Discover Saint-Genest-De-Beauzon

Saint-Genest-De-Beauzon is characterised by a succession of hamlets between forests and farmland. Local landmarks include the circular trail “Le sentier de l'olivier”, the “Eglise Saint Genest” church and the former “Filature” spinning mill. A craft term and the historic role of the hamlet of Cros also add to the character of the area.

Hiking and getting there

The “Le sentier de l'olivier” hiking trail is an 11.1-kilometre PR circular route that takes about four hours. It starts and ends at the Saint-Genest-De-Beauzon town hall, returning to its starting point. Along the way, it passes olive trees, vineyards and hamlets. It also passes the unfinished church in the hamlet of Suel. The hike can be set aside as a dedicated block of time in your day’s itinerary.

Saint-Genest-De-Beauzon can be reached from Joyeuse or Les Vans via the D104a. You can therefore plan your journey from either of these two places. The route length, approximate duration and start and end point at the town hall also provide a concrete framework for the hike itself.

Church and religious history

The “Eglise Saint Genest” church is built of stone and finished with lime plaster. Its floor plan is cruciform, and the choir has a circular end. The floor plan describes the overall layout, while the choir’s end refers to the shape at the end of the church interior. These architectural features complement the details about its furnishings and make the building’s architecture tangible.

The furnishings include stained-glass windows and Stations of the Cross. The windows are signed “Charlemagne” in Toulouse. The history of the parish also helps put the area in context: it is considered one of the oldest in Ardèche and is said to have been founded around the year 549. This attribution of its founding is therefore uncertain; the date traditionally given is approximately 549.

Spinning mill and craftsmanship

The “Filature” is a former spinning mill built by Jean-François SAUTEL in the 19th century. It can only be viewed from the outside. This is an important distinction when planning a visit: the Filature can be seen from the outside, but cannot be visited indoors.

A “Pléjador”, pronounced “plédjadou”, is a tool carved from stone and used to make barrel hoops from hackberry wood. The term refers to a specific tool, its purpose and the wood used for the task. It means the stone implement, not the finished barrel hoop. For anyone interested in local craftsmanship, this definition makes a specific work process understandable.

Landscape and history of the hamlet of Cros

Forests and meadows shape the landscape in the valleys, alongside vineyards, olive trees and a little livestock farming. Together with the succession of hamlets between woodland and farmland, they create a varied rural setting. These landscape features are also present along the hiking trail, which passes olive trees, vineyards and hamlets.

The hamlet of Cros offers a distinct historical perspective: it was the setting for major livestock markets whose renown extended far beyond the local area. The municipality was then called “Beaucaire des Cévennes”. This name belongs to the area’s history and dates from a different period than today’s information about the landscape and circular trail.

Discover more destinations: Ailhon, Genestelle, Orgnac L'aven, Le Pouzin, Bourg-Saint-Andéol, Mariac, Saint-Germain, Vals-Les-Bains

For the broader travel overview: Ardèche.