Nature
The Gard enjoys an authentic and preserved nature, both wild and sublime. With access to the Mediterranean via the Camargue, an escape into Provence and a head in the Cévennes peaks, the Gard has enough to seduce many passers-by and inhabitants. The department is dotted from north to west, from the Cévennes to the Cèze Valley, with protection measures for biodiversity in terms of flora and fauna, highlighting the rich and varied landscapes and natural areas.
But that's not all, these resources of exceptional quality are highlighted by a formidable biodiversity, both fauna and flora. The south is strewn with scrubland, Mediterranean pines, holm oaks and evergreen boxwoods, but also the ponds and marshes that make up the Camargue and border the Mediterranean, and the presence of one of the most beautiful bird sanctuaries in France in the Camargue Gardoise. The northern Cévennes has many endemic species that enhance the identity of the territory, and the geological wealth of the gorges carved by the rivers Gardon, Cèze and Ardèche testify to the resplendent nature that the Gard enjoys. And as such, there are many exceptional sites that benefit from a strong protection classification, highlighting these sensitive natural areas while protecting them and opening their access to the general public:
- The Cévennes National Park, made up of five massifs, is one of the rare national parks inhabited by a significant permanent population, grouping 118 communes, including in the heart, a protected and regulated area.
- 3 territories classified as "World Biosphere Reserve" by UNESCO, namely the Camargue, the Causses and Cévennes and the Gorges du Gardon.
- 3 major sites in France, namely the Cirque de Navacelles, the Pont du Gard and the Camargue Gardoise.
- A national nature reserve in place of the Gorges de l'Ardèche.
- 4 regional nature reserves: Combe Chaude, Gorges du Gardon, Mahistre et Musette, Scamandre.
- 41 sites labelled NATURA 2000 (188,000 hectares or 32% of the Gard territory)
- 357 outdoor sites.
A diversity which implies different climatic influences, coupled with a service economy and a strong tourist potential, causes a positive migratory balance (difference between arrivals and departures over a year) and contributes to the dynamism of Occitanie.
Geography
With a surface area of 5853 km2, the Gard offers a geographical diversity that can be classified into 4 distinct areas: The Cevennes in the northwest, the Costières de Nîmes, the Camargue and the garrigue areas. The Cévennes are a mountainous area whose highest point in the department is the Mont Aigoual, with its 1565 metres of altitude. The Costières de Nîmes, south of the city of the same name, serve as a border with the Camargue. It is a hilly area where the hills are home to the famous Costières de Nîmes vines, whose protected designation of origin wine holds a special place in the Gardois taste heritage. The Camargue alone is a dream for many visitors: located in the south of the department, it is home to the towns of Arles, Aigues-Mortes and Grau-du-Roi. Known for its pink flamingos, bulls and white horses, the Camargue also has rice fields and salt marshes. In the north-east of the Gard, the garrigue makes the poets sing! Its typical heat-resistant vegetation stretches over the limestone massifs, from Bagnols-sur-Cèze to Nîmes via Vézénobres. In addition to this rich landscape, there are 1,600 kilometres of waterways, the most important of which are the Gard, the Cèze, the Vidourle and the Rhône. Flowing from the Cevennes to the plains, these rivers provide the water needed for the Mediterranean and Provencal plains by filling the water tables. These aquifer reserves are often in surplus, even though the landscapes may appear arid and in a state of drought. The sea, rivers and mountains therefore provide an unparalleled diversity that has not finished attracting its admirers. A real balcony on the Mediterranean, the Gard is lit by the sun more than three hundred days a year. Between the Cevennes, the Camargue and the Rhone Valley, the department has many natural resources that it can exploit for its dynamism. Every year, the population increases in volume and this diversity contributes to its attractiveness.
Climate
- Average temperatures: The climate is Mediterranean, which means that winters are mild with few days of frost, and generally dry. Spring and autumn are bright and pleasant seasons. Summers are hot and dry: temperatures above 25°C are almost daily from June to October with passages of over 30°C in July and August. In the north, summers are cooler. In the south, the minimum temperature at night rarely falls below 17°C-18°C.
- Sunshine: 2,700 hours per year, compared to a national average of less than 2,000 hours per year.
- Precipitation: 600 to 800 mm of rain on average per year, often during stormy periods.
