Attractions and Places To See around Tauriac-De-Camarès - Top 20

The Col de la Croix de Mounis is one of those passes where you don't just cross a slope, but a true border between two valleys. Perched at an altitude of about 800 meters, in the heart of Haut-Languedoc, it connects the Mare valley to that of the Dourdou. For a long time, this pass was a strategic crossing point between Lacaune and Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare. Before modern roads, it was already part of a local circulation network, used by muleteers and stagecoaches, where villages, markets, and valleys were connected via routes dictated by the terrain. The current road still retains something of this logic: it doesn't cut through the mountain, it goes around it and "negotiates" it.

From the D8E13 bridge, the viewpoint offers a beautiful postcard of Avène and the Orb.

Consider booking a table at L'Avenette Gourmande restaurant, located in the small village of Avène. Enjoy a terrace overlooking the river, surrounded by nature. An exceptional setting and highly recommended traditional cuisine. I highly recommend it.

This tiny and peaceful village, with a worldwide reputation for the benefits of its water, is a perfect location for hikers and gravel enthusiasts. You have many options of loops from there. Enjoy!

The bucolic charm of the places and the banks of the Orb is striking. The economy of Avène has always been based on significant mining activity that began under Roman rule and continued until 1954, when the Rabasse mines closed. Created in 1962 for hydroelectric production and regulation of the Orb, the Lac des Monts d'Orb (or Lac d'Avène) is 6 kilometres long and covers an area of 190 hectares. An old lead and silver mine is now submerged under the lake: the mines and their exploitation were a source of wealth for the Orb valley, from Antiquity until the 1950s. Today, it is above all nature that provides Avène with one of its benefits: water from the depths of the Languedoc earth. This water that has been shaping a destiny for two and a half centuries, a vocation inspired by Thermalism. It is impossible not to go to the Thermal Baths, a stone's throw south of the village (the markings of the Sentier des 2 Lacs allow you to reach the site on foot, and the connection is pretty!). The Thermal Baths site is peaceful, relaxing... like the range of well-being and beauty products from the Avène brand. Beyond the thermal area, there is a magnificent hotel and an excellent restaurant! The establishment is committed to a truly eco-responsible approach: use of local products, innovative and energy-efficient architectural and technical choices...

Created in 1962 for hydroelectric production and regulation of the Orb river, the Lac des Monts d’Orb is 6 kilometres long and covers an area of 190 hectares. A former lead and silver mine is now submerged under the lake: the mines and their exploitation were a source of wealth for the Orb valley, from Antiquity until the 1950s. The lake is not intended for swimming, but you can have lovely accompanied outings on a stand-up paddle or kayak, and go fishing.

The Lac d'Avène reservoir is located at an altitude of 430 m and its surface area is 1.9 km².

This departmental road crosses the village of Serviès, located in the eponymous valley. It also criss-crosses the Monts d’Orb national forest between Avène and the Col de Layrac, which marks the transition between the departments of Hérault and Aveyron. Very wooded, this road is a breath of fresh air on very hot days. The surface is generally in good condition, and the ascent to the pass as well as the descent to Avène are very pleasant. If you wish to stop there, two lodges are located in the valley: the Cartayade lodge on the south side, and the relay of Marie-Claude and Jacky Theron a little further north. These are two welcoming places with a lot of charm, and you will be well fed and housed there as well as advised on your adventures. It is obviously possible (and encouraged!) to take a hike around the gîtes to discover the surrounding area.