Open Ground
The Rivers of the Cévennes
Orpaillage, gold of the Gard · Cèze & Gardon rivers, Occitanie, France
Open groundThe prize. Flour gold the Romans taxed and never finished taking
Where. Cèze & Gardon rivers, Occitanie, France
Status. Open ground
Where. Cèze & Gardon rivers, Occitanie, France
Status. Open ground
The account
The rivers that fall from the Cévennes have paid gold since before Caesar, orpaillage, the French call it, the old wash of the gravels. The Cèze and the Gardon still give colour to a patient pan in the green gorges, and a simple declaration to the local prefecture makes a summer's panning lawful. The Romans ran whole crews here. You'll mostly have it to yourself.
Leads, where the trail points now
- What you can keep: Flour gold the Romans taxed and never finished taking. Confirm the site's current rules and any day fee before you go.
- Where: Cèze & Gardon rivers, Occitanie, France. Recreational orpaillage lawful with a declaration to the departmental authority (DDT), rules vary by department; pan and hand tools only.
- Best practice: record anything notable, leave the ground as you found it, and check the latest access notices before you travel.
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