Chateau Tournel ©mairie Mende 1
Rando Vallee Lot Mont Lozere 1While the Lot Valley is steep-sided, wild and picturesque at its source, from Chadenet onwards it takes on the characteristics of a bocage landscape.
Oldest villages such as Bagnols-les-Bains or Sainte-Hélène have developed along the hillsides .
A little further along, the more winding valley narrows.
The deciduous and coniferous forest then occupies the entire landscape.
It is at the approach of Mendethat the valley offers its largest widening.
It is wedged by the Causse de Mende to the south, the Causse de Changefège to the west and by the foothills of the Margeride mountains to the north.
The valley narrows again on leaving Mende.
It is supplied, 7 km further on, in the village of Balsièges, by a new tributary: the Bramont.
The deep valley widens from Barjac and Chanac to the village of Sallelles.
The Colagne river comes to bring its tribute in water a few kilometers further and the Lot finally arrives at Banassac to leave the department of Lozère by the west.
It then rushes into the very beautiful, pretty Vallée d’Olt, in Aveyron.
