Photo : Benh LIEU SONG / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Gorges du Tarn
The Tarn gorges are a canyon carved by the river between the Causse Méjean and the Causse de Sauveterre. They extend over more than 50 kilometres, from Quézac to Le Rozier, and their walls reach 400 to 600 metres in height in places. The canyon is cut into Secondary-era limestones, whose structure is complicated by faults, and basalt intrusions bear witness to ancient volcanism.
The site is listed and part of the Grands Sites de France network. It shelters endemic plants such as the Causses butterwort, reintroduced beavers and several species of vultures. Along the road that follows the river, you pass through stone villages such as Sainte-Enimie and La Malène, and reach renowned viewpoints, including the Point Sublime, the Cirque des Baumes and the Détroits.
The canyon can be discovered in several ways: by canoe or boat on the water, on foot on the paths climbing to the causses, by climbing, caving or simply by car, stopping at the viewpoints. In summer, traffic is heavy on the road as on the river.