- Winds: the Mistral, a northerly wind blowing from the Rhone valley towards the sea. The tramontane, a westerly wind blowing between the Pyrenees and the south of the Massif Central. The tramontane is therefore present throughout the Languedoc and the Gard in particular. In the Petite Camargue and Grau-du-Roi, the sea wind, from south to south-west, blows from the Gulf of Lion towards the land.
Fauna and Flora
With the Camargue, the Rhone delta and the Cévennes, the Gard has a dense and varied wildlife heritage. Birds, bulls, fish, lizards and pink flamingos, horses, swans, spiders, foxes, weasels, coypu, voles, snakes or scorpions... There is really everything! As far as the flora is concerned, it is undoubtedly a very vegetal department, although its landscapes are similar to a kind of desert. Juniper, arbutus, gorse, camellia, holm oak, black oak, honeysuckle, mulberry, chestnut, Provencal herbs (thyme, rosemary), the list is not exhaustive. Different climates, varied landscapes from the south touching the Mediterranean to the north in the Cevennes mountains, lead to a fauna and flora that have only the light and heat of the sun in common.
As far as the fauna is concerned, we can say that mammals are present in abundance. In the Camargue alone, 43 species have been recorded: mole, European hedgehog, pipistrelle, red fox, weasel, coypu, vole. The most famous of them are of course the black bulls and the Camargue horses. The bull in the south of the Gard is an integral part of the bullfighting culture, it is the king of the arena... and of the streets when it is released in the open air at the férias! It is also a gastronomic speciality as it is eaten with rice in gardiane de taureau. The Camarguais, a small white horse, is considered one of the oldest breeds of horse in the world. This wild horse has lived in total freedom in the Camargue marshes since the dawn of time.
52% of France's mammal species live in the Cévennes. 70 species include large animals that have reappeared in recent years, such as the wolf, the lynx and the otter, now reproducing naturally. Many mammals have been reintroduced by man. This is the case for ungulates: deer, wild boar, roe deer, mouflons.
- Reptiles: have you ever looked at the walls of sunny buildings in summer, or at rocks? From time to time, lizards uncover themselves and laze in the sun. Because the ground is littered with these small reptiles (that we want to catch but it is a game that we should not try too hard at the risk of tearing off their tails), especially in the scrubland. It is not uncommon to see them on a walk to the Pont du Gard or along the rivers. Turtles can also be found in the Gard's waterways: the European pond terrapin, in particular, is a freshwater turtle and the main population of this turtle is found in the Camargue.
- Birds: in the Camargue alone, 350 species of birds have been inventoried. Among them, let us note the pink flamingos, emblematic animal of the Camargue. They can be found in the Gard, even if the vast majority of the Camargue is located east of the Rhône, in the Bouches-du-Rhône. These migratory birds fly in formation with their necks and legs stretched out. Their wing beats are so powerful that they can fly at up to 60 km/h over several hundred kilometres. In the Cévennes, 27 varieties of diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey and other birds of the open air fly permanently over the national park. It is really a particularly abundant avifauna which is there, with 195 species of which 135 nest. Many of them enjoy national protection. The Cévennes and the neighbouring Causses are home to birds that are sometimes rare, such as the common buzzard, the calandrelle lark, the woodlark, the red pipit, the ortolan bunting, the red-backed shrike, the little owl, the Saint-Martin and ash harriers, the European nightjar, the hoopoe, the rock blackbird. Birds of prey from neighbouring caves also come to feed on the Causses, such as the great rock birds of prey, vultures, Bonelli's eagle, the great horned owl, the red-billed chough, the great raven, the peregrine falcon. There are therefore such birds of prey in a small geographical area of the Gard, but you may be lucky enough to see some!
Other birds can be seen in the department: the elegant avocet, the white stilt or the white swan, birds that move with great skill and grace
- Fish: the Gard being a water country, the fishing of fish is organized in the rivers and more mainly, in the sea. In the Cevennes, and in the rivers of the Gard (the Gardon, the Cèze, the Vidourle), it is mainly trout that can be fished. However, restrictions are in place to protect the environment and biodiversity. Sea bream, St. Pierres, Wolffish and Red mullet are the main fish that are extracted from the sea.
