Castelbouc travel guide

Visit Castelbouc (Occitanie, France)

Castelbouc is a very small village located in the Gorges du Tarn to the east of Sainte-Enimie. Deep in the gorges on the edge of the river, it really is a 'picture postcard perfect' village.

Explore Castelbouc

Descending a small road from the main road through the gorges, you cross a small low bridge to reach Castelbouc. The village only has about 20 houses , and there are also the ruins of a castle on the hill above the village.

Rather ominously there is a sign at the bridge saying it was sometimes submerged under the water - you would be very brave to cross in these conditions, since the bridge has almost no edges and would be completely invisible! There is an alternative, longer route that reaches the village and avoids the bridge.

As the village is so small it doesn't take long to explore Castelbouc. In the village itself there is a small 'centre' with a church, a cross, and the original village bread oven.

Each of the houses is very pretty, and I could easily have taken photos of each and every one of them, but then you would have nothing new to see when you visited!

There is also a touching tribute to those from the commune that lost their lives in the First World War, including faded photos of each of the soldiers.

After strolling through the village, there is a marked pathway through the surrounding gorges which is four kilometres long and labelled 'Sentier de Castelbouc', a nice way to explore the region.

Note: after visiting the village and returning to the main road (or if you don't have time to stay long, or the bridge is flooded...) there is a marked viewpoint on the road above that looks down into the valley and Castelbouc, and is well worth stopping to see - although you will need to squeeze into a gap between the coaches of tourists who have also stopped!

Attractions nearby

Situated at the eastern end of the Gorges du Tarn there is a great deal of dramatic scenery to enjoy near Castelbouc. Simply drive along the road through the gorges! Our favourite villages in the Gorges include Sainte-Enimie and Saint-Chely-du-Tarn.

To the east of Castelbouc, outside the gorges and towards the Cevennes National Parc the scenery is also very picturesque - start your exploring at Florac.

Explore elsewhere in the Massif Central. You can find more travel ideas in the Lozere guide and the Languedoc-Roussillon guide.

Photos of Castelbouc

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Map of Castelbouc and places nearby

Visit near Castelbouc with France This Way reviews

Montbrun

The small but very pretty village of Montbrun is at the eastern end of the Gorges du Tarn

Montbrun guide

Sainte-Enimie

Sainte-Enimie is the most extensive, and perhaps the most interesting, of the pretty villages along the Gorges du Tarn

Sainte-Enimie guide

Saint-Chely-du-Tarn

Saint-Chely-du-Tarn is in an idyllic spot within the western part of the Gorges du Tarn

Saint-Chely-du-Tarn guide

Cevennes National Park

The varied landscapes of the Cevennes National Park are famous as the setting for Robert Louis Stevenson's 'Travels with a Donkey'!

Cevennes National Park guide

Florac

Both the surrounding scenery and the town centre of Florac make it a very enjoyable destination

Florac guide

Meyrueis

The small rivers that meet in the centre of the town and the lively atmosphere in summer make Meyrueis a popular detour with those exploring the scenic highlights in Lozere

Meyrueis guide

... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Lozere

Address: Castelbouc, Sainte-Enimie, Florac, Languedoc-Roussillon, 48210, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 44.3396, longitude 3.46522