Saint Jean du Gard
Saint Jean du Gard
Although not part of the classified area, the village of Saint Jean du Gard is treated here as it is one of the main access points to the site, and its history is closely linked to that of the agropastoralism of Cévennes. An eastern entry point, visitors can enter the site by the beautiful and historic Corniche des Cévennes.
Tourist Office
Place Rabaut Saint Etienne, 30270 Saint Jean du Gard
Website - tel : 04 66 85 32 11.
Open from April through October:
April through June, September and October, every day: 10:30 a.m. to 1p.m./ 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
July and August, every day: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Open air markets: nocturnal in July and August on Thursday evenings. Tuesday morning, traditional market.
Local producers' market on Saturday mornings from April to October in the market square.
Steam Train
Place de la gare, 30270 Saint Jean du Gard
Website -tel : 04 66 60 59 00.
Full round-trip price / reduced price: €16.50 / €11.50. Free for children under 4 years old. Family package: €50.
This steam train takes visitors into the valley towards Anduze, and features beautiful landscapes punctuated by viaducts and tunnels. This route is a good introduction for discovering the vegetation of the area.
Hôtels and restaurants in Saint Jean du gard
Camping et gîte "Mas de la Cam"
Route de Saint André de Valborgne, 30270 Saint Jean du Gard
Website - tel : 04 66 85 12 02.
Campsite from €21.50.
Auberge du Péras **
Route de Nîmes, 30270 Saint Jean du Gard
Website - tel : 04 66 85 35 94.
Room from €48.
Restaurant : "menu" from €16.
Hôtel Les Bellugues **
13 rue pelet de la lozère, 30270 Saint Jean du Gard
Website - tel : 04 66 85 15 33.
Room from €66.
Corniche des Cévennes
The Corniche des Cévennes
Since the dawn of time, the cliff road was primarily a draille connecting Languedoc and Gevaudan. Then it became a royal road during the 18th century, when it was converted by Louis XIV to fight against the camisards. Beautiful road along the ledge that leads to the plateau at the heart of the Cévennes National Park.
The Pompidou
Only 1.5 kilometers away: Eglise Saint Flour (church, 12th century). Warning: difficult road access. Leave your vehicle in the village and walk down to the church.
Barre des Cévennes
Turn right at the Col du Rey (992 m). Overlooking the Vallée Française, Barre des Cévennes is a typical village, organized along a main street on which stand high bourgeois mansions. Possessing a rich, trade-based past, Barre was the principal city for fairs in the region.
Magnanerie de La Roque
La Roque, 48110 Molezon
Tel: 04 66 45 11 77.
Free Access.
Open from Tuesday to Saturday in July and August: Appointment on the car park at 10 a.m. or 2:30 p.m.
Located after Barre des Cévennes, on the road to Sainte Croix Vallée Française.
In an authentic silk farm (magnanerie), a building dedicated to the breeding of silkworms, the exhibition traces the role of silk in the history of Cévennes (influences on buildings and landscapes). Silk production led to the wealth and fame of Cévennes from the 17th to the early 20th centuries.
Mas Cévenol de La Roquette, a discovery walk
La Roquette, 48110 Molezon
Free access all the year.
A little further on the same road as the Magnanerie de La Roque. Nature trail (2 km).
This family outing shows the daily elements of the Cévennes peasant life.
Saint Laurent de Trèves (48400)
Back on the road to Florac, this fortified village features dinosaur footprints (from 190 million years ago), though today they are more just an outline than a defined print. Free access. Beautiful views of the Causse Méjean. Walks possible.
Restauration
Auberge La Patache - local cuisine
48110 Saint Roman de Tousque
Website - Tel : 04 66 44 73 76.
"Menu" from €16.50.
Florac
Florac
Florac is a medieval village and privileged witness to 2000 years of history. It lies at the crossroads of three remarkable geological sites: the shale of Cevennes, the granite of Mount Lozère and the limestone of the Causses. Florac is also the capital of the Cevennes National Park, whose headquarters is located at the castle.
To see: the castle (17th century), the former convent, the Eglise Saint Martin (church), the old residential and commercial districts.
To do: walk to la source du Pêcher near the city center. With the family: via ferrata with Cévennes Evasion, tel: 04 66 45 18 31.
Events: as in many villages, fête de la transhumance (transhumance festival) in mid-June. For more information contact the Tourist Office in Valleraugue, tel : 04 67 64 82 15 or Florac (contact information below).
