in the north, 201 meters altitude) and from there turning to the left onto a trail leading up to the Col des Portes (380 meters) to a bifurcation. On the left the trail leads on to Mont St-Scholastique, straight on to Liausson into the basin of the Lake of Salagou and to the right towards the peak of Mont Liausson and its hermitage (522 meters). There you will find an ideal spot for a pick nick providing you also with a fantastic panoramic view across the Lake of Salagou, the Cevennes, the Black Mountains and to the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. If the weather is fine, esp. during winter time, you can look as far as to the mountains of salt at Aigue-Morte, you can the snowy peaks of the Alps and the Cabigou of the Pyrenees in the south.

Descending the mountain towards the east you will reach another bifurcation of the trail right before the Pic de St-Jean, straight on to Liausson and to the right down to the cave of Beaumenègre ( black hole in the okzitanean language) and straight through the center of the Cirque back to the village of Mourèze.
By the way, Mourèze used to be a center of resistance against the occupation during World War II and the cemetery for their war heroes next to the road to Villeneuvette as well as a memorial plaque on the townhall of Mourèze remind us on the heroic resistance of the small village.

The courtesy desk at the Parc des Courtinals will provide you with free hiking maps and important information for your trip, also in English.

• Discover Courtinals :