The Le Bois des Lens circular hike starts in Crespian and passes an old lime kiln and a Romanesque church. The route is therefore also marked by tangible traces of history. The Temple de Crespian adds another perspective on the village, with a small bell tower and an oculus. For planning your trip, these distinctive architectural details sit alongside a hike with clearly stated figures.
Le Bois des Lens: distance and nature
The Le Bois des Lens circular hike is 9.5 km long, has an elevation gain of 256 m, and takes around three hours. These details help with different planning questions: the distance gives you an idea of the route’s length, the elevation gain adds information about the terrain, and the approximate duration provides a time frame for your hiking day. Taken together, they can help you decide whether the hike should be the main activity of the day or whether you want to plan other things as well. Treat the duration as an estimate and compare it with your own plans for the day.
Le Bois des Lens is also an ecological protected area with rare and diverse fauna and flora. This natural setting adds another perspective on Crespian to the specific route details. If you also want to take protected areas and biodiversity into account when choosing a destination, these aspects are just as relevant as the length of the circular hike. This can help you decide whether the hike itself or the natural environment should be the main focus of your plans.
Lime kiln, church, and Temple
Two different traces of history come together on the circular hike. An old lime kiln lies along the route, where limestone was processed into lime. The path also passes a Romanesque church in the Vielle district, whose history dates back to the 12th century. At the lime kiln, the focus is on its former craft use; at the church, it is on Romanesque architecture and its historical context. This contrast also makes the hike appealing to travelers who want to encounter tangible building and industrial history while walking.
The Temple de Crespian is adorned with a small bell tower and an oculus. An oculus is a round opening, which clearly distinguishes this architectural feature from the small tower. According to a page updated on January 21, 2026, the Temple is freely accessible every day throughout the year. Alongside the hike, which takes around three hours, this gives you a visit to a building with daily access and two distinctive architectural features to consider when planning.
Another hiking route
A route description published in 2014 and last reviewed on July 7, 2025, leads from Crespian via Montmirat to the Chapelle du Jouffre, then returns to Crespian via the Col du Plan des Maques. Check the route on site before relying on this sequence of waypoints. The two hiking options differ in the details that shape their planning: for Le Bois des Lens, the distance, elevation gain, and approximate duration are provided; the route to the Chapelle is described by the order of its locations. This lets you consider the circular hike in terms of its time and distance, and assess the other route by its stated waypoints.
Discover more destinations: Les Plantiers, Cendras, Molières-Sur-Cèze, Saint-Jean-De-Ceyrargues, Rodilhan, Lamelouze, Bréau-et-Salagosse, Saint-Martin-De-Valgalgues
For the full travel overview: Gard.
