Castelbouc
Key facts
- Distance
- 4.0 km
- Ascent
- +269 m
- Descent
- −240 m
- Estimated time
- 1 hr 30
- hiking
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- official rating
- Route
- Loop
- back to the start
Profile and gradient
- under 10%
- 10 to 20%
- over 20%
Gradient along the route: 2.0 km under 10%, 1.4 km at 10 to 20% and 0.6 km over 20%. Elevation from 489 m to 715 m over 4.0 km.
Surface and path types
- Surface
- Paved 2%
- Dirt & gravel 95%
- Unknown 3%
- Path types
- Trail 74%
- Track 25%
- Road 1%
Description
This is a fairly shaded walk with pretty views onto the protected site of Castelbouc and the opportunity for a swim at the end! From the car park, enter the hamlet and cross the square. 1) At the bread oven, take the lane on the left. 50 m further on, turn left and climb to the castle ruins. Go uphill on this path, ignoring all others. It comes out on an old forest track. 2) Turn right and follow the forest track for over a kilometre. 3) At the fork, continue straight ahead on the track that goes downhill to join up with the old track linking “Chaldas/Castelbouc”. 4) Take this downhill to Castelbouc. Go back up into the hamlet to reach the car park.
Difficulty
Official rating: moderate, by Parc national des Cévennes.
Before you go
- Caution: the first section of this path is steep. Make sure your equipment is appropriate for the day’s weather conditions. Remember that the weather changes quickly in the mountains. Take enough water, wear sturdy shoes and put on a hat. Please close all gates and barriers behind you.
Getting there
Start: Castelbouc, à l'entrée du village, Gorges du Tarn Causses (48).
Sources
- Track: Parc national des Cévennes, Licence Ouverte 1.0, Licence Ouverte 1.0 (Etalab) (destination.cevennes-parcnational.fr/trek/43656-Castelbouc). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
- Surface and path types: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL, extract of 28 October 2026, matched to the track every 10 m (openstreetmap.org/copyright)
- Official elevation gain: 269 m, Parc national des Cévennes
Nearby tracks
Plan IGN © IGN 2026La Chadenède, The MonksCévennes, Gorges du Tarn Causses (48) · LoopOfficial rating by Parc national des Cévennes
Plan IGN © IGN 2026Patrimoine naturel et culturel de BoissetsCévennes, Gorges du Tarn Causses (48) · LoopOfficial rating by Parc national des Cévennes
Plan IGN © IGN 2026La CondamineCévennes, Gorges du Tarn Causses (48) · LoopOfficial rating by Parc national des Cévennes
Plan IGN © IGN 2026The riverbanksCévennes, Gorges du Tarn Causses (48) · LoopOfficial rating by Parc national des Cévennes
Plan IGN © IGN 2026Domaine des BoissetsCévennes, Gorges du Tarn Causses (48) · LoopOfficial rating by Parc national des Cévennes
Plan IGN © IGN 2026Puech d'AlluechCévennes, Mas-Saint-Chély (48) · LoopOfficial rating by Parc national des Cévennes