gorges de galamus

I've been to Les Gorges de Galamus several times and each time, I'm just amazed by the narrow roads (why would the French have cut a road into the rocky mountains like that? It's incredible!) and the steep drop to the gorgeous (yes, that's a pun) below! Seriously one of the most fantastic sights in southern France - photos just can't do it justice! The Hermitage is so cute, tucked away and almost forgotten. This is a must-see for anyone near the area. Perhaps consider walking the length of the road to get the full impact or even finding the hidden path right down into the gorges and to the pristine water below. Don't miss this gem!

We visited the gorge in October 2014. The road is quite winding but we never felt unsafe. Of course we were not there during the season so I'm sure it can be quite a different experience if there was a lot of vehicles.We parked in the parking large parking lot and took the foot path to the Hermitage. It is a nice walk but may be difficult for people with mobility issues as there is loose rock the path is quite uneven. The views really are spectacular. It seems impossible to imagine how they built the monastery into the crevice of the rock. But they certainly did. Not sure why, but it was not open the day we were there. Even though the website says daily right through until end of October. Regardless, we had a great walk and loved overlooking the gorge. We weren't able to go down into the water as the pathway was restricted. They may have been due to flooding in the area over the past few weeks prior to our arrival.Would definitely recommend seeing this area. Truly beautiful.

It is told that Galamus comes form Latin "gaudeamus", "let us enjoy". So yes, definitely, let us enjoy this gorgeous place. The road, starting at Cubiere sur Cinoble, will lead you snaking along the cliffs, hung up in the gorge, for an often windy experience. A good initiative from local authorities is to intall a one way alternate drive in season during peak hours, from 1 to 6 p.m., that makes it much easier for all users, cars, bikes and hikers. They also offer a "navette" for 50 cent only.The easiest places to bath are at the start of the gorge, before the trafficlight. There is not much to climb down to the river, and nice pools allow a swim. Canyoning is organized.The hermitage at the end of the gorge is reachable from the last huge parking lot, along a footpath going down and up. If you have difficulties to walk, stop at the previous small parking lot, from where stairs will lead you directly to the top of the sanctuary. But I do prefere the footpath for the wonderful sight of the gorge and the dramatic arrival at the hermitage, straight into the main cave where the church is. This is a very special place. Behind the altar, holy healing water might cure all your physical and psychical deseases, faith helping... In season, inspirated concerts are regularily organised in the cave from 3 to 4 p.m. The other upper cave is dedicated to the Lourdes' holy Virgin, where a wooden sculpture shows a sad lady lifting her face to Jesus and another smiling one, sitting at his feet, blinded by a scarf, watching herself into a mirror. The meaning would be: Divine Joy is to be find by turning your inner attention to your own heart... "Know yourself and you will know the Universe and the Gods" said the ancient Greeks... and the Cathar wisdom...Refreshments and souvenirs can be bought at a relaxing open space around an old tree in between the two caves. They say, the tree is home to fairies... a mystic mysterious place is that hermitage for whom wants to feel it, and anyway a nice excursion for everybody.N.B. There are no toilets at the hermitage, so better go to the ecological ones on the main parking lot. There are no sinks at all, so be prepared and bring your own tap water.

This place is magical. One must walk down to the Hermitage, and down to the river at the bottom of the canyon. There is a chapel set in a cave, across the refuge that serve light drinks and food if i can remember. the small opening in the cave and the orientation let the sun penetrate and hit the cross in the chapel at a certain time of the day in summer. it is a great experience to walk down the many basque and water pools along the river. Definitely a place to see if you are in the area

