5 ideas of walks in the Nîmes Garrigue

Do you want to get out in the vicinity of Nîmes? So here are five ideas for walks in the Nimoise Garrigue!

Want to walk in the Nimoise Garrigue? Discovering the city of Nîmes through historical monuments and cultural sites, doesn't it tell you too much? What if you're doing a fun journey around Nimes exploring its biodiversity? To discover the Nimoises fauna and flora, the Wanderlix editor takes you to the Nimoises garrigues. walks in the Nimoise garrigue Composed of limestone and sedimentary valleys, the garrigues are emblematic of the Mediterranean climate of the Midi de la France. They extend from the Petite Camargue to the south to the Costières de Nîmes, passing through the Hérault valley to the west. As you stroll through the Nîmes Garrigue, you can observe many Mediterranean species. So here are 5 ideas for walks in the Nimoise Garrigue.

1. Course Bois des Espeisses

Presentation of the Bois des Espeisses

The Bois des Espeisses is an extensive natural space on 82 hectares located northwest of Nîmes. A third of this space is classified in an ecological zone and 56 hectares are open to the public. It is one of the walks in the famous Nîmes Garrigue to make with family. The term “Spies” would come from a Latin derivative spissus , which means "tight, dense, compact." The word occitan espeisse also refers to Sword, which translates into "thick, abundant". This word is synonymous with talhada, A tail. The Bois des Espeisse is therefore a thick, compact and dense cut.

The name of Espeisses appeared for the first time in 1144 in a charter signed between Bernard Aton V, Vicomte de Nîmes and the Nimes community. This charter is the result of an assignment of the garrigues’ devois, which he would have made to the city. A devoid means a private pasture, exclusively reserved for its owner. At the time, Nîmes bought for a thousand under, the freedom of pasture on this territory. In the escarcelle of the private domain, wood becomes a possession of the religious power of darkness. In 1789, the Bois des Espeisses became the property of the state until 1815, before being bought by landowners. The city of Nîmes bought it in 1990. Wood is a historical witness to how man seeks to balance agriculture, pasture and forestry.

What to see at the Bois des Espeisses?

The public space offers quality infrastructure: marked trails, about forty picnic tables and playgrounds for children from 4 to 12 years old. The Bois des Espeisses offers seven hiking trails. Their length ranges from 700 to 4,800 metres and are accessible to all.

A path suitable for people with reduced mobility has also been developed. This is the Yeuseraie Trail, with two marked circuits: a trail of 1,030 metres and another 600 metres. It allows you to discover the history and fauna of the site. A theme path called the DEVOIS, 4,300 metres long, was created for the public. It allows you to explore the Bois des Espeisses as a whole: its history, heritage, wildlife and water management.

At RN 106 parking, facilities allow stretching of arms, trunk, back and legs after your physical exercise. This is one of the best walks in the Nîmes Garrigue.

2. Course Château d’Or and Gueules

Presentation of the Château d’Or and Gueules

Wine estate renowned for the Rhone Valley, the Château d’Or and Gueules produces wines under the name of the Costières de Nîmes. The name of the estate dates from the 12th century. It comes from the coat of arms of Puymorin's family. Gold evokes the magnitude and richness while Red (the Gueules) refers to character and elegance. The estate was created in 1998 by Diane de Puymorin.

Located west of Saint-Gilles in the Gard, this family estate is much more than a vineyard. It’s an œnotouristic circuit stretched over 50 hectares. It allows you to discover both the production of wine, the organic farming, the vineyard, the fauna and the gardoise flora. Through its journeys, you will also explore the riches of the terroir of the Costières de Nîmes. To set up its onotouristic circuits, this family of winemakers has created a marked 6-step course for its visitors. It is 3 kilometres long, accessible to all. It is realized in about 1h30.

What to do at the Château d’Or and Gueules

Owners value well done work, nature and ancestral know-how. You will evolve in a Provencal nature conducive to wonder: olive trees, green oaks, pines and vines. The quintessence of the south! Three cottages allow you to stay in the area. Many other events are organized, including met-vin agreements and concerts. And that’s not all: the cellar of the Château d’Or and Gueules also houses a permanent exhibition of paintings made by local painters. Wine tastings are obviously possible in the wine cellar, which also sells old vintages.

