The best hikes from bus stations around Lac De Naussac

South gate of the fortified town of Pradelles, an unmissable vestige during your visit

One of the roads is marked with yellow signs. This is part of a walking network

The Besset portal is the southern gate of the city of Pradelles, the rue Basse which descends from it joins the Entressac to reform the "Chemin de Saint-Gilles" which takes on the name of "Chemin de Régordane" a little further south. We can clearly see the structure of the gate, with a first arch, behind which the heavy iron portcullis slid (in the slides dug into the stone), and a second arch against which the heavy wooden gate pivoting on iron hinges was closed. (part of which is still sealed in the wall) and locked by wooden bars anchored in notches cut in the stone.

It was at this Pradelles gate that the most famous and legendary feat of arms in the history of Pradelles took place on March 10, 1588. At the heart of the wars of religion, a Protestant troop, attempting to seize the city which commanded the passage between the Rhône valley and the town of Puy, was repulsed after a fierce battle at the end of which the captain of the attackers had his helmet. enclosed” by a stone. Nevertheless, Jacques de Chambaud survived and still had the opportunity to distinguish himself in the service of Henri IV, before dying of congestion in 1600.

The current church of Pradelles was built to replace an old church, in Romanesque style, which had become too small for a population which reached 2000 souls at the end of the 19th century. The plans were drawn by Mr. Tracol, architect, and adopted on August 16, 1897; the demolition of the old church began in March 1900, and the first stone of the new building was laid on June 26, 1900. The new church was inaugurated on November 12, 1902. In the washerwomen's lane, south of the church, two old Gothic style doors are classified as historic monuments. From the square located behind the church, in front of the Presbytery, the view extends from the ridges of Margeride, to the west, to the summits of Mont Lozère. The old brothers' school, to the west of the square, now houses the "Living Draft Horse Museum".

Pradelles is classified as one of the "Plus beaux villages de France" (Most beautiful villages in France). Pradelles is situated on a ridge between the Loire and Allier valleys.

Easy path. Excellent for kids. Small off path section to climb on the hill top. You can find raspberries along the path. Nice view on Pradelles and the Naussac lake.

path is easy to follow, this is a large track. the last part in the upper section is a steep path with log stairs, but this is suitable even for kids (maybe with some help for the younger, some stairs are 40cm high) at the top you get an orientation table with a great view on the mounts of ardeche (heading east). on the path, you can find savage raspberries, which is always nice to pick and eat while hiking.