We coupled a tour of the gorge with a visit to the ruins at Peyrepertuse which turned out to make a wonderful day. How scary you find the road will depend on your previous road experiences. The roads are narrow and the drop off is steep. I would be more afraid to be on a bike or walking it for fear of being hit by a car. (cars probably can't travel more than a mile an hour so that fear may be crazy.) However, I would not advise this for someone who truly has vertigo or extreme fear of heights. The drive could be unnerving. I held my breath in a few spots!There was a bathroom in the parking lot but the door would not close and the wind whipped it open unless someone stood outside to protect your privacy. We set off from the parking lot to walk to the chapel in the rocks. There are stairs and trodden paths that are fairly easy and very passable to anyone who walks or hikes. I wouldn't even say that walking shoes are required. (that's personal, though. If you are someone who does everything in flipflops, you'd probably be ok. Not like the teenagers in misery I saw at Peyrepertuse where one really should wear shoes.)I am just trying to encourage you to make the little journey! From the parking lot it is mostly downhill; the chapel in the hillside is dramatic and sweet and it is cool inside and there is a little snack bar there as well! (Buy a candle to take back into the chapel to light; help keep this neat place open and accessible.)Okay, here's the secret... you do not have to turn around and trudge back to the parking lot the way you came. Simply continue through the snack bar, up the stairs and follow the path to the road. Turn right and you are back in the parking lot in a flash. (it is maybe 2 km) We spent a little over an hour doing this walk, with stopping to take pictures, getting oriented, etc. It was pleasant, the gorge with the river way below was beautiful. If the weather is stormy, pass on by. If you think it sounds like fun, I know you will enjoy it.

I have always resisted having or using a Sat Nav, as being a "Control Freak" I prefer to be in charge of my route. However, having recently purchased a new car with Sat Nav ready fitted to the vehicle - I have been provided with the opportunity to toe the technology line. My wife and I had driven from our home in Scotland, through England to France. We had been using the auto routes and were well ahead of schedule and so in Montauban I decided to test the Sat Nav by requesting the shortest route through the Pyrenees into Spain. We followed many narrow and winding roads and travelled through lots of interesting French rural villages BUT nothing prepared us for the D7 and D10 which took us to the Gorges de Galamos! The 2 or 3 kilometres on the cliff side road with the relatively low stone wall, the overhanging rock "roof" and the steep deep drop was at once stimulating, testing and thrilling (did I mention frightening?). The prospect of meeting a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction, the absence of passing places (and the fact of driving a brand new car) certainly increased my heart rate - but what a wonderful experience. Fortunately, we were able to pass through without incident but I would have hated to have been directed by Sat Nav whilst towing a caravan or driving a mobile home. I would love to return (armed with camera and more time) but I would walk or cycle rather than drive. I think my previous opinions about Satnav were correct - but I am grateful to it for taking us to this unexpected and beautiful location.

Even if driving trough the Gorges may be an interesting experience, we were suggested to leave the car in the parking lot at the entrance and walk. I think it was a good advice as we could both enjoy the amazing view :)

Came across this Gorge by accident. Just out for a drive round after arrivin in nearby Quillan the day before. We drove down the gorge which is far the best way to do it but in a rhd car not for the faint hearted. Very steep drops and i do mean steep with only a 3ft wall to save you. Would hate to do this in season as it is traffic light controlled and would become a procession. Much better ot knowing what was approaching round the bend!!! The gorge has a 2 mtr width limit and a 2.7 mtr height limit so motorhomes(camping vans a la France lol) can't go through. The drive to and from it is pretty amazing too

We rode our bikes through the gorge which is a great way to see it as the road is narrow and being in a car wouldn't allow your attention to be on the view. Or hike it. You need time to look over the barrier and take it all in. An amazingly beautiful spot.

The beauty or scariness of this place is in the eyes of beholders of course ! But majority of people will find the experience truly wonderful. We went past Bugarech ( where was supposed to be saved fron the End of The World at 121212 but never happened) and just thinking what were all the hype about that Mountain and suddenly hit by this Road! Since we were travelling morning time the traffic lights were not operating yet and that is it ,a vehicle comes face to face and one dares to squeeze pass without a perspiration somewhere on his/her body! Couple of times I took my eyes of the road momentarily and looked down the side, since my car is right hand drive (British), I felt as though I was on the edge of the Planert and sensed tinkling in my feet, feleling that was echoed by my 7 year old son too! We all had a pair of trainers in the car except guess whom ?( no point for answering the wife!) yes she didn't bring hers so we were deprived of walking down the bottom as one said previously would have been a nice experience not to mention that weather was beautiful on that day.So we left much to delight of my son vowing never to return which has changed since for the sake of thrill seeking! Soon enough got to the village of Saint Paul de Fenouillet which is delightful village for chilling out after visiting the Gorges and a must visit to the busy bakery and buy famous local biscuits as well as tasty bread. I will say was worth the trip definitely .

