La Malène, Gorges du Tarn

The GuardianJul 8

Walking in France’s ‘garden of Eden’: a new route in the gorgeous Gorges du Tarn

Europe’s longest and most dramatic canyon is replete with exotic wildlife, including kingfishers and beavers, ruined castles and architectural oddities We’re sipping chestnut kir on a terrace overlooking the Tarn River in southern France when we hear excited voices from the table beside us: “ Regards! C’est un castor ! ” Below us, a beaver the length of my leg is languidly swimming upstream. We…

Waterside town where boat trips downriver start.

19 things in this story

Tarn RiverSightClean river, home to trout, perch, carp, otters.
Cévennes national parkPlaceSource of the Tarn River.
GR736TrailNew 300km long-distance hiking route.
Le Pont-de-MontvertNeighborhoodBustling historic town, source of the Tarn River.
Mont LozèreSightExpansive heathery uplands where Tarn springs.
CastelboucNeighborhoodSemi-troglodytic hamlet watched over by castle remnants.
Sainte-EnimieNeighborhoodCelebrated 'plus beaux villages' with honey-coloured houses.
Saint-Chély-du-TarnNeighborhoodRestored village with bread oven, waterwheel, church.
Auberge de la CascadeRestaurantOnly place to eat in Saint-Chély-du-Tarn.
HauterivesNeighborhoodHamlet with rigged cable-and-basket for hoisting goods.
La MalèneAttractionWaterside town where boat trips downriver start.
Les VignesNeighborhoodVillage with hotel Le Parisien.
Le ParisienHotelCharming hotel in Les Vignes.
PeyreleauNeighborhoodDesignated 'une petite cité de caractère'.
Hôtel DoussièreHotelHotel in Peyreleau with river views.
MoissacNeighborhoodTown where the Tarn River ends.
ToulouseNeighborhoodCity north of Moissac.
AlbiNeighborhoodCity where the GR736 route ends.
Cirque des BaumesSight

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La Malène

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Walking in France’s ‘garden of Eden’: a new route in the gorgeous Gorges du Tarn