The best MTB trails around La Couvertoirade

Located in the heart of the Larzac plateau, in the Aveyron, La Couvertoirade is a superb fortified medieval city, ranked among the Most Beautiful Villages of France. Formerly owned by the Templars, then by the Hospitallers, it captivates with its 15th-century ramparts, its cobbled streets, its stone houses, and its Templar castle. Don't miss the church, the communal oven, and the lavogne, a traditional basin for collecting rainwater.

From the path of La Roque, the view extends over the wooded reliefs that prolong the southern edge of the Larzac. The Parlatges forest occupies a large part of these slopes: it contrasts sharply with the more open spaces of the causse, a few hundred meters higher up. This forest is not entirely natural in its current appearance: the first major reforestation work in Parlatges began in 1863, as part of the mountain land restoration policies carried out in the 19th century.

This flour tower mill, installed at an altitude of 620 m on the edge of the Larzac, is already listed as a ruin in the municipal registers of 1830. Its earlier history remains poorly known, the archives of the former town hall having been destroyed by fire; however, its activity could date back to the 18th century. The tower finally regained its sails, its framework, and its mechanism in 2005, thanks to a restoration carried out by the carpenter-restorer Bernard Garibal. Even today, the mill can operate using traditional methods and produce flour.

This narrow trail is a real stone corridor.

Entering La Couvertoirade, I discovered an incredibly well-preserved medieval village. The ramparts, narrow streets, and serene atmosphere make it a place where you naturally take the time to stroll.

The Trans-Cévennes railway project never saw the light of day in its entirety. So much so that today the project has been converted into a greenway allowing cyclists to connect Tournemire to Le Vigan. Gravel lovers will particularly enjoy this beautiful gravel route where nature has also reclaimed its rights.

taupe!

Magnificent viewpoint on the cliffs of the cirque du bout du monde! With a bit of luck you might even come across wild goats 🐐