Follow the D907 from St Jean du Gard. Peyrolles: guided tour of the arboretum of La Mazière (by prior appointment only 04 66 85 18 05). Continue along the D907, until just after the tunnel where you will see the Souci Gorges carved into the gneiss.
L'Estéchure: a village lying in a narrow part of the valley which was razed and burnt by the Kings troops during the dragonnades. 265 of its inhabitants were deported in 1703.
At the exit of Saumane, on the D20, the hamlet of Bougnole reveals a good example of the types of houses to be found in the high schist valleys.
At the Pont de Bougnole, take the D193 towards Les Plantiers. In Les Plantiers, it is possible to see the Castle of Aleyrac (private property dating from the 15th century) with its transom and mullion windows and its temple, demolished by the King's Dragoons in 1685 and rebuilt on the same site in 1833.
Do not miss a visit to the Maison de l'Eau and enjoy all the services it offers. From Les Plantiers, take time to visit the Abbey of St Marcel de Fonfouillouse. The road is relatively difficult, so make the climb on foot (approximately 2 km). Leave the village on the road to Valleraugue and the Col du Pas, turn on to the first road on the right which climbs up to the hamlet of St Marcel de Fontfouillouse. Just before the entrance to the hamlet, follow the large path on the left, which is suitable for vehicles, leading 750 metres to the Abbey. This was built in schist in a very pure Romanesque style in the 12th century by the Benedictines. The windows are decorated with fraidonite. It suffered greatly during the wars and was restored in the 17th century. It was later abandoned during the Revolution and fell into ruin. An association has undertaken to protect and restore it.
After visiting the Abbey, return to Les Plantiers. At the crossroads with the D193, follow signs to Valleraugue along the Borgne Valley.
A large cross of Lorraine, commemorating the Aigoual-Cevennes Resistance fighters, lies on the site of the Col du Pas (833 metres). To the southeast, the view stretches over the Herault Valley and, on the other side, over the Borgne Valley. Continue along the road and turn right on to the D10 as far as the Col de l'Espinas, from where it is possible to admire the view over the Borgne Valley and the Southern Cevennes.
Take the small tarmac road on the left which leads to Aire de Côte, a sort of clearing in the Borgne Valley National Forest, which is a protected zone of the Cevennes National Park. Several footpaths meet here and there are many walks to be enjoyed. A 1km botanical footpath offers the opportunity to discover about thirty species of plants and trees, as well as the biotopes of many animals.
Return to the Col de l'Espinas and, on the left, follow the D10 to St André de Valborgne along the Tourgueille Valley.
In St André de Valborgne, visit: the Pont Vieux (11th century) and, right opposite, the Temple and the Maison Forte, a large building with transom and mullion windows and pepper box fortifications (11th century). Next to the Maison Forte lies the Fontaine du Griffon (11th century), from which flows a fresh water spring.
On the main square of the village, a restored Romanesque church may be visited.
After visiting St André de Valborgne, take the D907 road towards Saint Jean du Gard.
About 6 km after St André de Valborgne, you will pass in front of the Aqueduct of Mas Auriac, and, then, in front of the farm of Mas Voyer (16th century) and, finally, in front of the Capoue farm, which used to rent horses for the climb up to St Roman de Tousque. 300 metres on the right, after this farm, lies the tomb of Marcel Bonnafau, known as Marceau, the leader of the Aigoual-Cévennes Resistance fighters, who died on 10 October 1944 during the attack on Vigan.
