Mont Bouquet

Mont Bouquet

France, europe

Length

4.6 km

Elevation

628 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

# Mont Bouquet: A Quirky Climb in Southern France

Ready for a wild ride? Mont Bouquet is a 628-meter (2,060ft) limestone beast tucked away in the Gard region of southern France, sitting pretty between the towns of Alès and Bagnols-sur-Cèze. This isn't your smooth highway experience—the D607A road is asphalt, but trust us, it's seen better days. You'll encounter some seriously gnarly sections with grades hitting a bone-crushing 19%, so bring your A-game.

The summit itself is pretty magical. You've got a charming little chapel crowned with a statue of the Virgin Mary, plus a towering 60-meter TV antenna called the "guidon du Bouquet" that'll make you feel like you're broadcasting from the top of the world. There's also a fire tower that works overtime during the hot, dry months—practical and atmospheric.

You've got two ways up this beast. Starting from Brouzet-lès-Alès? Buckle up for 4.6 km of pure elevation gain (437 meters total), averaging a respectable 9.5% gradient. Prefer something slightly gentler? The route from Seynes stretches to 5.49 km with 341 meters of climbing at a milder 6.2% average. Either way, you're trading sweat for some seriously stunning chaparral countryside views. This is the kind of drive that'll test your brakes and reward your soul.

Where is it?

Mont Bouquet is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 46.2022, 1.8167

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Road Details

Country
France
Continent
europe
Length
4.6 km
Max Elevation
628 m
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
46.2022, 1.8167

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