After the Marathon de Millau: The Gorges du Tarn

The Route: Millau → Le Rozier → La Malène → Sainte-Enimie → Millau Logistics: By car. The road follows the river the whole way, with frequent places to stop. Public transport in the gorge is very limited. Marathon Month: September Duration: Day trip

Millau ──(≈20 km, the marathon's outward route)──> Le Rozier ──> La Malène ──> Sainte-Enimie
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   └────────────────────────(≈1 hour back)───────────────────────────────────────┘

The Marathon de Millau turns at Le Rozier and Peyreleau, where the Jonte gorge joins the Tarn. That is the gateway to the Gorges du Tarn, the canyon the river has cut between the Causse Méjean and the Causse de Sauveterre. The day after the race, drive the same road you ran and keep going upstream. It is mostly sitting down, which is what the legs want, and late September is quieter than the summer.

Le Rozier to La Malène

From Le Rozier the road enters Lozère and follows the river between cliffs that close in as you go. Stop wherever there is space to pull over; the river, the villages and the rock walls change around every bend. La Malène, a village about halfway up the gorge, is the base for boat trips through the narrowest section, known as Les Détroits, where boatmen take small groups downstream and bring them back by road. Check whether trips are still running in late September before you go.

Sainte-Enimie

Sainte-Enimie, about an hour from Millau, is a medieval village of stone houses stacked on the hillside above the Tarn and is listed among the Plus Beaux Villages de France. Its streets are steep and cobbled, so walk down to the river and the old bridge rather than climbing to the top on post-marathon legs, and find a café for lunch.

The Point Sublime

On the way back, a detour up onto the Causse de Sauveterre leads to the Point Sublime, a viewpoint high above the gorge. The drive up is winding, but the view from the car park needs almost no walking.

Getting Back

Return to Millau the way you came, along the river, about an hour from Sainte-Enimie. Allow extra time for the narrow road, and check the forecast: in heavy rain the gorge road can be slow.