The Tarn River Gorge
Trip Start
Apr 17, 2009
1
15
58
Trip End
May 09, 2010
Ste. Enimie, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Thursday, May 7, 2009
The village of St. Enimie is in the canyon and is another one of the designated "prettiest villages" We LOVED this village. It is definitely one of our favorites because it is immaculate and the setting is amazing. There are a few restaurants, a couple of small inns and shops. The Tarn river has a mix of rapids and pool areas as it winds through this village. It was a bit cool for swimming but we really wanted to go. John waded into the river and it was cold. There are canoe and rafting trips down the river and the hillsides are covered with wild iris, red poppy's, wild pink and white snap dragons, and wild hyacinths in pink, purple, and yellow. This area is really a nature lover's dream come true.
From here we continued deeper into the canyon and followed the road along the river. There are two small villages on the opposite side of the river that are not connected with roads and are only accessible by hiking trails, boats on the river or by a "basket" that carries you across the gorge to the village!!! (see photos!). The largest of these two villages is called Hauterives, and we really want to go back and make arrangements somehow to stay there at some point.
We continued on out of the canyon to the town of Millau which is famous for having the highest bridge in the world. It is a 1.5 mile long bridge that spans across a large valley and the bridge reaches a height of over 1300 feet. It was built just a couple of years ago and is considered an engineering marvel. It has become a very big tourist attraction.
From Millau we made our way across beautiful open countryside of lush green hills and wonderful stretches of new, green wheat and fields of yellow flowers blowing in the wind. It was just as beautiful as the Tarn River Gorge but in such a different way.
Comment- We have noticed many wind turbines being used on hilltops around the area. They generate electricity for many of the towns. France generates nearly all of its own electricity without using oil! The wind turbines are very large but do not make any noise (we were standing directly beneath some) and do not damage the appearance of the countryside. Having seen them up close and in so many places we think they are a good option for generating electricity back home.
From Millau we are making our way to Brousse le Chateau- yet another of the specially designated "prettiest villages" of France.
