The Cirque d'Estre
VALLON-PONT-D'ARC
The Cirque d'Estre
Medium
5h30
15,2km
+607m
-608m
Loop
Rocky and steep paths
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Offering both a privileged location at the entrance to the gorges and a sunny and sheltered area, the Cirque d'Estre has always attracted people, even in prehistoric times. Paleolithic artists (Homo sapiens or Cro-Magnon man) have left us moving testimonies of their times on the walls of four caves: the Planchard Cave, the Bergerie de Charmasson Cave, the Vacheresse Cave and the famous Chauvet Cave. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014, this unique cave contains the oldest drawings in the world (36,000 years old), preserved in very good condition.
Exceptional. Later, in the Neolithic, the presence of the first farming and cattle-rearing communities is demonstrated by traces of habitation in the Maquis cave.
Exceptional. Later, in the Neolithic, the presence of the first farming and cattle-rearing communities is demonstrated by traces of habitation in the Maquis cave.
Description
- From the Info rando sign opposite the Tourist Office, follow the white/red GR4F along the car parks. Cross the roundabout and head up towards the Le Château junction Follow Ibie 1.4 km Pont d'Arc 3.4 km
- Go through Vieux Vallon, passing the Vieux Vallon junctions and follow Ibie 1 km Pont d'Arc 3.1 km. Continue on the GR 4F. Go down a tarmac track and after about 200m, turn left onto a dirt track that joins the river Ibie. Cross the submersible bridge and come to the Mézelet junction, follow Grotte Chauvet 2 - 4.9 km Pont d'Arc 2.3 km
- Take a stony, winding path up to the plateau.
- Reach the Combe d'Arc junction. Enjoy the superb view of the Estre cirque, where the Ardèche carved out the splendid Pont d'Arc ossibility of descending to the Pont d'Arc and back (2.4 km), following the white/yellow markings, then Pont d'Arc 1.2 km. To continue the circuit follow Grotte Chauvet 2 - 3.8 km. Return to the Combe d'Arc junction. Back at the junction, follow the GR eastwards, signposted white/red towards Combe Longue for 1.5 kilometres.
- At the junction Combe Longue, Bois du Roi follow Grotte Chauvet 2 then at the junction Pousaras follow Mayres 2.6 km - St-Remèze 7.8 km. Leave the GR4F and follow the white/yellow markings. The stony path twists and turns and continues until it reaches the Serre du Desferre junction, follow Vallon-Pont-d'Arc for 5.5 km.
- Take the white/red GR4F. Along the way, take in the views of the Ibie valley, Lagorce and the Coiron volcanic massif on the horizon.
- From the La Barthe signpost, you can make a return trip to Grotte Chauvet 2, the site where the Grotte Chauvet was restored and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014. (follow Grotte Chauvet 2). To continue, return to the La Barthe junction. Follow Vallon-Pont-d'Arc for 3.8 km. Follow the white/yellow signs until you reach the start of the walk. Follow the D4 road for 250 m, then fork left. After 100 m, turn right onto a path that drops down into the forest. Cross the D4 and pick it up again below.
- 200 m after crossing the Ibie, turn left onto a stony track as far as the Joncier junction; follow Vallon-Pont-d'Arc for 1.6 km. Go up a path and then round a house to reach a tarmac road. At a bend to the right, take a dirt track to the left for about 250 metres, then pick up a tarmac track to return to the starting point.
- Departure : Vallon-Pont-d'Arc
- Arrival : Vallon-Pont-d'Arc
- Towns crossed : VALLON-PONT-D'ARC and LAGORCE
Forecast
Altimetric profile
Information desks
16 rue des Abeilles, 07150 Vallon Pont d’Arc
Transport
Vallon-Pont-d'Arc is served by the X76 line (Montélimar - Valence TGV) or the E15 line (Aubenas - Avignon).
Days and timetables are available from the Tourism Office.
Days and timetables are available from the Tourism Office.
Access and parking
From Aubenas, take the D579 towards Vogüé, Gorges de l'Ardèche as far as Vallon-Pont-d'Arc.
From Bourg-Saint-Andéol, follow signs for Vallon-Pont-d'Arc.
From Alès, take the D104 towards Aubenas. Then take the D111 towards Gorges de l'Ardèche as far as Vallon-Pont-d'Arc.
From Bourg-Saint-Andéol, follow signs for Vallon-Pont-d'Arc.
From Alès, take the D104 towards Aubenas. Then take the D111 towards Gorges de l'Ardèche as far as Vallon-Pont-d'Arc.
Parking :
Pay car park Esplanade du Soleil
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