Saint-Chely-du-Tarn

Visit Saint-Chely-du-Tarn, Languedoc-Roussillon

Saint-Chely-du-Tarn is in the centre of the Gorges du Tarn, a few kilometres to the south-west of Sainte-Enimie.

Reached via an arched bridge across the Tarn river, it is a very picturesque village squeezed between the river and the cliff on a large meander in the river. It is one of the highlights of a visit to the gorges.

Exploring Saint-Chely-du-Tarn

The village has an attractive centre with many of the timeless stone houses of the region against a backdrop of steeply rising cliffs. The river below the village is best seen from the bridge, from where you can also see two streams cascading into the river.

The church is the only remaining section of a monastery that once stood here, and is an attractive stone building with a decorative arched entrance and a square belltower with further arches standing below a wooded slope.

There are various narrow pathways and alleys to explore in the village, which has few major monuments but creates an exceptional ensemble. A little way up one of the paths that leads up the hill from Saint-Chely-du-Tarn is a small chapel set in a picturesque rocky shelter, called the Baume de Cénaret.

If the children are hot from all the steep streets head next to to the riverside where there is a small small river beaches where they will enjoy paddling. You can also see also the old water mill that uses the stream arising in the Baume de Cénaret.

In the vicinity

There is a great view down into the gorges and across the village from the road at the top of the gorges behind Saint-Chely-Sur-Tarn, but although it is only about a kilometre away you will need to drive quite a long way up the road behind the village to get to it - perhaps a ten kilometre drive.

There are numerous highlights elsewhere along the Gorges, many with exceptional views - see Gorges du Tarn for details of our favourite viewpoints and villages.

See Languedoc-Roussillon and Lozere (the region and department for Saint-Chely-du-Tarn) for more travel ideas...

Suggested places to visit near Saint-Chely-du-Tarn, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Cevennes National Park 13km; Florac 17km; Mende 22km; Severac-le-Chateau 25km; Marvejols 25km; Le Pont de Montvert 29km; Millau 36km; Sainte-Eulalie-d'Olt 38km; Millau bridge 40km; Peyre 41km; Le Vigan 42km;

Saint-Chely-du-Tarn tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Aven Armand (grotte) - site of natural beauty (13km) : Chaos de Nimes-le-Vieux - site of natural beauty (18km) : Abîme de Bramabiau - site of natural beauty (25km) : Chaos de Montpellier-le-Vieux - site of natural beauty (27km) : Jardin des Sambucs - remarkable garden (41km) : Cascade du Déroc - site of natural beauty (42km) : Jardin du Tomple - remarkable garden (44km) : Grands Causses - regional natural parc (47km) :

See more places and a map at places near Saint-Chely-du-Tarn