Hike 2: Viewpoint of the cirque de Gaud

The Cirque de Gaud is one of the countless meanders of the Ardèche Gorges. You can access it from the right bank (south side), which is the quietest and most interesting, in the commune of Labastide de Virac. From the Mas de la Fontenette(a 4-star holiday rentalgite with heated swimming pool), take the GR4 for around 3 km, then the small tarmac road for around 500 m towards the Camping des 1000 étoiles. Just before the end of this tarmac road (it becomes a gravel path), on your left, is the Cirque de Gaud viewpoint.

The lookout point at the cirque de Gaud, a magical place

Taking the tarmac road from the Mas de Serret, just before the 1000 Stars campsite, there is an unmarked viewpoint offering a magnificent panoramic view of the entire cirque, at the far end of which is the tiny Château de Gaud, now owned by the Regional Council.

Ceded to the Conseil Général de l’Ardèche in 1980 when the nature reserve was created, the château is now part of the Gaud bivouac and is used for educational purposes by the reserve’s management syndicate.

At the heart of the Gorges de l’Ardèche nature reserve, the Gaud bivouac is, along with the Gournier bivouac (see) further downstream, one of two sites where canoeists and hikers can spend the night.

Local wildlife includes beavers, Bonelli’s eagles, black kites, etc.

Itinerary of the walk

Click on the image below to open the itinerary for the cirque de Gaud hike

You can also download the GPX trail for the Cirque de Gaud hike.

The Cirque de Gaud viewpoint is also accessible by car for the less courageous. From the Mas de la Fontenette, turn right towards Labastide de Virac and at the first crossroads, turn left into the Chemin du Mas de Serret. Go to the end of this road and park where the tarmac ends. Walk back about 100 metres and turn left onto a track blocked by 2 large boulders. Go all the way to the end and you’ll find yourself standing on the edge of the Ardèche gorges, with a magnificent view of the cirque de Gaud.

The descent to the bottom of the Gaud cirque

It is possible to descend to the bottom of this cirque, in particular by passing through the chestnut grove, the peninsula on the left of the cirque. You can then climb back up, after following the river and taking a swim, either towards the Rocher des Abeillères (east) or towards the hamlet of Les Crottes (west).