Our favorite swimming spot in the Cevennes
If you’re a fan a wild swimming spots, this is the spot!
Shhh… let’s keep this one between us. It’s a little piece of heaven on earth, a place you might never want to leave. Getting there is a bit tricky but isn’t almost every too-good-to-be-true spot? Trust me, it’s worth the sketchy drive to get there.
You can find this magical place on the River Luech and this particular wild swimming spot is mostly known to locals-only. The narrow river runs through a small steep verdant valley between the tiny villages of Peyremale and Chambon. Just off the main road, a skinny paved path runs down the hill and crosses a bridge into a commune of about 10 houses. On either side of the stone bridge is a long stretch of the river with various deep pools and a waterfall which empties into one of the deepest pools. Large boulders line the sides of the river where you can set up camp, picnic, read, or sunbathe by warming your body on the hot rocks after a cool swim. There are also shaded areas under trees just next to the river. On a hot summer day, there may be others around but this closely-guarded secret is a definite highlight in the area.
Location
From the town of Bessèges, take D17. At Peyremale take D29 towards Chamborigaud. About 5 kilometers later, look for a small paved road going downhill, just after a sharp curve. If you reach the town of Chambons, you’ve gone too far. There is a small parking lot at the top of the hill where you can park and walk down. If you’re lucky there are a few spots to park down by the river.
