Travel Guide Lalouvesc

Perched at an altitude of 1,000 m, the village looks out over the peaks of the Alps and Cévennes. Set on a hilltop in the heart of a vast forest, this village of just over 500 souls boasts an unlikely basilica. Lalouvesc was once an important place of pilgrimage. Its basilica houses the relics of the Jesuit saint Jean-François Régis (1597-1640), who distinguished himself by evangelizing the Vivarais region in the early 17th century. Since 2018, the basilica has also housed the tomb of Saint Thérèse Couderc (1805-1885). This nun, who founded the congregation of the Sisters of Notre-Dame du Cénacle in Lalouvesc, was canonized in 1970. So it's a site steeped in spirituality that you'll discover in this mountain village, with its old-fashioned hotels, museums and local gourmet products. Ideal for a peaceful, no-fuss stay dedicated to rejuvenation and walking. The village itself is the starting point for a number of signposted hiking trails that reveal sublime panoramas. The pure, invigorating air is equally seductive. As a result, Lalouvesc attracts hikers and pilgrims alike. A few hundred metres upstream, Mont Chaix (1,213 m altitude) and its fir forest await you with themed itineraries, perfect for families. Give it a try! Cyclists have their own routes too. Outside the busy summer tourist season, Lalouvesc is particularly... quiet.