Concerning the flora, a large part of the Gard is made up of scrubland. This short and often preserved landscape, composed of fragrant grasses and small shrubs, is the favourite place of the cicadas. However, not so long ago, the garrigue was very inhabited, teeming with activity. Urbanization and industrialization have depopulated this countryside. In these areas of scrubland, there are many plants, such as orchids, junipers, aphyllanthe (flowering in spring, blue flowers that look like rushes), and the arbutus which is present in abundance on the Mediterranean rim. The varieties of oak (kermes oak, holm oak) are present all year round along mountain roads or as bushes on the ground of the scrubland. There are also gorse trees, scorpion broom (or thorny broom), not forgetting the unavoidable Provençal herbs of thyme and rosemary. In the Petite Camargue, the reed beds are considered to be among the largest in Western Europe. The biotopes of the Camargue consist mainly of sansouïres (salt marshes), marshes and meadows.
In the towns, residential gardens or in the countryside, pines cover a large part of the vegetation of the Gard, in the south as well as in the north: Scots pines in the Cévennes, umbrella pines, Mediterranean cypresses. When the weather is hot, the sap that escapes from the bark and that you can smell in the pine forests leaves a delicious taste. It breathes sunshine!
- Orchids: France has 170 species of orchids, all terrestrial, whereas their tropical cousins are almost all epiphytes (growing on a plant) or lithophytes (on stone). The Languedoc region has about a hundred of them and the Gard 70. They are generally observed from April to May in the scrubland or on the Causses. Some species of orchids flower later, especially those growing in wooded areas, along rivers or in the mountains. The diversity of their colours should not make us forget that they are protected species, and that it is forbidden to pick them. Nature is more beautiful on the spot than in a vase!
Sport and outdoor activities
The Gard is a department with many facets. The variety of its landscapes, between the Cévennes, the Camargue, the Cévennes Piedmont, the Cèze valley and the Rhône valley, offers a multitude of activities to be enjoyed by both amateurs and competitors. In the summer months, water in all its forms becomes a wonderful playground and escape. The land attracts lovers of the great outdoors and wide open spaces, who, on foot, on horseback or by bike, discover the sometimes hidden wonders of the hinterland.
Cycling, bike touring and mountain biking. Whether you are a seasoned mountain biker or a weekend cyclist, there is bound to be a tour for you. The department is full of cycling itineraries, more or less difficult, on paths, with crests, trails, paved roads and often marked out. Many tourism professionals organise mountain bike tours. Depending on your level, different routes are proposed, from 5-10 km to more than 50 km (over a day). You can ride your own bike or rent one.
Hiking. The Gard is a real "land of hikes", offering more than 9,000 kilometres of marked and maintained hiking trails in preserved natural areas. On the Cévennes paths, the panorama of Mount Aigoual and its green forests is a dazzling sight. On the scrubland paths, the smell of aromatic plants is intoxicating. The Pont du Gard, which emerges at the bend in the road, majestically above the Gardon, is a sight not to be missed. And the Camargue, the cradle of a unique and protected flora and fauna, will seduce many.
Horse and donkey riding. The Gard offers such a variety of landscapes that each horse ride is different depending on the season, the itinerary and the rider's desire. In the Camargue, the rides take you along the long stretches of sand, along the banks of the Petit Rhône, in the heart of the marshes. Further inland, on horseback, you will discover wild areas that are otherwise inaccessible, magnificent views of the Cévennes or the Mont Ventoux, and historical remains... Many clubs offer rides of a few hours, a day, a weekend or a week. If by any chance you prefer another animal, there are hikes accompanied by donkeys, saddled or harnessed. You can leave for an hour, a day, or even a week with bivouac in the middle of nature.
Swimming. There is no shortage of beaches, rivers and lakes suitable for swimming and a wide range of water sports! The fine sandy beach, l'Espiguette, near Grau-du-Roi, after Port-Camargue, is a real paradise for young and old. With 10 kilometres of sand, it is unique in Europe. The beach of Espiguette is one of the most beautiful dune systems in the northern Mediterranean basin. Swimming, sand castles, water games, kite flying, the activities are numerous, it is even possible to do sand yachting. The fresh water is not left out, the landscape of the Pont du Gard or the Vis gorges become a real haven of freshness and peace, from the first heat. The equipped beaches allow you to spend a day full of relaxation and water activities.
Course in the trees. A fairly recent outdoor leisure activity, the tree course, also known as accrobranche, is a great success! It must be said that children and even adults love to feel the adrenaline rush! The principle is simple: you climb and move from tree to tree thanks to suspended installations: monkey bridge, zip line, net passages, mobile beams, tunnel... These landings are installed without harming the trees, on routes that are modified from one year to the next. These circuits, with increasing difficulty, allow you to observe and discover nature in a different way while having fun. The only condition to climb trees is not to be afraid of heights. The Gard has several acrobatic parks with courses for adults and children.