3. The course of the Domaine d’Escattes

Are you looking for a ride in the Nimoise Garrigue? Domaine d’Escattes is an old farm of about 100 hectares. It is a unique natural space, of which 7.5 hectares are dedicated to the cultivation of olive trees. The estate is home to 22 Gardoise varieties and 1850 trees distributed in 5 olive groves. Some of them have the Appellation of Protected Origin (AOP).

Presentation of the Domaine d’Escattes

The history of the estate dates back to the early 17th century. It was a mas dedicated to the cultivation of olive trees, vines, silk, sheep farming and agriculture. During the 19th century, successive owners improved the site to make it a pleasant space to live. The hill, called the "Mountain", is coated with vines cultivated in terraces. The estate becomes a park full of alleys taking the name of celebrities.

Later, basins and waterfalls, towers and capitelles were built in dry stones. In 1997, the city of Nîmes acquired 95 hectares of the estate to manage the heritage, nature, agriculture and urbanization of the site.

The estate is an ecological space, whose plots are delimited by dry stone walls. These buildings are built by several generations of growers and shepherds. In the Nimoise region, the cultivation on the terrace on the hills of the garrigues allowed to make the land cultivable. The estate offers to walk by observing tours and capitella , the oratory, dry stone support walls, hydraulic basins and olive groves.

What to see at Domaine d’Escattes?

On site, you will find a 5 000-metre long hiking trail to discover the incredible heritage of the estate. In fact, about ten picnic tables pass the path. You can review the olive groves, small dry stone huts (capitelles), towers, oratory and basins. A furnished parking is located at the entrance of the place. Respect the places (animals, dry stone constructions, pick up your detritus, do not smoke, do not cook).

4. The course of the Combe des Bourguignons

Presentation of the Combe des Bourguignons

Are you looking for other ideas of walks in the Nimoise Garrigue? The Combe des Brouguignons is a place known to be located in the northeast of Nîmes, on the commune of Marguerittes. The place acquired a sad notoriety following a fire of the garrigues. On 2 August 1989, the surrounding hills ignited. Desirous of reviving the Garrigue, Marguerittes City Council decided to rehabilitate the site.

Ancient agricultural enclosures, shacks and dry stone walls built by local agricultural workers (called here the rachalans ) are rediscovered. The structures damaged by the fire are restored. Conjointly, vineyards and olive trees push back on some plots.

What to see in La Combe des Bourguignons?

In 2002, after 13 years of work, a 1,900-metre long journey opened to the public. This small hiking trail will allow you to rediscover what social and professional life was like in the Nîmes Garrigue. Through this discovery circuit, you will wander through olive trees, capitelles and dry stone walls. About forty panels spread throughout the course, inform passers-by about the life of Rachalans and on the garrigue.

Finally, a conservatory of olive trees was erected, on a promontory offering stunning views of the surrounding area.

Parking is at the entrance of the site. A shaded area with picnic tables is at your disposal near the latter.

5. The path of Clos Gaillard

Presentation of Clos Gaillard

Here is our last idea of the rides in the Nîmes Garrigue: the Clos Gaillard, 12 kilometers from the city centre of Nîmes. It is a natural space of 264 hectares consisting of a very rich flora and a built heritage of 26 capitelles and walls (clapas) in dry stones.

In addition, the site includes four small hiking trails to discover the Garrigue to passers-by. These routes, paired with many avens and a source, as well as 20 picnic tables.

The history of this site dates back to the fire of 2 August 1989, which ravaged 128 hectares of communal land. Faced with the considerable amount of damage, the city of Nîmes is beginning to recompose the landscape. The goal is to revalorize it by creating a learning path for discovery.

What to do at Clos Gaillard?

It is possible to survey the trails of the enclosed. The four trails are classified in four colours and start at the Mazet du Clos Gaillard. A blue theme course, which is 700 metres long, is called “a call to senses”. It is mainly designed for children aged 4 to 6. He appeals to the sense, as his name suggests, to make the garrigue discover to the little ones. The yellow route extends over 6 650 metres. The red is 3,400 metres long while the green is 5,400 metres long. These last three walking paths invite you to discover the water circuit, the built heritage (capitelles and walls), the archaeology and the relief of the garrigues.

In addition, during the walk you can observe and humer many Mediterranean species, including pines, cedars, fig trees, olive trees, groves, green oaks or kermes oaks. Parking is available from the trails.

You now have 5 things to do in the Nîmes Garrigue. And you, where do you like walking around? Say it in comments!