Quissac – Ganges Greenway on Inline Skates: 55 km Through the Cévennes

Inline Skating the Quissac – Ganges Greenway

Hello, I'm Bolton, a passionate inline skater, and today I'm taking you along one of the routes I really enjoyed: the Greenway between Quissac in the Gard and Ganges in the Hérault, in southern France.

Located at the foot of the Cévennes, this greenway follows the route of a former railway line. For skaters, that's great news: the surface is very smooth and in excellent condition, making for comfortable and fluid skating over most of the route.

? Route Information

• Total round-trip distance: approximately 55 km
• Total elevation gain: approximately 507 m
• Road crossings where you lose priority: 7
• Recommended starting point: Quissac
• Parking: Quissac Greenway Parking
• GPS: 43.911910105324516, 4.00242539716636

? Starting in Quissac

I started the ride in Quissac, where there is a small parking area right at the beginning of the greenway.

The skating is enjoyable from the very first meters. Once you leave Quissac, the route opens up into long straight sections running between the cliffs. This makes several parts of the route well protected from the wind, with some welcome shaded sections as well.

As the kilometers go by, the scenery becomes increasingly interesting, with retaining walls, small bridges, old railway stations and other railway structures along the route.

There are also some great views over the valley and the Cévennes. Personally, I think the route must be especially beautiful early in the morning or around sunset.

?️ Passing Through Sauve

When you reach Sauve, after passing the old railway station, you'll follow a long left-hand curve that takes you toward the edge of town.

Just after the curve, look to your left and you'll see the Sauve skatepark, next to the basketball courts and the stadium.

It's a nice little spot to know about if you're into different types of skating and want to take a short break.

? The Tunnel and Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort Viaduct

As you approach Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort, the route gets even more interesting.

You first ride through a roughly 250-meter-long tunnel, followed by the Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort viaduct, which crosses high above the town.

This was definitely one of my favorite sections of the ride. The viaduct offers beautiful views on both sides, giving you the feeling of skating right through the Cévennes landscape.

? Towards Ganges… Then Back Again!

After Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort, the route continues for several kilometers toward the end of the greenway.

This section gradually becomes more downhill, making it possible to pick up some speed and enjoy some really smooth skating.

At the end of the greenway, you'll find an area with picnic tables and a bike repair station with tools available.

It's a good place to take a break before turning around and heading back the other way.

A Great Skating Route, But Not Completely Flat

Don't expect a completely flat greenway.

There are no major climbs or particularly steep descents, but the route is still rolling, with a mixture of gentle uphill and downhill sections.

Some parts are more physically demanding, while others are perfect for simply cruising and letting the skates roll.

That's actually one of the things I enjoyed most: the route constantly alternates between sections where you have to push and sections where you can really enjoy the glide.

⭐ What I Liked

The highlights for me were:

• Excellent skating surface
• Numerous railway structures
• The tunnel and viaduct
• Beautiful views of the valley and Cévennes
• Sections protected from the wind
• Relatively few road crossings
• The ability to maintain a good skating rhythm

There aren't many roads crossing the greenway, so you don't have to stop constantly. That makes it much easier to maintain a good pace throughout the ride.

⚠️ The One Downside: Bring Plenty of Water!

If I had to point out one real downside, it's simple: there are no water fountains or drinking-water points along the route or at its ends.

And when you're talking about a 55 km round trip, that's definitely something to plan for.

If you're going to ride the entire route, make sure you bring enough water for the full round trip, especially during the warmer months.

? My Take on the Quissac – Ganges Greenway

For me, this greenway is definitely a great inline skating route.

The smooth surface, scenery, railway structures, tunnel, viaduct and long rolling sections make it a really enjoyable adventure.

It's not necessarily an ultra-easy ride, since you're dealing with 55 km round trip and approximately 507 m of total elevation gain, but it's a fantastic option for skaters looking for a long-distance ride surrounded by nature and beautiful Cévennes scenery.

? My advice: bring plenty of water, take your time, enjoy the scenery and save some energy for the way back!