CYCLE LOOP No. 21 - ON THE TRAILS OF THE GLASSMAKERS

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In Saint-Martin-de-Londres, linger in the very narrow streets around the Romanesque church and the medieval enclosure, and enjoy the lower part of the village at Place des Platanes: from a café terrace or around the fountain, at the start or at the end of your outing, you will benefit from the calm atmosphere to admire notably the Clock Tower. From the village center, head north and turn onto the D122E6 to reach the small "Fox Bridge" 3 km further. Right from the start, you enjoy beautiful views of Pic Saint-Loup (and Hortus), which will accompany you throughout your outing. And from the beginning, the small roads are very pleasant, a constant feature as well.

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After the bridge, turn left to take a very minor road, in mediocre condition, through vineyards and fields, then the D1E5 to Notre-Dame-de-Londres. The municipality is well known for its teams and tambourin matches; you pass just before arriving in front of the pitch dedicated to this sport on your right.

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Notre-Dame-de-Londres is a beautiful small village. Wander on the cobbles around the curious double-nave Romanesque church (12th century) and on the small interior square around the large plane tree, inside the ramparts. After the village, you enter the scrubland, amid rocky massifs. The road is simply superb. On your left, you pass the black wood and the Matibet wood, inhaling the good Mediterranean scents. The road is gently hilly and steadily climbs until Ferrières-les-Verreries, on the glassmakers’ route.

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Before Ferrières-les-Verreries, at the bend climbing to the village, you discover on the left the remains of the amazing and ancient wood glassworks of Couloubrines, from the 16th century, right in the middle of the scrubland. Then climb to the lost village to appreciate the tranquility around its church, and then take the D107E4.

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The road continues to climb, and at the summit, if you put down your bike and take a path on the right, you may be lucky enough to spot the dolmen of Ferrières. After the pass, the road briefly descends with hairpin bends and you continue through the magnificent scrubland landscape for about 5 km.

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At the intersection of the D25 and D17E6, take the latter to the right. You are on the plateau, on a slightly busier road and on long straight lines, which contrast with the previous winding road. If attentive, you will identify on your left the Oppidum of the Causse on a wooded prominence, and on your right, in the background, still Pic Saint-Loup.

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After about 6 km of straight line, turn right to take the D122 which descends about 5 km to the commune of Rouet.

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From the foot of the hill, continuing on the D122E6, nice surprises await you. First at the Lamalou stream, a pedestrian path (not marked) goes off to the right for a few hundred meters to reach the well-hidden dolmen of Lamalou. You discover in the pine forest this quite incredible relic, a funerary monument built during the Late Neolithic (3200-2700 BC). Its state of preservation is excellent, so much so that the architecture with antechamber, funerary chamber, and access corridor is intact.

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A little further on, continuing on the D122E6, you can make a short detour to the left to reach the Saint-Etienne-de-Gabriac church, with its small attached cemetery, on a solitary ridge. A small journey back in time and a very beautiful viewpoint.

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You finally continue on hilly roads for about 6 km more to return to your starting point in Saint-Martin-de-Londres, via the section initially taken.

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