I came across a photo of this somewhere, read the reviews on TA and thought, "Wow! I really must see this!!" Drove across 117 and spent half a day to get here. It's OK, but not "amazing" as some have said.The road is a narrow one lane road, but it's wide enough to easily negotiate with a normal vehicle and the road has stone guard rails, so there's no chance of slipping into the gorge. Hardly any scarier or harder to drive then the mountain passes in the Pyrenees (and these have much more impressive views). All I can say is this is not a thrill ride but a short 2 km narrow road at slow speed past walking visitors in a line of cars controlled at each end by a traffic light. Moreover you can't see much from the car, especially if you're the driver.What is impressive however is WALKING the gorge. The views over the edge of the pools and river far below the road are stunning. You can also take a short walk to the small religious site above the gorge, which again is interesting but not amazing -- don't expect spots like those in Tibet or Bhutan for example. But it is nice.If you do come here arrive early and bring a swimsuit (assuming you come in summer). The river has some great swimming holes and you won't be disappointed. Just avoid the place if it even looks like rain because it is a narrow mountain gorge and flash flooding could be deadly.For my time and energy there are better things to do in the surrounding areas, but if you've never seen a mountain gorge and want a nice swim and happen to be driving 117, it's worth the stop.

We visited the area in August 2013 and approached the Gorge from the direction of Peyrepartuse in our campervan. Just before you enter the gorge there is a small campsite (13 euros per night) which has a small bar and restaurant.From there we walked through the gorge. It is impossible to get through the gorge in anything bigger than a transit type van so don't attempt it!!The gorge is amazing to walk through and when we returned we climbed down the lower slopes and had a sunbathe/paddle in the stream.One word of warning, in some parts the gorge is very windy which can take you by surprise when you turn a corner, for anyone with pushchairs etc i would advise caution.The place is worth a visit, and we'll certainly visit again.

We took TA advice and timed our trip through the gorge in the afternoon as suggested elsewhere. Unfortunately, the rain we experienced throughout our week in the Languedoc decided to get serious just as we entered the chasm where we were greeted with a torrential thunderstorm. This made getting out to take the walking trail out of the question, but it actually made for a very memorable experience—thunder echoing off the walls as we snaked our way through the gorge.I have to say the drive was not nearly as scary as some reviews here might lead you to believe. Yes, there are plenty of blind corners, sheer drops, and low overhangs and the road is single-lane, but the traffic moves slowly and pullover spots are well-spaced. On the other hand, I was happy to be driving a subcompact and no doubt the weather likely did induce the little traffic we encountered to drive more cautiously. Bottom line: I highly recommend Galamus for the dramatic views as well as the interesting drive.

Don't be put off by the road sign - any normal vehicle will be able to negotiate the turns and overhangs but don't even think about it in a campervan.We were en route from the Chateau de Peyrepertuse to the D117 and selected this road as an alternative to the one we had driven on to the castle. The road sign informing us that the road had a maximum width of 2 metres and a height limit of 2.7 metres followed by another sign requiring campervans to turn back was somewhat daunting but when one's on holiday one has to be a little bold.And what a journey it turned out to be! Not only is the gorge extremely narrow in places but it quickly gains depth as well with the road clinging to the side of the gorge. The road is mainly single track with passing places at nearly every corner and as we were travelling down the gorge late afternoon we were able to stop in the passing places to get some photographs as there was no traffic coming the other way.As one leaves the narrowest part of the gorge one comes across the hermitage and this too is worth a stop as it is the former home of a hermit who built his home here many years ago and established a chapel in a crevice in the rocks behind. Unless one has read a guidebook to the area this is something that could so easily be missed.

We came across this drive by accident.. the map said it was a tourist drive through a gorge and we didn't know just what we were letting ourselves in for :D This is NOT the type of drive we are used to in Sydney! Much of the road is single lane with a gigantic drop on one side, leading to the deliciously terrifying thought of cars coming in the other direction and needing to reverse (on the wrong side of the road for us) to let them by. It passes through narrow passages and winds around the mountain around hairpin bends and sweeping curves where, thankfully, you can see cars coming for some of your journey and wait for them to pass by. We were particularly happy to see the car park at the end and amused at the religious icons showing that others have had reason to thank God they made it to the other side! I would highly recommend this drive to anyone but those terrified by heights. It's as good as the best of rides in amusement parks.. a real life adrenalin buzz. We didn't visit the hermitage due to lack of time, but would have loved to do so. Maybe next time?