Cros: Hiking Trails, Karst and Silk History
Accommodation in Cros
Cros lies in the Haut Vidourle Valley and is a small Cévennes commune associated with the national park. If you are looking for hotels in Cros, the area’s local highlights can help you get a feel for the destination: hiking trails, a river and karst landscape, and the history of silk processing offer different starting points for planning your trip.
Hiking Trails and Landscape
Below Cros, the Vidourle disappears underground. The Boucle de l’eau route passes through the river landscape of Cros and explores the underground water in the area’s karst caves and galleries. There are currently three municipal hiking trails in Cros; the municipal team cleans and marks them.
The L’Ubac et la roche des filles route runs along the shady side of the Haut-Vidourle Valley over La Fage, a 931-metre-high mountain. From the Roche des filles viewpoint, there are panoramic views of the Jumelles de Saint Chamant and as far as the hamlet of La Rouvière. The Cros Silk Trail is a very easy 2.1-kilometre circular route. It takes 1 hour 30 minutes to walk and is marked in yellow. Check the route details again before setting out.
The terraces at Mas Bourguet also offer insight into how the landscape was built: they are made of dry stone, without mortar. Stairs are built into their retaining walls, allowing people to move from one terrace to the next. Cros is also considered a suitable place for swimming.
Church and CĂ©vennes History
The De la mairie à l’église de Cros route tells the story of the Cévennes’ turbulent religious history. Since the Reformation in the 16th century, the divide between Protestants and Catholics has shaped the region. The Romanesque church of Saint Vincent dates from the 12th century; services are now held there only occasionally.
Traces of Silk Processing
The Moulin des Arnaudes mill still has millstones engraved with the year 1716. On the first floor was a large magnanerie, a room for raising silkworms, which was in use until the 20th century. The Perrier silk mill was built in 1847 and closed in the 1920s. The dates refer to different milestones: 1716 is engraved on the millstones, while 1847 marks the construction of the Perrier silk mill.
On the Silk Trail, a small house known as an oustalet served as accommodation for female workers, most of whom came from Italy. They were involved in raising silkworms, collecting mulberry leaves and reeling the cocoons. These activities cover different stages of silk production, from feeding the silkworms to processing the cocoons.
The hiking trails each have a different focus: the Boucle de l’eau explores underground water, L’Ubac passes over La Fage, and the Silk Trail’s length, walking time and markings are specific route details. Together with its church and silk history, these offer several themes to help guide your choice of destination.
Discover more destinations: Massillargues-Attuech, Alzon, Barjac, La Vernarède, Saint-Chaptes, Belvezet, Saint-Dionizy, Saint-Étienne-des-Sorts
For the broader travel overview: Gard.
