Cévennes

The Cévennes is a mountainous region in south-central France, part of the Massif Central. It spans parts of the Lozère and Gard departments and extends into Ardèche and Hérault. The landscape combines high granite and limestone ridges, deep valleys, and limestone plateaus known as causses, with forests of oaks and chestnut trees and Mediterranean vegetation at lower elevations.

The area includes the Cévennes National Park, established in 1970 to protect its biodiversity and scenery. The park is part of the larger UNESCO World Heritage Site "Causses and the Cévennes, Mediterranean Agro-Pastoral Cultural Landscape," recognized for its long-standing pastoral practices and distinctive rural culture. The region is traversed by trails such as the Stevenson Trail (GR 70), which follows Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1878 journey with a donkey through the Cévennes.

History and culture in the Cévennes feature a strong Protestant heritage. The Camisard revolt in the early 18th century was a significant episode in the area’s religious and social history. Rural communities maintained traditional crafts, chestnut cultivation, and forestry, shaping a distinctive local culture and landscape.

Economy today blends tourism with traditional rural activities. Forestry and the production of chestnuts and sheep farming continue alongside ecotourism and outdoor recreation. The region attracts hikers, nature enthusiasts, and those interested in rural heritage, with the Stevenson Trail offering a prominent cultural and historical route through the Cévennes.