Fancy a unique walk in Lozère? Here are four well-kept secrets… These four places, which are often overlooked, offer a chance to explore and discover, and take visitors to Lozère – who have come in search of something entirely different – by surprise.
The Chaos Trail in Nîmes-le-Vieux
Extraordinary rock formations, the ‘chaos’ are a distinctive feature of the Causse landscape. The one at Nîmes-le-Vieux, accessible via the path of the same name through the Col de Perjuret, is situated on the Causse Méjean, within the Cévennes National Park. This type of ruiniform landform results from the dissolution of the rock, leaving the most resistant parts in place and giving them a wide variety of shapes. The arid, stony hilltops of Nîmes-le-Vieux and its expanses of jagged rocks captivate visitors with their shapes, which spark the imagination and inspire all walkers to conjure up extraordinary characters. The trail, nearly five kilometres long, starts at L’Hom and reveals extraordinary landscapes. A journey into the mysterious world of the Causses.
The Villaret Valley
It has been almost 30 years since the Vallon du Villaret opened its doors. Situated in the commune of Bagnols-les-Bains, this park – the only one of its kind in France – is not easily defined. And that is undoubtedly what makes it so successful. “At the Villaret, art and play blend together joyfully, all set amidst nature,” explains its director and founder, Guillaume Sonnet. “Here, we encourage visitors to take an active part in their own entertainment. And all the installations have been designed by artists. ’ Every year, new structures are unveiled, but Le Vallon jealously guards the secret. “We reserve the privilege of seeing our new attractions first for our visitors,” insists Mr Sonnet. It takes between three and five hours to cover just two kilometres.
The Guesclin Mausoleum
At the entrance to Châteauneuf-de-Randon stands a mausoleum. What a surprise to discover that it honours the memory of a Breton! And not just any Breton: Bertrand du Guesclin was the king’s constable in the 14th century and brought fame to the town in his day. Born in Brittany in 1320, he was appointed Constable by Charles V – that is to say, commander of the royal armies – and was tasked with driving out the English and the bandits who were wreaking havoc in the French countryside, particularly in Lozère. He laid siege to Châteauneuf in 1380. He died after drinking water that was too cold. The brigands then came to surrender and Châteauneuf was liberated. Thus, ever since those distant times, Châteauneuf has been well aware of how much it owes to du Guesclin. The least it could do was to erect a mausoleum in his honour.
Thematics
