October 20th, 2008 
Sheila Simkin Florac (pop 1,995), at 546m/1,791′, is a small town that appeared “big” to us after all the little villages and hamlets in this area. It is beautifully situated at the entrance to the Tarn gorges, edge of the Causse Mejean, the Cevennes and Mont Lozere. Florac is famous for its good food (a place right up our alley) and outdoor activities. There is a 17th century Chateau du Florac with two towers and an exhibition inside. We’d have no time to visit anything and had to get back on the trail tomorrow to St. Julien D’Arpaon.
Florac has an interesting event that takes place in the summer called 24 heures de Florac during which horseback riders complete a 160 km/99 mile circuit in this area. If you ride, look into it. Right at this point, all I was interested in was the Hotel du Gorges du Tarn had WI-FI that worked and dinner. So very hungry, we even resorted to sopping up gravy and food particles with bread. A fresh strawberry and raspberry parfait mixed with ricotta cheese won my “best dessert of the trip” award.
There is a subterranean stream, the Source de Pecher, that flows right through the middle of town down a series of terraces. Medieval streets, avenues of Plane Trees, old fountains, small bridges, narrow alleyways and ponds with huge fish swimming in them…View image…. Gorgeous roses…View image…, lilies and other flowers everywhere…growing on top of walls and through the stones…View image….
You can also visit the Tarn gorges west of Florac. Schedule a day for this if you have time to see the gorges. It’s also possible to hire a bicycle and ride out there. Florac is loaded with shops, restaurants, boutiques, markets and I would have liked another rest day here in Florac in hindsight… Surf the Florac website for more information.
A fantastic big breakfast and we savored and enjoyed every morsel. Juices, eggs, ham, cheese, breads, yogurt and cereal. You would have thought we hadn’t seen food for weeks and bodies were saying…”feed me”…
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