L'Avès

(origin of the name: chestnut orchard).
An important village long before Vialas, located close to a traffic artery on the ridge, Castagnols was the parish seat until 1684. The canons of the collegiate chapter at Bédouès benefited from the substantial revenues of its priory, founded by Guillaume de Grimoard, the future Pope Urban V. The inhabitants of Castagnols later strongly supported the Reformation. The Catholic church was burned down during the Camisard era. After 1970, Cévennes enthusiasts rebuilt it from the ruins.

This mill is located on a plot of the Bonijol property and is part of the hamlet of Figeirolles. An association created in 2000 has restored and is managing the site. The fact that it is a mountain mill makes it all the more remarkable. The mill operates using an ingenious system for collecting and storing water. It has two sets of grinding stones, one for chestnut flour and another for rye flour. (www.moulinbonijol.fr)

The temple (Protestant church): in 1612, the Protestant community had this church built at its own expense, several kilometres from Castagnols. Donated to the Catholic community before the Edict of Nantes was revoked, it thus escaped the destruction meted out to Cevenol temples. The Protestants got their church back in 1804.
The secondary school: in 1889, after the so-called Jules Ferry Laws were passed, the primary school with its two classes was completed by a secondary school. This was the first ever in Lozère. In 2005, the establishment, now a boarding school, welcomed 60 pupils from all over the region.