Florac Tourist Office
33 avenue Jean Monestier, 48400 Florac
Website - tel : 04 66 45 01 14
.
Open from April through October:
April, May, June, September and October, Monday to Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m./ 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
July and August, every day: 9.30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m./ 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The Tourist Office offers a family-oriented itinerary for sightseeing (duration: 1 hour) and an audio-guided tour (in French).
Open air market on Thursday mornings.
Night market on Tuesday evenings in July and August.
Information center of the National Park of the Cevennes
In front of the castle, 48400 Florac
Website - tel : 04 66 49 53 00.
Provides all information about the park, as well as the guidebooks available for hiking.
Cevennes Ecotourism
1 place Paul Comte, 48400 Florac
Site internet - tel : 04 66 45 12 44
A group of professionals who propose “natural” stays.
Getting to Florac
Bus Station
Société Boulet
1 route du Chapitre, 48000 Mende
Website - Tel : 04 66 65 19 88.
From April through September, daily connection from Alès (68 km, 1h15) except Sunday. From October through March, two connections per week (Wednesday and Saturday).
Train : There is no train station in Florac.
In the surrounding area
Saint Julien d’Arpaon
Ruins of a castle dating back to the 13th century.
Hôtels and restaurants in the area
Camping le Pont du Tarn ***
Route du Pont de Montvert, 48400 Florac
Website - tel : 04 66 45 18 26.
Campsite from €17. Open from April to October.
Grand Hôtel du Parc ***
47 Avenue Jean Monestier, 48400 Florac
Website - Tel : 04 66 45 03 05.
Room from €62.
Restaurant : "menu" from €25.
Ferme des Cévennes - la Borie - local cuisine
6 kilometers from Florac (indicated)
48400 La Salle Prunet
Website - tel : 04 66 45 10 90.
Room from €43. "Dinner menu" : €20.
Reservation required.
Hôtel des Gorges du Tarn ***
48 Rue du Pêcher, 48400 Florac
Website - tel : 04 66 45 00 63
Room from €69
Restaurant l'Adonis - inspired local cuisine (restaurant of the hotel)
"Lunch fromule": €23. "Menu" from €29.
On the way to Mont Lozère
Bédouès (48400)
Located toward Mont Lozère, this village was built in the 10th century by Benedictine monks.
The Collegiate
Church
Open during the school holidays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pope Urban V, originally from nearby, built a collegiate church in 1363, and was quickly fortified by the canons who lived there to protect the villagers. It looks much like a castle with its fortified towers and walls.
Cocurès (48400)
Picturesque village consisting of habitats in schist. Here, chestnut trees marked the landscape.
The Menhirs of Bondons (48400)
The site is 5 kilometers after the village Bondons, on the plateau. Connection to Pont de Montvert.
Although the menhirs are present on the territory, the Bondons site is the most spectacular. Spread over several kilometers, 150 menhirs make up the second megalithic concentration in Europe, after that of Carnac in Brittany. A trail was built to explore the site (2h). A dozen menhirs and an exposition enliven the tour.
Château de Miral
Between Cocurès and the Pont de Montvert.
Guided tour by appointment from June through September, on request from Tourist Office of Pont de Montvert, tel: 04 66 45 81 94.
Dating back to the 12th century, it defended access to the upper Vallée du Tarn.
In the surrounding area
The Runes Waterfall drops 60 meters through three floors. Walk to the foot of the waterfall (40 min.)
Pont du Montvert (48220)
Capital of Protestantism, it is from this point that the Camisards uprising began in 1702. Mont Lozère peaks at 1,700 m above sea level. Many landscaped walks are possible, including the camisards’ paths. Wednesday market.
Mont Lozère
Ecomusée du Mont Lozère (in the process of being rehabilitated)
Tel : 04 66 45 80 73.
The Museum of Mont Lozère was created by the Cévennes National Park. The exhibition retraces the history of the mountain range (geology, vegetation, architecture, tools, know-how, ...). In the surrounding area, 11 trails are navigable with the help of a guide. Temporary exhibitions, animations, audio-guide.
Hôtels and restaurants in the area
Hôtel-Restaurant de la Lozerette **
La Lozerette, 48400 Cocurès
Website - tel : 04 66 45 06 04.
Room from €69.
Restaurant : "menu" from €23.
La Truite enchantée - Local cuisine
Le Quai
, 48220 Pont de Montvert
Tel: 04 66 45 80 03.
Room from €48.
Restaurant : "menu" from €17.80.