Peyremale: Hiking and Heritage

Peyremale is a commune in the Parc national des Cévennes. For planning a trip, two tangible themes go hand in hand: hiking at Col des 4 chemins and heritage that includes a church, hamlets, and traditional architecture. If you are looking for hotels in Peyremale, these highlights can help you choose a destination that suits your interests.

Hiking at Col des 4 chemins

The circular hike at Col des 4 chemins is classified as difficult, is 11.9 kilometers long, and is listed as taking five hours. It starts and ends at the roundabout in Peyremale. One section follows the GR® 44B; along the way, the route offers views of the Alps and Mont Ventoux. It also passes through former agricultural terraces. Mulberry trees were grown there for silkworm farming, along with grain and chestnuts. Thus, alongside the hiking route, the tour also covers former forms of land use.

For travel from Bessèges via the D17, the parking lot at the mairie at the entrance to Peyremale is recommended. As parking conditions may change, check the parking situation before setting out.

Stage 3 of the GR® de Pays Haute Vallée de la Cèze offers another point of reference. The route description, dated August 21, 2026, lists it as a moderately difficult, 16.9-kilometer stage taking six hours; Peyremale is among the communes named. One section of the stage passes through a chestnut grove toward Château d’eau du Serre.

The two route descriptions differ in distance, duration, and stated difficulty: the circular hike at the Col is shorter and classified as difficult, while Stage 3 is longer and classified as moderately difficult. They also differ in format: one is a circular hike, the other a stage of a long-distance trail. These details can help you gauge the scope of each tour as you plan.

Church, hamlets, and cultural landscape

The church of Peyremale was listed as a historic monument by decree on December 29, 1981. A priory founded by Benedictine monks from the Abbey of Sauve probably commissioned the original Romanesque building. The church thus brings together two distinct historical details: the probable origins of the first building and its later listing as a historic monument.

Several of Peyremale’s hamlets have medieval origins. Despite changes over the centuries, they retain evidence of traditional architecture. The commune is also home to several well-preserved dolmens. Those interested in historic architectural forms will find a range of subjects here: the Romanesque church, the hamlets, which have changed over a long period, and the dolmens.

The Canal du Tourrel is also part of the area’s water-management history. It is a béal, a channel that carries water from the Cèze upstream of the village to the hamlets along the river. The Moulin de la Coste is also known as the Moulin du Malpas. Together with the former agricultural terraces, the canal shows that the cultural landscape has been shaped not only by buildings, but also by water management and past land use.

Forest and choosing a destination

The forests of Peyremale are dominated by maritime pines and chestnut trees. Forest, former cultivated land, and historic buildings each offer a different focus: the circular hike combines viewpoints with the history of the terraces; the church, hamlets, dolmens, and Canal du Tourrel offer further points of interest for culture enthusiasts.

Discover more destinations: Courry, Rochefort-Du-Gard, Saint-Gilles, Durfort-Et-Saint-Martin-De-Sossenac, Ners, Cassagnoles, Saze, Montfaucon.

See the broader travel overview: Gard.