Tourist Attractions & Monuments Lozère

It is called "The Belle del Gevaudan", and it is not for nothing. Located at the gates of the Aubrac and the Margeride, close to the Gorges of the Tarn and Causses, the city of Marvejols boasts the title of "Royal City" acquired in 1307. With a long and tumultuous history, it now has a very rich built heritage. Thread sneakers or walking shoes: We will take you to its discovery… go through its alleys, admire its doors and visit why not the archaeological museum of the city. these two hours will prove very instructive!

Tariff: free.

Distance: 4 km.

Duration: 2 h.

Difficulty: .

As follows: Randoland recreational and educational cards are available for download for this walk; Check out www.randoland.fr.

Two traditions coexist to explain the origin of the name of French Valley, which would refer to a time when the valley, located in the territory of the Wisigoths, was a possession of the Franks. The legend also wants the construction of Notre-Dame-de-Valfrancesque in Moissac to commemorate a victory of the Francs on the Sarrasins. We would have named the valley in their honor. Another version reported that during the Hundred Years War the valley was the only haven of peace, because it was not occupied by the English.

Bordered by the Lot and the Allier to the north and the Tarn to the south, the Mont Lozère massif dominates the department to which it gave its name; the Tarn has its source there, while the other two rivers find their source a little further north. This granite mass, with its gentle shapes, culminates at the summit of Finiels, at an altitude of 1,699 m. The massif, located in the heart of the Cévennes National Park, is home to a particularly rich fauna and flora. Cattle are an integral part of the pasture landscape, as are the wild boars, deer and roe deer that live in the forests. Frogs and insectivorous plants live in the peat bogs. The territory is indeed a wet and green ecosystem, with many small streams.

Mount Lozère has particularly harsh winters. Thus, if it opens its paths to hiking and discovery in all seasons, it is a privileged destination for ski lovers. A ski resort is located in the village of Le Bleymard, at an altitude of 1,700 metres, and offers downhill, cross-country, hiking, snowshoeing and sledging on a preserved area of human scale. The medieval town of La Garde-Guérin, the lake of Villefort and its many water activities (fishing, swimming, sailing), the Pic de Finiels, the granite gorges of the Chassezac, the Cham des Bondons which gathers 154 menhirs... are also among the must-see places to discover on the exceptional lands of the Mont Lozère.

On 67 kilometres, the Allier gorges as you can't see them other than by train! Through along the Allier River, the journey lasts a little less than 2 h, with a gentle ride to better enjoy the beauty of the landscapes crossed to Langeac. It is enriched with comments on architectural and natural heritage, ideas of visits, historical anecdotes, or gastronomy… After an afternoon of free visits, the return is made by train or not. Tickets are available at the tourist office.

Coming from the Atlantic coast, the practice of erecting megaliths reached the south of France around 3,600 BC. The territory of Lozere, and the Causses region, was then covered with menhirs and dolmens, funerary constructions buried under mounds. The Cham-des-Bondons (north-east of Florac) has a number of menhirs which has nothing to envy to the site of Carnac. Under the aegis of the Cévennes National Park, several discovery circuits have been established.

The Departmental Committee on Tourism contributes to the implementation of the tourism policy of the General Council, the mission of which is to organise, promote and develop tourism in all its forms in the department of Lozere. In practice, it contribueà the development, promotion and marketing of tourism products, in collaboration with professionals in this sector. As a departmental relais of Gîtes de France and Clevacances, it also participates in tourism fairs in France and abroad, and declines in various forms tourism in Lozere: seasonal thematic (winter otherwise, autumn otherwise…), equestrian tourism, fishing… found on the web, but also brochures and tourist maps republished each year, and the biennial magazine "Breathe". The collaboration with the tourist offices of the department allows the collection of reliable information on its website. It is also the Lozere Résa reservation centre, La Maison de la Lozere in Paris, and the reception and information antenna at the Lozere area on the A 75 motorway. Finally, we cannot forget the remarkable work of communication and promotion towards the press, written or television, carried out with a communicative passion by Brigitte Donnadieu. Le Petit Smart would like to thank her for: she is a formidable ambassador of the Lozere!

The site is part of the Cévenne Ecomuseum: explanatory panels help visitors to discover this natural area located on a rocky base overlooking the Tarnon valley. The big beast is called grallator minusculus, the prints are those of its toes (50 cm). As for the animal itself, it would have been of a total length of 7 to 8 m. A small dinosaur, therefore, which left its tracks in the calcareous clay, 200 million years ago.

The highest point of the Margeride at an altitude of 1,552 m, it can be reached via the Col du Cheval mort. On site, the former World War II bunkers border the imposing granite chaos and the telecommunications tower. We will climb up to the orientation table to admire a stunning panoramic view and a pretty view of Lake Charpal, not far from there (also worth visiting, it is within walking distance from Fortunio). The steppe landscape reflects the climate of Margeride, and it would be a good idea to provide the little wool and especially the windbreak, in all seasons!

A rallying point for the ecomuseum of Mount Lozere, the house of Mount Lozere is also the starting point. In this large modern building, a permanent exhibition tells the country's history, that of men and landscapes, through testimonies and antiques. Museum space serves as an introduction to educational paths, accompanied by the summer demand and the discovery trails.