Mayres: Valleys, Peaks and History

Mayres can be explored through a variety of themes: hiking trails, distinctive natural features and historic buildings. These themes offer travelers different ways to connect with the area: routes through several valleys, a geological feature or the history surrounding Montlaur. This lets you choose the area according to the landscape and cultural features you want to shape your stay.

Hiking and Mountain Biking

Marked and regularly maintained trails in Mayres lead to ridges as high as 1,500 meters beneath chestnut and beech trees. The local hiking trails also make it possible to explore several valleys. One hiking trail passes the former lead and silver mines of Lescure, linking the walk to a historical site. Mountain biking is possible in Mayres at any time of year, so you can include this activity in your travel plans regardless of the season. A hiking map and a leaflet with the main routes are available at the town hall square. If you need the materials for a specific hike, check their availability locally.

Natural Features and Trails

Le Rocher Troué is a geological feature in the commune of Mayres, also known in the Ardèche dialect as “Lou Ron Trooutcha.” A window-like opening can be found among a cluster of rocks. Rocher d'Abraham is a 1,498-meter-high peak and viewpoint overlooking the upper Tanargue. The two natural sites offer different highlights: at Rocher Troué, the window-like shape catches the eye; at Rocher d'Abraham, it is the view of the upper Tanargue. The spring of Peyralade is naturally carbonated. The “Peyralade-Montlaur” trail leads to it from Mayres. As trail conditions or local detours may affect access, check the route before setting out.

The route descriptions also differ: the local hiking trails allow walks through several valleys, while “Peyralade-Montlaur” leads from Mayres to a specific spring. This offers a choice between a broader range of routes and a particular natural destination. The height of up to 1,500 meters refers to the ridges; 1,498 meters is the height of Rocher d'Abraham.

Buildings and History

The ruins of Château de Montlaur include a keep, a Romanesque gate and corner towers built later. The Romanesque gate and the later-built corner towers point to different construction phases; the keep is another feature of the complex. The chapel of Saint Médard, restored in 1988, is located near Château de Montlaur. The chapel of Notre Dame des voyageurs is in Vieux Mayres. It faces the fortress of Montlaur and the chapel of Saint Médard; the national road from Aubenas to Puy en Velay separates it from both.

Discover more destinations: Sanilhac, Thueyts, Le Pouzin, Coux, St. Etienne De Boulogne, Saint Agreve, Saint-Fortunat-Sur-Eyrieux, Grospierres

For the main travel overview: Ardèche.