Geographical particularities
In the Aubrac and Margeride regions, there are two layout models: in a line, or in an L-shape. The stable and ground-floor dwelling are an extension of each other. The dwelling features a large common room that takes advantage of the warmth provided by the cowshed, and an imposing fireplace, the cantou, with niches for keeping certain provisions, such as salt, dry. A back kitchen, the patouille, served as a storeroom. It's not unusual to find a well and, less frequently, a bread oven. Upstairs, wooden partitions create bedrooms, closets and enclosed beds. Above the bedrooms is the attic, where grain is stored, and a space for drying sausages, the charnier. On the farm side, above the cowshed, is the hayloft or barn, with a high roof and, more often than not, a crossbeam frame. The roof is made of thick slate, often with a patina of rust-colored moss. The only difference between Aubrac and Margeride is the use of stone: basalt in Aubrac, granite in Margeride.
On Mont Lozère, buildings are still made of granite, but the lauzes replaced by thatched roofs are still visible in the dwellings managed by the Mont Lozère Ecomuseum. The slope of the roof, always two-sloped, increases with altitude, due to snow cover and the amount of precipitation.
In the Cévennes, the house is generally built in the direction of the slope, with the gable wall open onto the valley. Because of the limited space available on the ground, extensions are made in height, with some dwellings reaching five or six storeys. At its base, the house is built into the rock. The half-buried basement houses the cellar, sheepfold and goatfold, some of which are vaulted. Above this is the common room and, on the upper levels, the silkworm houses, the attic and hayloft, and the pantry, all accessible on the same level from the slope. The small-scale schist construction is often embellished with a trellis.
On the Causse, limestone is king and wood rare. That's why, in traditional construction, there are few or no beams or frameworks. Instead, stone vaulting is preferred. The first floor, which houses the sheepfold to benefit from the animal's warmth, is built with an arched vault, often very flat, allowing for a fairly large width, generally covered with stone paving to serve as a floor for the living area. The second and third levels of the house are covered by a single vault. This pointed-arch vault creates a large volume divided by floors to accommodate the various storeys. In the Massegros region, a few "Aragonese" houses feature handsome arched porches.
Castles in number
In 1724, Père l'Ouvreveul listed 136 châteaux in Lozère. Some have since succumbed to the ravages of time; others still bear witness to the presence and influence of the eight great baronies of yesteryear: the barony of Tournel, which is credited with the château de Saint-Julien-du-Tournel, thought to have been the largest in Gévaudan, and the château de Boy, where the Tournel family settled as early as the 14th century. The château de la Baume, nicknamed the Versailles of Lozère, remains from the barony of Peyre. Remodeled in the 18th century, it represents the perfect example of a classic Gévaudan residence. Another château that has stood the test of time is Florac, now home to the Cévennes National Park. All that remains of the seat of the barony of Apcher is the Apcher tower, but there's another of its residences: the Château de Billières in Saint-Chély-d'Apcher, which has seen many ups and downs but has always remained standing! Defensive and military in the Middle Ages, the château was civilized during the Renaissance (15th and 16th centuries) and began to be used as a residence. Some of the finest examples are the Château de Castanet in Pourcharesses and the Château du Champ in Altier. The latter shows the transition from the medieval castrum to the typical 18th-century residence, where harmony and pomp set the tone. In the same vein, the Château de La Caze is a good example of the changes taking place: from ancient foundations, we're now moving towards more refined residential châteaux.
Temples and churches
Catholic religious architecture is based on Romanesque art, essentially rural churches, both large and small. The building materials used are influenced by the natural environment: basalt in the Aubrac, granite in the Margeride, limestone in the Causses and schist in the Cévennes.
Comb steeples dominate and blend perfectly with the surrounding landscape. In the north, the octagonal bell tower is characteristic of the Auvergne style. Mende Cathedral, symbol of the power of the bishops, is the only major example of the Gothic period. In the Cévennes, where the Protestant faith has left its mark, only two temples predate the revocation of the Edict of Nantes: Collet de Dèze and Vialas. Elsewhere, they were built after the Revolution and, above all, between 1820 and 1840, when a great popular movement to rebuild temples was organized, financed by Protestant communities. At the time, the Cévennes, with its sericulture industry, was experiencing prosperity and demographic growth. Temples had to be able to accommodate large numbers of worshippers (1,300 at Saint-Germain de Calberte!). Most often built under the supervision of the village's pastor or architect, they were designed for solidity and economy of means, so the plan was not a showcase of architectural skill: rectangle, circle... The exception to this rule is the Meyrueis temple, which has an octagonal plan.
