x727, bikepacking in south of France
On the French mediterranean coast, the Hérault department is very diverse, due to its geology, biodiversity, and topography. Taking a mountain bike tour of it will guarantee constantly changing landscapes and beautiful sights. Between beaches and mountains, lagoons and lakes, garrigues and forests, the tour traverses the Haut Languedoc and Grands Causses regional parks, the southern edge of the Cévennes, which are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, before returning to the lagoons and the coast. Two loops composed the x727, the external is the 727 (600 km), the internal the i727 (470 km). If you like ultra-long distances, you can start with a 727 and continue with the i727. If you prefer gravel, go for the g727.
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The 727 plays with the border of the Hérault department, mostly staying within the department, sometimes crossing the border of the neighboring departments (Aude, Tarn, Aveyron, Gard). The i727 is shorter but harder. Both loops minimize asphalt, favor singletracks, crosse picturesque villages, and offer breathtaking views.
On the x727, you vill discover historical sites and monuments (Canal du Midi, abbey of Caunes, Roman ruins of Ambrussum…) and grandiose panoramas (Vézoles jump, Orb valley, Escandorgue forest, Vis canyon, Buèges valley, Salagou lake…). Traditional patisseries, boulangeries, restaurants and cafes are hidden in almost all the villages crossed. Campsites and wild areas punctuate the route, as well as hotels and guest houses. During the warm days, it is often possible to swim in the sea, lagoons, lakes and rivers.
The x727 is distributed under a free license by Thierry Crouzet. He maintains the route for the pleasure of traveling it with his friends and sharing his love of his native region, one of the most picturesque in France.
Note: The route is called 727, or 7 to 7, because it originally started and returned to Sète, a city whose name is pronounced like the number 7 in French. The start and finish have been moved a short distance to Poussan, a medieval village, which is more convenient for parking and offers many singletracks on its outskirts. In any case, you can see Sète floating above the Thau Lagoon, both at the start and at the finish. The city is worth a visit.

Métriques calculées à partir des données importées
Distance : 597,5 km
Altitude minimale : 1 m
Altitude maximale : 1067 m
Dénivelé positif cumulé : 7619 m
Dénivelé négatif cumulé : 7627 m