In the heart of the Causses and Cévennes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, immerse yourself in the world of farming, with farm visits and cheese tastings as part of the ‘Des brebis et des hommes’ experience.
Delve into the heart of our passion and our values through a tailored and engaging tour. During your visit, you’ll step back in time to the days of our ancestors and be immersed in their daily life on the farm, which preserves the memory of the people of this region. In just a few minutes, you’ll journey back through 400 years of rural life on our beautiful Causse Méjean plateau. Today, the work has changed considerably, and our young shepherdess, accompanied by her 500 ewes, will explain how her work has evolved. At the end of the tour, our tasting pairings will delight your taste buds as you discover our range of delicious cheeses made from the milk of the Causse herds.
- 18 €
- adult
- 12 €
- child
- 1
- day
The Traditional Caussenarde Farm of Yesteryear
To immerse yourself in this enriching experience for young and old alike, head to the Ferme Caussenarde d’Autrefois. It’s a fun and rewarding visit, which you can enjoy at your own pace. You’ll first be welcomed by Hélène, a descendant of the generations of farmers who lived at the Ferme Caussenarde. This 1 hour 15-minute tour will take you through each of the 20 rooms that make up this traditional farmhouse. You’ll be able to immerse yourself in the daily life and private world of its former inhabitants. As for the children, they’ll enthusiastically dive into the story of Jules, a grandfather who’ll tell them all about his life back in the day. A quiz will have them searching for answers that are sometimes quite unexpected!
Anaïs’s farm and sheep
Next, Anaïs, our young shepherdess, will introduce you to how the profession has evolved today. During this fun, sensory experience lasting 1 hour and 15 minutes, you’ll meet our 500 ewes and discover what we do throughout the seasons!
On today’s farm, Clément and Hugues of the GAEC de Hyelzas are carrying on a tradition that began a long time ago. Driven by a passion to carry on the work of our ancestors at the Ferme Caussenarde d’Autrefois, this profession allows us to pass on our values, preserve our local area and provide you with wholesome food. To truly understand, you need to see, touch, smell and experience things for yourself – and that’s exactly what you’ll be doing during this tour! We’ll be speaking freely and openly!
Le Fédou Cheese Shop
Now that you’ve seen, touched and smelled everything, it’s time to tuck in! Come and sample the fruits of the farmers’, their sheep’s and the cheesemakers’ labour at Fromagerie Le Fédou! Set against the stunning backdrop of the Jonte Gorges, you’ll be invited to take part in a flavour-pairing workshop. Anaïs will explain the secrets behind the production of our sheep’s-milk cheeses, as well as the history of the cheese dairy.
On this tour, you’ll discover our local traditions and gain a better understanding of why we’ve been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for our agro-pastoral practices.
You’ll come away from these experiences having seen our farms, our animals and the beauty of our countryside, smelled the scent of the barn, the sheepfold and our produce, felt the wool of our sheep and the stones of our heritage, heard the bells of our flocks and the breeze sweeping across the plateau, and savoured the flavour of our produce. We hope you will feel and understand the passion and love we have for our work and our Causse Méjean.
It’s well worth a visit
The village of Hyelzas is situated 3 minutes from the Aven Armand and 5 minutes from the Moulin de la Borie. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a comprehensive insight into life on the Causse Méjean!
Plan your stay
Where to stay? Where to eat?
Bed and breakfasts
Bed and breakfasts
3 stars Holiday cottage
Bed and breakfasts
Restaurant
How do I get there?
- By car: The most convenient way to get to Hyelzas is by car. From Meyrueis, follow the D986 towards Sainte-Enimie, then, after 9.5 km, turn left towards Hyelzas. Allow 20 minutes in total.
- By tourist shuttle: In summer, tourist shuttles run to the Aven Armand, which is 3.5 km from Hyelzas. So allow about an hour’s walk to get back to Hyelzas after visiting the Aven Armand!
