In Lozère, whatever the season, the animals put on a show all year round! Whether in the wild or in semi-freedom, wildlife reigns supreme: grab your binoculars – we’ll take you there.
In the depths of winter
The bison are donning their white coats
In the sunshine, the snow sparkles. So before climbing aboard the sledge, it’s best to put on your sunglasses… and your down jacket too. At an altitude of 1,200 metres, winter doesn’t do things by halves. An ideal habitat for European bison. With their thick coats, these colossal creatures from the East aren’t fazed by the frost. On the contrary, they love sinking into the snow. The sledge, meanwhile, glides across the surface. And draws ever closer to the bison, time and time again. Thrills guaranteed for young and old alike!
In late spring!
Transhumance: cows and sheep parade to the sound of music
Transhumance is, above all, a necessity: the need to drive the herds up to the summer pastures where green grazing lands await them. But it is also a colourful and joyful festival that heralds the arrival of spring. Adorned with flowers, the cows parade to the sound of music across the Aubrac at the end of May. A few weeks later, it is the sheep’s turn to set off towards Mont-Lozère. How about going along to cheer them on? Or better still, accompanying them on their ascent?
Summer between heaven and earth!
Vultures, kings of the Jonte Gorges
All year round in Lozère, you can also watch the majestic vultures take flight in the Gorges de la Jonte! Perched on the cliffs, they make the most of the first rays of sunshine to dry their wings before plunging into the void… and soaring! The best spot for watching the vultures is the Maison des Vautours: you’ll learn about the history of the reintroduction of these birds of prey and can admire them from the observation terrace.
Amidst the autumnal forests
When the stags put on a concert
The stag is the king of the forest in every season, but even more so in autumn – just imagine! In the glow of the setting sun, in a forest bathed in shimmering, almost magical light, you move forward in silence. All your senses are on the alert. You spot the late-blooming flowers, hear the birdsong, and smell the scent of the first fallen leaves of early autumn. When suddenly, a bellow tears through the night. A guttural sound that makes the hairs on the surface of your skin stand on end. A cry of love, uttered by a stag, the forest’s very own Don Juan. The stag’s bellow. Following your guide’s advice, you fall even quieter and move stealthily towards the source of the sound. And finally, after hours of waiting, there he is, emerging from behind a copse. First, a pair of antlers, then the stag in all his splendour. The wait will soon be forgotten, but the memory will last a lifetime.
Thematics