THE CEVENES

A land of refuge, the Cévennes are renowned for their exceptional landscapes, their authenticity and their nature. The Cévennes is a great place to discover and meet people, stretching across several départements: Gard and Lozère for the most part (most of the Parc National des Cévennes is in Lozère), but also Ardèche and Hérault. 

From Mont Lozère to Mont Aigoual, the Cévennes are a succession of wild high plateaux, ridges and valleys, offering sumptuous and varied panoramas. The region also boasts some remarkable villages: Pont-de-Montvert, Saint-Jean-du-Gard, strongly influenced by Protestantism, and the medieval villages of Sauve, Vézénobres and La Garde-Guérin. A land of craftsmen and artists, the Cévennes have preserved ancestral skills such as fork-making in Sauve and vase-making in Anduze. Their rich past is palpable in the collections on display at Maison Rouge, the Musée des vallées cévenoles in Saint-Jean-du-Gard, or the Musée du Désert, dedicated to the tumultuous history of the Protestants. Gourmet delights are also on show, with chestnuts, Cévennes onions, Vézénobres figs and the creamy Pélardon cheese, to be enjoyed with a good Cévennes PGI wine. To fully appreciate the beauty of the landscape, there's nothing like taking one of the many day-long or multi-day hiking trails, such as the famous Chemin de Stevenson (GR®70).

With more than 1,600 km of trails, accessible on foot and partly on horseback and mountain bike, the itineraries can be adapted to suit all levels and tastes. From a simple family stroll to a multi-day tour, there's something for everyone.