Landing Destinations | campings-millau-grand-causses

A world petrified of giant rocks

Made up of ruiniform dolomitic rocks, the Chaos of Montpellier-le-Vieux plunges you into a fantastic universe.

These limestone rocks have been sculpted naturally by erosion and have taken on strange shapes over time: the Gate of Mycenae, the Queen’s face, the Morel rock… it’s up to you to imagine and interpret these landscapes, and to adopt the type of discovery that suits you best.

“A forest of stones” “a real natural labyrinth” or a “thousand-year-old zoo”…

A trip on the little train is the perfect way to discover the site in idleness mode. 50 minutes of live commentary by your driver, and lots of information on the geology and flora of the Causses.

5 signposted trails wind their way through these rock formations, sometimes in the undergrowth, sometimes on a balcony on the edge of the Gorges de la Dourbie, sometimes at the top of panoramic ridges or at the bottom of a labyrinth of narrow canals. From 1 to 3 hours’ walking on trails equipped with multilingual interpretation panels, either on your own or guided by an instructor.

Hiking in the City of Stones

Book in advance to discover the Cité de pierres’ Via Ferrata routes, all on ridges with magnificent panoramic views:

the “family” version, accessible from age 8, equipped with a safety system to prevent any handling errors.
the “sporty” version, for those aged 12 and over, with its aerial and underground courses, enhanced by several zip lines.
Supervision by an instructor and equipment supplied.
Picnic area.

There’s something for everyone!

City of Stones 2.0

The Cité de Pierres can also be explored via Explor’Games, a game of exploration and adventure, combining orienteering, challenges and enigmas with the help of a digital tablet. You become the hero of an extraordinary adventure and embark on a fantastic journey through a scenic outdoor course.
Your mission: to liberate the Amathi civilization, petrified for millennia.

Discover the adventure

Other rocky chaos in Aveyron

Accessible all year round, the causses also boast many other rocky chaotic sites, although smaller than Montpellier-le-Vieux: Roquesaltes on the Causse Noir, Rajal del Gorp on the Larzac plateau, perfect settings for family outings.

Discover other rocky chaos

An Arboretum A rich flora full of surprises

In stark contrast to the aridity of the Causse Noir, the Cité de pierres is a privileged area for vegetation.

The shelter of the rocks and the diversity of exposures have encouraged a wide variety of flora to flourish: Scots pine, white oak, beech, boxwood, juniper, dogwood, pulsatile anemones, adonis, orchis and ophris… and many more! 16 Causse tree species to discover.