Traditional sports
The Camargue race. If the department still offers a few bullfights (Alès, Nîmes...), the main bullfighting leisure activity in the region is the Camargue race. There is, in this one, no killing. From April to October, these races punctuate the daily life of the people of Gard who are very attached to their traditions. For this race, attributes (a cockade, two acorns and two strings) are attached to the horns of the bull, then called cocardier. The participants, the raseteurs and the tourneurs, use cunning, skill and speed to obtain the attributes of the cocardier bull. Official sporting competitions take place every year: Trophée des As, Trophée des Raseteurs and Trophée de l'Avenir.
Other bullfighting traditions. The Gard has a very strong bullfighting tradition, and many events take place regularly. These feature the famous Camargue bulls, bred in the marshes of the Camargue, rather small and black, with lyre-shaped horns pointing to the sky and framed by the gardians. Try to attend a ferrade, an abrivado, a bandido or an encierro. The village festivals in the summer are often an opportunity to admire these different bullfighting events. Be careful, however, as these bullfighting events are not without danger!
Sensitive Natural Areas
Created at the initiative of the Departments, the objective of the Sensitive Natural Areas (ENS) is "the preservation of natural sites, landscapes, natural environments and flood expansion areas", while ensuring the safeguarding of natural environments.
The ENS also have an educational purpose by welcoming the public: to do so, they must be developed while guaranteeing the preservation of biodiversity and ecosystems. The opening to the public can thus be limited or even excluded if the sensitivity of the environments is at stake . The ENS are found throughout France and vary from a few square centimetres to several hundred hectares.
The Gard department is, to this extent, the owner of 18 departmental sensitive natural areas. Representing an area of 4200 ha, some of them are open to the public. An amphitheatre of biodiversity, the Gard has an exceptional wealth of natural areas and landscapes whose variety never ceases to amaze visitors.
Great Sites of France recognized by UNESCO
The Grand Site de France label is awarded by the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Solidarity, and promotes the conservation and development of French listed natural sites of great renown and high visitor numbers. Awarded for a period of 6 years, each member site of the Réseau Grand Site de France is committed to the active preservation of the landscape, to promoting an optimal reception of the public and to the development of the site in accordance with the principles of sustainable development.
In view of these facts, and taking into account the incredible diversity of the Gard's landscapes and their rich heritage, 3 sites in the Gard, of undeniable splendour, have been included in the list of the Grands Sites de France: the Cirque de Navacelle, the Pont du Gard and the Abbey of Saint-Gilles. Three destinations that alone reveal the extraordinary mix of landscapes and heritage of the department, three emblematic places whose influence extends beyond the borders of the territory.
The Cirque de Navacelle
Here is a singular geological feature that was awarded the Grand Site de France label in 2017. In the heart of the Vis gorges, the river of the same name, 6000 years ago, cut into the rock, leaving one of its meanders to create an extraordinary landscape. This crescent of fertile meadows is 2 kilometres in diameter and 300 metres deep and can be seen from the viewpoints of Blandas and Baume Auriol. The Rocher de la Vierge (Virgin's Rock) rises up from the site like a point of light to touch the extraordinary beauty of the place, highlighted by a waterfall falling 8 metres high. A great place for hiking, discover the astonishing string of menhirs and dolmens of the causse, or the spectacular resurgence of the Vis and the mills of Foux. The Grand Site de France of the Cirque de Navacelle is a multi-faceted destination, revealing a rich heritage and a wide range of natural activities.
Information : www.cirquenavacelles.com
The Pont du Gard
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, the Pont du Gard is, with 1 million visitors in 2018 (source Comité Régional du Toursime en Occitanie), the most visited ancient monument in France. Labelled as a Grand Site de France in 2004, with a renewal in 2011 and 2020, the site covers 165 hectares, offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy an exceptional heritage in a preserved natural setting. This sensitive natural area is typical of Mediterranean landscapes, and the Pont du Gard, which spans the Gardon gorges, interweaves its ancestral stones in this mineral universe, serving as a link between the two banks of the river. On either side, the site is characterized by two different atmospheres: scrubland, cliffs and caves, then forests of holm oaks and agricultural plots. Take a break to travel back in time, connect to the Pont du Gard Tour application, and discover the cultural and outdoor activities available on the site. Stroll through the heart of this preserved fauna and flora thanks to the various hiking and cycling routes that plunge you into this mosaic of natural environments, and always under the benevolence of the Bridge.
