| Villevieille - Octon | 118km | ||
| 28.9km off-road | April / October |
Quick GLR 11 overview
The GLR 11 Motorcycle Adventure Route leads you for over 118 kilometers through the Hérault region of Southern-France. 29 of those kilometers will traverse over off-road sections. If the going gets tough, The Back-up Tracks will support you with 6 different sections. With a total of 4 connecting GLRs to this GLR 11, you’re able to continue to Adventurise the region. Let’s get going!
GLR 11 Route info
Like I said, from Villevieille is all the way west. You encounter your first few off-road sections almost immediately after the start. Due to local environmental laws, you encounter a longer on-road section of 65 kilometers down in the middle of this route. Don’t be disappointed, because it’ll guide you through this special part of Mediterranean nature!
After this somewhat longer on-road section you’re almost near Lac du Salagou. Especially on those warmer summer days, this will treat you with a welcome refreshment! The last kilometers will lead you around the lake, where you end your GLR 11 adventure in Octon.
From here you can connect to the Pyrenean section of the GLR Network with the GLR 12! If you want to explore the Mediterranean section a bit more, I would recommend the GLR 10. More about both these GLRs in the “connections” section down below.
GLR 11 Region
You’ll Adventurise with the GLR 11two Mediterranean departments of Southern-France. This route will cross Hèrault for almost it’s half-width. Right after the start, you’ll hop borders between Gard and Hèrault. Read all about the region down below!
Gard
Gard is located in the Occitanie region of Southern France. The department is named after the Gardon river. What makes the department worth visiting is its rich history. The Gard region was settled by the Romans back in classical times.
During the mid-1800s, the region became beneficiary of early railway development. The build of an important railway junction caused an increase in the local economy. Due to the growth in wealth and the arrival of influential people, several luxurious hotels were built.
Nowadays Gard is famous for its Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct across the Gardon River. Gards préfecture is Nîmes. Known for its well preserved Roman monuments like Maison Carée and the Arena of Nîmes.
Its second major city Alès functions as a gateway to Cévennes National Park in the west. In the south, the department borders to the Camargue Natural Park. Due to its geographic setting, Gard holds some records of the highest measured temperatures of France.
A fun fact of the region is that Gard is also the home of the source of Perrier. An internationally sold carbonated mineral water. Both the spring and facility are located near the commune of Vergèze.
Hérault
Don’t expect any mountainous climate. With an average of 227m in altitude, Hérault is pretty close to sea level. You find its highest peak at an altitude of 1181 meters at Espinouse.
Hérault originates as one of the first 83 departments created during the French Revolution of 1790. The department has been known for its wine and olive growing industry. Unfortunately due to agricultural diseases and frost, many of the farmers closed business in the mid-twentieth century.
Montpellier is the regional capital, with over a million inhabitants. The region saw a major increase in its population during the second half of the 20th century. Nowadays it is Frances’ 8th largest city.
Adventurising isn’t only about getting as fast from A to B! A Region has so much more to offer! That’s why I give you some suggestions about things to do while Adventurising the GLR 11.
The Arena of Nîmes
The Arena of Nîmes is an ancient Roman amphitheater. Built the same century as the Pont du Gard, it originates from the time-frame as the Coliseum of Rome. Nowadays the amphitheater holds more than 13.000 spectators and is the site of two annual bullfights and other public events.
more info
Cirque de Navacelles
The Cirque de Navacelles is a large erosional landform located near the southern edge of the Massif Central mountain range. Although the area is quite secluded, tourism has increased in the last few years.
more info
Lac du Salagou
This lake lies in a small depression of red sandhills all around. Not only is the lake tempting in summer, but also the formations around the lake are something to visit! The deep dark colored red sand is the perfect background for the white rock sculptures.
more info
Mont Caroux
In the heart of the Haut-Languedoc Natural Park, you find Mont Caroux. A plateau reaching an altitude of 1091m. To the west you find the Gorges d’Héric, to the east the Colombières gorges and in the south the Orb valley. In short, a perfect location to spend a day hiking and other sporty activities. Note: it’s not accessible by motorcycle!
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Continue your GLR 11 Adventure by connecting different GLRs. To make your life even simpler, I’ve put together all the options down below!
Connections in Villevieille
You’ve done it! You’ve finished the GLR 11 and you’re ready for more! Hell yeah, because in Villevieille you’ve got two options to continue your motorcycle adventure. First, take the GLR 2 up north if you don’t feel like visiting one of the warmest regions of France. The GLR 2 functions as a connection route up north. This 140-kilometer long GLR will navigate you over 40 kilometers of off-road sections.
You’re up for the challenge and you want to explore the beauty of the Camargue Natural Park? Take the GLR 3 to the east. With the GLR 3, you’ll explore the Mediterranean coast for a bit, where after you make your way further to the east. This GLR stretches for over 384 km, of which 103 are off-road.
Connections in Octon
You’ve finished the GLR 11 from east-to-west and you ended up in Octon? Now the connection to the Pyrenean section of the GLR Network is at your feed. Take the GLR 12 down south to open up a whole new set of possibilities. This GLR will navigate you for over 208 km down south to Carcassonne. With a little more than 55 kilometers of off-road sections, you won’t be bored.
With a 180-degree turn on the compass, the GLR 10 takes you up north towards the Cévennes region. With a high interval of off- and on-road sections, this motorcycle route is a joy to ride. The GLR 10 counts a small 326 kilometers in distance with a total of 116 km in off-road sections. Either way, you’ll enjoy your pick!
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As an Adventuriser you get access to our special Back-up Tracks for the GLR-network. These routes function as a back-up when the going gets tough. In the event you need to circumnavigate a piece of the original GLR, the Back-Up Track will lead you via paved road to the next section.
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The GLR 49 Motorcycle Adventure Route
The GLR 49 motorcycle adventure route leads you for over 125 kilometers through the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County of Croatia and the Inner Carniola & South-east Slovenia regions of Slovenia. 78 of those kilometers will traverse over off-road sections. If the going gets tough, The Back-up Tracks will support you with 3 different sections. With a total of 3 connecting GLRs to this GLR 49, you’re able to continue to Adventurise the region. Let’s get going!
The GLR 48 Motorcycle Adventure Route
The GLR 48 motorcycle adventure route leads you for over 361 kilometers through the Goriška Coastal–Karst regions of Slovenia and the Istria and Primorje-Gorski Kotar County regions of Northern Croatia. 113 of those kilometers will traverse over off-road sections. If the going gets tough, The Back-up Tracks will support you with 13 different sections. With a total of 5 connecting GLRs to this GLR 48, you’re able to continue to Adventurise the region. Let’s get going!
The GLR 47 Motorcycle Adventure Route
The GLR 47 motorcycle adventure route leads you for over 88,9 kilometers through the Goriška / Inner Carniola regions of Slovenia. 65,1 of those kilometers will traverse over off-road sections. If the going gets tough, The Back-up Tracks will support you with 4 different sections. With a total of 5 connecting GLRs to this GLR 47, you’re able to continue to Adventurise the region. Let’s get going!