THE WAY TO THE REGORDANE

The Chemin de Régordane followed the route of an ancient Gallo-Roman road, or even a transhumance route, to become a major thoroughfare in the Middle Ages. For three centuries (from the ^11th to the ^13th century), this road was the main means of communication between the Lower Languedoc, the Auvergne and, beyond, the prosperous fairs of Champagne. Convoys of muleteers transported oriental products from Mediterranean ports (oil, salt) and brought back wheat and cheese from the mountains.

An essential economic link, it is also a major pilgrimage route linking Le Puy to Saint-Gilles-du-Gard, a port on the Mediterranean and a stopover for pilgrims on their way to Rome and Jerusalem. Villages and towns grew up along this busy route, as did fortresses. However, in the ^14th century, the road was abandoned in favor of the Rhone axis and the Lyon fairs, and its route gradually disappeared. It was Louis XIV who reopened the route, which was rehabilitated in the following century, before falling back into disuse. Nowadays, the GR 700, the former trade route where some vestiges of the past remain (ruts, montjoies, dolmens, rock inscriptions), is only frequented by hikers. The Chemin de Regordane association tells the whole story on its website, and has a section entitled "Organizing your hike", which lists accommodation, restaurants, transport and services.