Faysses (terraces) path
>>
Home
>
Hike
>
Faysses (terraces) path
AILHON

Faysses (terraces) path

Embed this item to access it offline
This short walk will lead you to Ailhon's gorgeous site of terraces, witness to land uses and rural engineering. Interpretive boards explain the site and invite you to tour it.
The typical village of Ailhon is famous for its beautiful square and its XIIIth century church. Few people know that it is also home to an extraordinary site of terraces (or faysses, faïsses in local patois) that perfectly illustrates how these important elements of the Ardèche's heritage were built, and what were their uses. Beyond the indisputable beauty of the site, interpretive boards  will tell you about the history and building techniques of these terraces.

Description

  1. Take the path in front of the church going downhill to the left of the Ailhon square "site des faysses, 400 m". The markings are white and yellow. Go out of the village on the calade (cobblestone path) going downhill.
  2. At the crossways, go straight ahead following the white and yellow markings and carry on downhill.
  3. At the next crossways, turn right towards "chemin des faysses".
  4. 50 m away, at the intersection, turn right up to the faysses site where a first milestone is waiting for you (just past it, a board explains the olive tree conservatory orchards in the Ardèche). Continue on this terrace then go downhill on the path leading to the stairs. Take them down. On the last terrace, turn right and go along it up to a flight of stairs going up to boards explaining the building and uses of the terraces. Go up the successive flights of stairs up to the downhill path, then take again the central stairs in the terraces. You have made a loop on this magnificent terraces site.
  5. At the bottom of the stairs, take the direction of the "citerne" on your left.
  6. At the next crossways, turn right towards "jardin des Gourgues" and cross the brook before taking the stairs. Going back up, do not hesitate to have a look at the Gourgues garden and its beautiful irrigation system. Continue to go up and pass the wall on your right. This path will lead you to the first crossways (the one mentioned in step 2). Turn left to go back to the Ailhon square, your starting point.
  • Departure : Take the path in front of the church going downhill on the left ("Site des Faysses 400m")
  • Towns crossed : AILHON

Altimetric profile

Access and parking

From Aubenas, take the diversion towards the South, then the road D153 in the direction of Fons. Once at Fons, take the narrow road to Ailhon crossing the pine forest.

Report a problem or an error

If you have found an error on this page or if you have noticed any problems during your hike, please report them to us here: