The Cirque de Navacelles is an incised meander, a large erosional landform located towards the southern edge of the Massif Central mountain range in South of France. It is located near Saint-Maurice-Navacelles and Blandas villages, between the Hérault and the Gard départements, in Languedoc-Roussillon.
The Cirque de Navacelles was isolated, with only a few small villages around. But with the completion of the Millau Viaduct in 2004 and the A75 motorway linking Clermont-Ferrand and Pézenas, tourism in the region including the Cirque de Navacelles has increased.
When you arrive for the first time, on top of the Cirque, you will be impressed by the canyon dug by thousands of years, by the Vis river.
The Vis river is running through the Cirque de Navacelles. Crystal clear water, sometime turquoise, allows life around.
The Vis is 57.9 km long, and it flows between the Causse du Larzac and the Causse de Blandas into the Hérault département and the Gard département. The Vis flows into the Hérault River near Ganges.
The name “Vis” derives from the old Proto-Indo-European root “Vir” which means “river”.
F2.8, 1/500 sec, 100 mm, ISO1600, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F22, 4 sec, 10 mm, ISO100, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F11, 1/40 sec, 20 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F11, 1/80 sec, 10 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F11, 1/640 sec, 10 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F2.8, 1/400 sec, 100 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F8, 1/80 sec, 10 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F8, 1/200 sec, 20 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F8, 1/200 sec, 10 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F22, 1/0 sec, 11 mm, ISO100, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F4, 1/2500 sec, 10 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F20, 1/60 sec, 10 mm, ISO250, Canon EOS 7D
F5.6, 1/50 sec, 10 mm, ISO250, Canon EOS 7D
F4.5, 1/800 sec, 12 mm, ISO250, Canon EOS 7D
F2.4, 1/40 sec, 5 mm, ISO100, C-1Z,D-150Z
River’s water is fresh, sometime cold, but it’s a great place to visit in South of France. Some parts are more isolated and difficult to access, but more relaxing and far from crowed afternoons.
Lots of people from Herault and Gard departments, but also many tourists, are coming to the Cirque de Navacelles to enjoy the waterfalls.
Some rocks are just perfectly shaped to lie down, cosy under the bright sun. Several places along the Vis river are a bit cooler thanks to the shade provided by the trees.
F2.8, 1/800 sec, 100 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F2.8, 1/640 sec, 100 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F2.8, 1/160 sec, 100 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F2.8, 1/1000 sec, 100 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F5, 1/250 sec, 100 mm, ISO1600, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F4.5, 1/400 sec, 100 mm, ISO200, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F4.5, 1/1000 sec, 100 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F4.5, 1/500 sec, 100 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F3.5, 1/1250 sec, 100 mm, ISO200, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F3.5, 1/1250 sec, 100 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F3.5, 1/4000 sec, 100 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F4, 1/2500 sec, 100 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F4.1, 1/800 sec, 11.4 mm, ISO50, X400,D580Z,C460Z
F4.8, 1/500 sec, 14.9 mm, ISO50, X400,D580Z,C460Z
As I have hiked many times in the Cirque de Navacelles, I found some old photos that I added to this article. A good way to pay a tribute to my old digital cameras!
Lots of butterflies, moths and insect are present in the Cirque de Navacelles. But be careful with the aspic vipers swimming around.
You can explore and swim in the Vis river, or simply take a nap and listen to the cicadas singing, typical in South of France.
If you are from the Herault or Gard department, or even from much further, I invite you to visit and respect the Cirque de Navacelles in South of France.
I hope that you enjoyed the photos and the place.
Cheers!
