Paragliding Near Millau —
La Pouncho d'Agast

If you are looking for paragliding near Millau — or in the south of France more broadly — La Pouncho d'Agast is worth knowing about. This rocky plateau on the Causse Noir at 840 metres altitude, 15 minutes from Millau by car, is considered one of the most complete and versatile paragliding sites in France. It also happens to have excellent hiking trails, a resident colony of griffon vultures, and easy access to Montpellier-le-Vieux, one of the strangest landscapes in the country.

It is a place that locals know well and visitors almost never discover. Here is what it offers.

Paragliding — one of France's most versatile sites

La Pouncho d'Agast has several take-off zones between 820 and 840 metres, oriented from south-east to south-west, plus west and north launches. This coverage of almost every wind direction makes it exceptional — most paragliding sites work in a narrow window of conditions. The Pouncho works in nearly all of them.

It regularly hosts national competitions and is used year-round by experienced pilots. The thermal conditions in summer are strong; spring and autumn give more forgiving conditions that are better for beginners.

Tandem flights — if you want to experience flight without being a trained pilot, several schools based in Millau offer tandem paragliding from the Pouncho. A discovery flight in calm morning conditions lasts 20–30 minutes; afternoon thermal flights can last considerably longer. You go with an instructor who handles everything. From the air, the view of Millau, the Viaduct and the gorges below is something people describe as one of the most memorable parts of their trip.

Griffon vultures — the other pilots

From the Pouncho's launch zones, it is common to see griffon vultures circling in the same thermals as the paragliders. These are large birds — wingspan over two metres, V-shaped wing profile, completely silent in flight. They were reintroduced to the neighbouring Gorges de la Jonte in the 1980s and have gradually colonised all the surrounding causses.

Watching a vulture glide past a paraglider at close range, both riding the same column of rising air, is one of those genuinely surreal moments that this part of France can produce without any effort.

The trails on foot

The Causse Noir around the Pouncho has a network of trails through pine forest, boxwood scrub, dolomite rock passages and ancient causse paths. The main hub is the car park at Le Cade — an old farmstead with a picnic area — from which most loops depart.

• Le Cade loop (~6.5 km · +200 m · easy) — the introductory circuit, well-marked, two hours, suitable for families.
• Ascent from Millau (~9–10 km · +500–660 m · 3–4 h) — starting from the valley floor, a sustained forest climb to the take-off zone with the town below. Earns its views.
• La Monna loop (~14 km · +600 m · intermediate) — the full loop: Ravin de la Monna, dolomitic cliff viewpoints, Le Cade, plateau. Recommended for experienced walkers and trail runners.

GPX tracks for all these routes are available on AllTrails and Komoot.

Montpellier-le-Vieux — one of the strangest places in France

La Pouncho sits on the Causse Noir, the same plateau as Montpellier-le-Vieux — 20 kilometres north-east of Millau. This is a site of dolomitic rock formations eroded over millennia into towers, arches, natural tunnels and labyrinths. It looks like a city built by something other than humans. The French call it a chaos — an apt word.

It can be explored on foot along waymarked trails, by a small tourist train in season, or via a via ferrata accessible to accompanied beginners. Entry is charged. Combining the Pouncho in the morning with Montpellier-le-Vieux in the afternoon makes a full and excellent day on the Causse Noir.