Saint-Jean-du-Bruel: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

The Gorges de la Dourbie follow the river between villages perched on the hills and greenery-covered cliffs. They are a Natura 2000 site, home to brown trout, beavers, otters, kingfishers and vultures.

Those considering Saint-Jean-du-Bruel as a holiday destination may wish to rent a holiday apartment there.

Culture

Historically, the waters of the Dourbie enabled numerous trades to develop in Saint-Jean-du-Bruel, including chestnut wood processing and a pottery industry. The Balades Sonores experience uses four audio worlds and the voices of local residents to explore the area's nature, craft history and more recent inhabitants.

The Route forestière de Brante is a moderately difficult circular trail through the forest between chestnut trees and up to the Col de Brante. It combines views of the Causse Bégon, Fabarède and the edge of the Cévennes with traces of Saint-Jean-du-Bruel's former mining and industrial history, including a slate quarry and lime-ammonia kilns.

Hiking and Discovery

The Causse Bégon et le Tombeau du Géant hike from Saint-Jean-du-Bruel is a moderately difficult 12.1 kilometre circular trail lasting 3 hours 30 minutes. The Causse Bégon loop also offers a detour to the megalithic site of Tombeau du Géant, a dolmen, as well as views of the Cévennes and Mont Aigoual.

A family-friendly 4 kilometre hike from Saint-Jean-du-Bruel follows a wooded path between chestnut trees and slate walls to the Sentinelle information panels. Two panels explain the views there of the upper Dourbie Valley and the Cévennes, as well as the lower course of the Dourbie and the Causses.

The Sentier d'interprétation du village de St-Jean du Bruel takes about an hour and is marked by seven panels explaining the history of the village's significant sites. The natural climbing wall at Saint-Jean-du-Bruel has around ten equipped routes with difficulty levels ranging from 4a to 4c.

Water and Leisure

The Plan d'eau de la Roque offers supervised swimming in the Dourbie in July and August. In addition to a holiday village with chalets, it has a pebble- and sand-covered riverside area and shallow sections of the river where children can play safely.

The Aire de loisirs de La Roque offers a natural-wood play area with a zip line, climbing tower and small amphitheatre. It is accessible to people with reduced mobility and has picnic tables, a drinking-water fountain and toilets.

The water hike in the Canyon du Tayrac features natural slides, cascades, jumps and clear pools in the Gorges de la Dourbie. It is a moderately difficult activity suitable for families and groups of friends, and offers an introduction to canyoning. Due to exceptionally low water levels following a municipal order, it is temporarily closed.

Other destinations: La Cresse, Lestrade-Et-Thouels, Salvagnac-Cajarc, Cabanès, Viviez, Sauveterre-De-Rouergue, Bournazel, Creissels

For the higher-level travel overview: Aveyron.