Sauvagnon : dans la plaine du pont long en VTT

  • by mountain bike : 40min - Difficulty Easy
  • Distance : 7.2km
  • Vertical rise : 20m
  • Public : Tous publics
An easy nature bike tour, it allows you to explore an area with a rich pastoral and agricultural history. And when the blue line of the Pyrenees appears in the distance, the view is superb. This tour is ideal in spring and autumn, after the corn harvest.
The Pont Long area is a vast plateau of alluvial deposits washed down from the Pyrenees by major rivers during the last ice ages. For centuries, this very wet area was exploited by the surrounding villages and the Ossalois pastoralists, who even fought wars to secure the use of the southern part of the plateau. Grazing was very extensive, mainly from autumn to spring. These long structures, resembling long floating bridges, gave their name to the area (Pont Long).
Itinerary

  • Step 1 :

    The walk starts at the Sauvagnon waterfall (Chemin du Luy). Take the path that follows the Luy de Béarn behind the bus shelter. At Chemin de Tabaille, turn left.

  • Step 2 :

    Take the road for 250 metres. The tarmac road turns into a track. Continue for 500 metres. End of the road.

  • Step 3 :

    Turn left, follow the road (Chemin de Morlane) for 50 metres, turn right and take the grassy path. Follow this path for 1,200 metres.

  • Step 4 :

    At the crossroads, take the track on the left. Continue for 600 metres. End of the track. Take the tarmac road on the right for 40 metres. Then turn left and take a dirt track, continuing straight ahead for 1,300 metres.

  • Step 5 :

    When it ends, turn left. Continue straight ahead for 1,000 metres. The track turns into a small tarmac road. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead. Follow the road for 800 metres, continuing straight ahead. You will cross a bridge over the Luy de Béarn river.

  • Step 6 :

    After 700 metres, at the blue and white sign indicating a right turn, leave the road and continue straight ahead. After 50 metres, turn left (Clos de Bai path). Despite the sign prohibiting traffic except for residents, continue along the road. On the left, just behind a hedge of trees, take a gravel path.

  • Step 7 :

    He descends and then walks along the river. Take the footbridge. Turn right after the footbridge and follow the path along the side of the road. Cross the road to reach the Sauvagnon waterfall.
Don't miss
  • Sauvagnon waterfall (Nature site)

    The Sauvagnon waterfall, as you can see, is not natural. It was created to enable a mill to operate. Between the 19th and early 20th centuries, there were many mills in the region. In Sauvagnon, there were three mills: two on the Luy de Béarn (the Sauvagnon mill, which operated until 1960, and the Buret mill) and one on the Gées river (the Biegue mill). All equipped with three pairs of millstones and flying wheels, they were used to produce flour. The Sauvagnon mill was the most powerful, with 7 horsepower.

  • View of the Pyrenees (Panorama)

  • View of the bell tower of the church in Sauvagnon (Rural heritage)

Nearby routes

Nearby accommodation

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