Information : www.pontdugard.fr
Abbey of Saint-Gilles:
Jewel of the Provençal Romanesque art, the Abbey of Saint-Gilles is registered with the World Heritage of Humanity with the title of the goods in series "Ways of Santiago de Compostela in France" since 1998. Built from the 7th century onwards, the abbey church has an exceptional heritage in the heart of the Petite Camargue. In the Middle Ages, it was the 4th place of pilgrimage in the Christian world after Jerusalem, Rome and Santiago de Compostela. It is said that Saint-Gilles lived there as a hermit after having given his goods to the poor. His tomb, preserved in the large crypt, fascinated thousands of pilgrims who came in great numbers to the abbey church. In these lands coiled between vineyards and marshes, the Abbey church expresses all the beauty of the Romanesque art of Provence. The magnificence of its facade (12th-13th centuries) with its delicate sculptures echoes the famous Vis de Saint-Gilles, a spiral staircase that bears witness to the skills of medieval craftsmen and is the only known example in the world.
National park and nature reserves
The regional nature reserve of Scamandre
Located in Gallician, south of Vauvert, this nature reserve is governed by the status of the Syndicat Mixte pour la Protection et la Gestion de la Camargue Gardoise. Its objective is the management and protection of wetlands. It deals with the formation and dynamics of the coastline, the protection of birds in the lagoons and the inland marshes. In a naturalist approach, the syndicate which manages the reserve proposes educational animations. The name of Scamandre is explained by a legend: in the Iliad, while in Troy, Heracles became thirsty. He asked Zeus, his father, to show him a source of water. Then Zeus made a small stream of water gush out of the ground, which his son found insufficient. Heracles then dug into the earth and brought forth a large body of water which became the Scamander spring. It is a site of discovery of the species which form the ecosystem of the Camargue and the biodiversity of the Gard, a rich heritage to be preserved. (More information: route des Iscles Gallician - 04 66 73 52 05 - www.camarguegardoise.com)
The Cévennes National Park
The National Park, created on 2 September 1970, is the largest international reserve of starry skies in Europe. Straddling the Gard (30-40%) and Lozère (50%), the Aveyron, the Hérault and a small part of the Ardèche, the Cévennes are full of natural riches: fauna and flora made up of endemic species, ancestral agro-pastoralism, and landscapes far removed from urbanisation, make it an exceptional territory just a stone's throw from the sea and with one foot in Occitanie. Since June 2011, the park has been listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site and this heavenly green and natural setting is well worth the title. There are 27 species of birds of prey, including 3 vultures. The latter fly in total freedom on the whole perimeter of the park and beyond. It is estimated that 137 species benefit from national protection. The Cevennes (with the neighbouring Causses) are the home of most of the golden eagles of the whole Massif Central. The list is far from being closed, but there are also many peregrine falcons in the massif. A visit to the Cévennes is a must if you are on holiday in the Gard. (More information : www.cevennes-parcnational.fr)
Unesco listed sites in the Gard
Unesco in the Gard? It's a big YES!
Three sites in the world heritage. Indeed, three sites in the Gard have been classified as world heritage sites by UNESCO. Which three? The Pont du Gard, of course, in 1985, also chosen by UNESCO in 2018 to integrate "the route of Ancient Europe" the abbey of Saint-Gilles in 1998 and the wide open spaces of the Causses and Cévennes in 2011.
Three world biosphere reserves. The Gorges du Gardon joined the Unesco World Biosphere Reserves Club in 2015, joining the Cévennes Reserve (1994) and the Camargue (1977).
An application in progress... In June 2018, Nîmes' application was rejected by the Unesco World Heritage Committee. This application included the entire city. The city, aware of its assets and its unique heritage, will renew its application for 2021 but will focus its application around the Maison Carrée alone. To be continued!
Biosphere Reserve
A biosphere reserve is a UNESCO-recognized protected area defined by a geographical zone that reconciles biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. A living territory, a biosphere reserve encourages economic development while respecting the nature and culture of the area; it must also encourage the involvement of the populations in the rational management of these multiple activities.
