Photo : Benh LIEU SONG / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Les Détroits du tarn
Les Détroits (the Narrows) are the narrowest and deepest passage of the Tarn gorges, between Les Vignes and La Malène, in Lozère. There, the canyon, carved by the river between the Causse Méjean and the Causse de Sauveterre, tightens sharply between its limestone cliffs. A viewpoint built beside the road lets you gaze at it.
La Malène is a medieval village that serves as the starting point for the descent of the river in flat-bottomed boats steered by boatmen: the trip of about 8 kilometres, to the Cirque des Baumes, lasts about an hour and goes through the Détroits. Canoe descents are also possible. Further north, from Les Vignes, a road of hairpin bends climbs to the Point Sublime, from where you overlook the Tarn by about 400 metres.
Downstream, you pass the Pas de Souci, a chaos of collapsed blocks in the riverbed. The Tarn itself rises on Mont Lozère, at about 1,575 metres' altitude, and descends the slopes of the Cévennes before reaching this area. Boatmen's hours and prices should be checked with them.
