Visiting the Gorges du Tarn in France - a scenic canyon

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Writer: Helena Bergström

Visiting the Gorges du Tarn in France is simply amazing. This canyon, which encloses the Tarn River, is magically beautiful. If you like nature and great views - this is heaven!

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Gorges du Tarn in France

The Gorges du Tarn is a French canyon that surrounds the Tarn River. You can come here to paddle, hike, cycle, camp or just enjoy the beautiful scenery.

The Gorges du Tarn are located in the south of France, just over 140 kilometres north of the city of Montpellier.

Driving to Gorges du Tarn

You can, of course, drive to the Gorges du Tarn from different directions. As you approach, you can see the stunning scenery, with high green mountains, charming little villages with stone houses and winding mountain roads.

The roads are an experience in themselves! We drive a motorhome that is 7.3 metres long, 3.1 metres high and has a total weight of 3.5 tonnes. We found it very easy to drive here, and the tunnels we passed were always at least 3.5 metres high. Of course, you have to drive slowly and carefully. In some places it is not possible to meet and sometimes you have to fold in your mirrors.

If you have an even bigger motorhome? Well, that can be fine too, depending on height and driving experience etc. We saw some big Concorde motorhomes here, for example. But if you're driving a really big motorhome, you'll need to do a bit more research, so that you know which pitch/camping site you can fit into.

Campsites in Gorges du Tarn

Wherever you look in the Gorges du Tarn, you'll see a campsite. The campsites are located along the river, often incredibly scenic, and they are numerous. In addition, there are both pitches and opportunities for fricamping. We tried two campsites and we tell you about them.

Camping Le Site de Castelbouc

Camping Le Site de Castelbouc is a super nice campsite that became a real favourite for us. This campsite only has two stars, so it is not luxury in that sense, but the campsite offers a different kind of luxury. You can stand next to the flowing river, you can swim and you can enjoy the intense chirping of the birds.

All the services you need are available, including a small shop with a small selection of delicacies and the possibility of ordering baguettes for the next morning. In addition, the campsite operates canoe hire, which makes it very convenient when you want to go canoeing. We did two different canoe trips here and were very happy with both.

Camping Huttopia

Camping Huttopia Gorges du Tarn was our next stop. This campsite is also beautifully situated by the river, and there are excellent service buildings and everything you need for the motorhome.

This campsite does not rent canoes, but refers to a nearby company. One good thing is that the campsite is within walking distance of the village of Les Vignes, where there are small shops and restaurants.

Canoeing in the Gorges du Tarn

The one thing you definitely don't want to miss doing in the Gorges du Tarn is canoeing. It is magical. For real! You float silently and quietly, while hearing the chirping of birds, and maybe some frogs.

Canoes can be hired from many places, along with a life jacket and a waterproof container to store your gear (and maybe a packed lunch). The paddle is in the direction of the river and you will be picked up at a pre-arranged location.

Every now and then there's a rush, which triggers the adrenaline and makes you concentrate one hundred per cent. Adventure and speed! Is it difficult? Most of the time it is manageable even for an inexperienced paddler, but if a certain rapids feels too challenging, you can choose to pull the canoe by the side. We did this a few times!

The first canoe trip we did took almost six hours, if you count all the breaks. One of the breaks was a lunch stop with a baguette, cheese, ham and a bottle of rosé wine. What could be better?

The second canoe trip, which we did with our friends, was a little shorter. We paddled for about two hours, got off and had lunch at a restaurant, and were then picked up for the return journey. Not bad either!

More activities in Gorges du Tarn

What else is there to do in Gorges du Tarn? Here are some additional activities to choose from:

• Canyoning, Via Ferrata and climbing - For those seeking adventure.
• Cycling - Cycling in the Gorges du Tarn is very popular.
• Caves - There are several different caves to visit.
• Hiking - If you like hiking, you will find many hiking trails.

Places to visit in Gorges du Tarn

There are of course many different places to visit in the Gorges du Tarn. Here are some places that we have visited and that we can recommend.

Castelbouc

Castelbouc is an incredibly picturesque little village. The historic stone houses are more or less built into the rock and climb along the riverside.

You can look at it from a distance if you want, but you can also step into it.

The first time we entered this tiny village, it was completely quiet. The second time, there was a party going on. The music was loud and the smoke from the barbecue rose to the sky. The partying people, sitting in a garden, cheerfully greeted us with "Bon soir".

In this small village, there is nothing for tourists really, except wonderful atmosphere and photo views. And that's not a bad thing!

St Enimie

Saint-Enimie is a slightly larger village that you can visit at the Gorge du Tarn. We came here once by car, and another time by canoe.

The little village is incredibly charming, with a small number of small shops and restaurants. We ate at a place that overlooks the river. Here we chose a plate of aligot (mashed potatoes with melted cheese) as well as cheeses, hams, sausages and salad. Fantastic!

Saint-Chély-du-Tarn

The most beautiful place we visited in Gorges du Tarn was Saint-Chély-du-Tarn. Here you will find a bridge, stone houses by the water, stunning cliffs and picturesque waterfalls.

People come here by car (over the beautiful bridge!) or by canoe. On sunny days it becomes like a little 'canoe car park' on the beach. Everyone wants to stop here and check out the beauty of the place.

Sublime stitch

One place that is well worth visiting is Sublime stitch - a viewpoint with magical views. We talked to some camping neighbours who hiked here, but it is also possible to take the car or motorhome up. At the top, in addition to views, there is a restaurant with food and ice cream.

Les Vignes

The village of Les Vignes may also be worth a visit. This is another charming stone village, with a bridge across to the other side of the river.

We had lunch here with our friends, in a restaurant overlooking the river. The food was fantastic, including chevre chaud and duck leg confit.

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

In the vicinity of the Gorges du Tarn, you can check out Europe's highest road bridge: Millaubron. At a slightly longer distance, i.e. 2-3 hours by car, we can recommend, for example, a visit to the fantastic Rocamadour, glorious Sète or fine Carcassonne.

Have you visited Gorges du Tarn?

Have you visited the Gorges du Tarn in France? Or heard about it? Do you like this type of destination?

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