The Camargue gardoise
A singular territory with many faces, the Camargue Biosphere Reserve covers the entire biogeographical delta of the Rhône. The sun, wind and water, which are omnipresent, have shaped the landscapes of this vibrant land on the edge of the Mediterranean. With a surface area of 40,000 hectares, the Camargue Reserve forms a jigsaw puzzle of natural areas in which wilderness, agricultural areas and built-up areas are combined on a daily basis. The Camargue of the Gard is thus a territory of intensity: from the lagoons to the sansouïres (flooded and salted land), from the sandy expanses of the Espiguette to the reed beds of the Etang de la Ville where remarkable fauna and flora abound, not forgetting the emblematic heritage of the ramparts of Aigues-Mortes and the Tour Carbonnière, the Reserve reflects the spirit of freedom that pervades all these entities. It is finally a symphony of colours beating to the rhythm of the inhabitants who, with generosity, crystallise this authenticity. From the azure of the sky to the pink of the flamingos, from the black of the bulls to the white of the horses, the Camargue of Gard conveys its particularities and invites the public to discover its history, and to understand the diversity of its landscapes through the Discovery Centre of Scamandre. In addition, many interpretation trails, hiking trails and bike paths provide access to the regional nature reserve and the entire Grand Site de la Camargue gardoise.
Information : www.camarguegardoise.com
The Gorges du Gardons
Undulating through the Mediterranean landscape of the Uzège, the Gardon has carved out its sinuous gorges over nearly 30 km. With its undeniable biodiversity where garrigue, agricultural plains and yeuseraies (holm oak forests) mingle, the Gardon gorges are home to a population of nearly 250,000 inhabitants. Ensuring the preservation of the area in communion with human activities requires the implementation of several measures established by the creation of the Biosphere Reserve in 2015. A site of character, the Gorges du Gardon Reserve concerns 26 communes from which a network of professionals is involved on a daily basis in the protection and enhancement of the territory. The Pont du Gard, Nîmes and its historical past, and Uzès, a Town of Art and History, are the prestigious witnesses of the activity of man in these places. A fragile symbiosis where it is important to preserve biodiversity, culture, heritage and quality of life on this territory.
Information: www.gorgesdugardon.frLabelled forest: a new asset for the attractiveness of the Gard
On 18 June 2019, the Mont Aigoual forest was awarded the national label Forêt d'Exception®. Awarded by the National Forestry Office, this label highlights the extraordinary heritage of the Cévennes and rewards the actions undertaken and the exemplary management of the area. The 12th forest to enter the closed circle of exceptional forests, the Aigoual forest is the 4th largest forest in France, covering 16,124 hectares in the Gard and Lozère departments.
The Forêt d'Exception® label distinguishes excellence in the management of French forests, recognized for their unique heritage in terms of history, landscape, biodiversity or valuable wood. On the basis of an application, the label is awarded for a renewable period of five years by a national steering committee made up of qualified experts in regional planning, the environment, culture and tourism and representatives of the Ministries of Agriculture and Ecological Transition. The Forêt d'Exception® label recognizes the quality of a forest area, the exemplary nature of the actions undertaken and the partners involved.
The Aigoual state forest, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011, is thus recognised for its natural and landscape heritage. It is a land of predilection for hiking, a real tourist manna for the discovery and awareness of the natural wealth of the place, and for the development, in all seasons, of outdoor activities that result from it. The Aigoual massif is also a forest producing quality wood which plays a major economic role, with its three main species: beech (42%), fir (14%) and spruce (14%).International Dark Sky Reserve
The label International Dark Sky Reserve (RICE) distinguished the sky of Mont Aigoual in 2018, becoming the largest RICE in Europe with its 3560 km2.
This label highlights the exceptional quality of the starry sky of the territory, and thereby underlines the various works and measures undertaken by the public establishment, elected officials, institutional partners, the lighting unions of the Gard and Lozère departments, tourism providers, habitats and associations, to protect, extend and enhance it. Over 2 years, 370 measurements of the quality of the sky were carried out: on a scale of 16 to 23, the average value verified exceeded 21, corresponding to an "excellent" level.
With this recognition, the Cévennes National Park is now focusing its commitments on enhancing the nocturnal landscapes, in particular by expanding the range of night-time discoveries, emphasising nocturnal biodiversity and the fabulous starry sky.
