Domaine des Boissets

Agriculture and livestock farming

History and culture

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Like mediaeval pilgrims, follow in the footsteps of Princess Enimie on this path, which takes you from the mediaeval centre of Sainte-Enimie to the Domaine des Boissets.

4 points of interest

History

Sainte-Enimie

The mediaeval village of Sainte-Enimie has been a tourist destination ever since pilgrims on the way to Santiago di Compostella were persuaded by locals to make a detour to pray at Ste-Enimie’s tomb. In 951, Benedictine monks from the abbey of Saint-Chaffre-en-Velay, led by the bishop of Mende, re-established the old priory, which had been founded in the 6th century by Bishop St-Lière. From the 12th century onwards, the village’s future was assured by the legend, which the Church in Gévaudan cleverly cultivated and exploited until it was carved into the collective unconscious. The Benedictines of Sainte-Enimie were thus able to revive faith, develop trade and enrich the village. Over time, they put in place a religious authority that ruled the region until the French Revolution.

History

The vestiges of the abbey

During the Revolution, the monastery was destroyed and its furnishings burned alongside those of the church. The abbey was deconsecrated and used as a quarry. Only St-Madeline’s chapel, vestiges of the fortifications and the monk’s refectory (called the chapterhouse) remain.
The Tarn Gorge was on the official list of historical monuments, sites and furnishings from 1908 to 1950. Within the municipality of Sainte-Enimie, several buildings, including the abbey, the church and its furnishings, are listed. The monastery has been partly rebuilt and turned in a state secondary school.

Agriculture

The terraces

Locals have transformed the rocky slopes into hanging gardens by making use of the smallest of flat spaces. They carried the soil up in baskets or sacks on their backs. This is where they would have planted their vegetables and fruit trees (peach, walnut, almond). Until the early 20th century, almond trees were the “great resource” that made good use of soils too poor for other crops.
Until 1851, there were 54 hectares of grapevines for 850 inhabitants. The vineyards clung to 45-degree slopes, which made work difficult. The low yield, disease and mechanisation were all factors in the abandonment of this crop. The municipality of Ispagnac reintroduced vines in 2003 when a winemaker settled there; a second settled in Blajoux in 2006.

History

Domaine des Boissets

The hamlet of Les Boissets was already in existence in the 18th century, but the stone framework of several windows suggests that some buildings were built as early as the 15th.. The hamlet consists of six buildings, houses, outbuildings and sheepfolds, in the typical Caussenard style. The internal courtyard was closed off by walls that were much higher than they are today. It was a fortified agricultural estate. A bread oven, cisterns and threshing floor complete the complex, showing that the inhabitants lived in autarky. The farm was operational until 1995.

Description

From the car park on the banks of the Tarn, walk past the pharmacy and continue straight on Rue de la Combe. After 200 m, take the second lane on the right.
1) The lane (Chemin de Boissets) is tarred at first but quickly turns into a track that goes uphill through terraced gardens.
2) After the spring and the pine plantation, you get to a fork in the track. Continue straight ahead (steep climb) towards the plateau and Domaine des Boissets.
3) Once you are on the plateau, walk alongside the Domaine des Boissets on the left until you reach the road. Turn left onto this for about 360 m.
4) Fork left: the path soon comes out onto a track. Turn left onto it.
5) After 400 m, take on your right the path that goes downhill into the forest and joins up with a forest track.
6) Turn left onto the track, then turn right at the first bend.
7) Take the track on your left (NB: do not climb all the way to the road). This wide track, which is the former draille (drovers’ road) and road to Mende, takes you back down to Sainte-Enimie.

Departure : Sainte-Enimie

Arrival : Sainte-Enimie

Towns crossed : Gorges du Tarn Causses

Altimetric profile

Recommandations

Path with little shade. Make sure your equipment is appropriate for the day’s weather conditions. Remember that the weather changes quickly in the mountains. Take enough water, wear sturdy shoes and put on a hat. Please close all gates and barriers behind you.

Information desks

Tourism'house and national Parc at Florac

Place de l'ancienne gare, N106, 48400 Florac-trois-rivières

https://www.cevennes-gorges-du-tarn.com

info@cevennes-parcnational.fr

04 66 45 01 14

This office is part of the National Park's associated tourist-information network, whose mission is to provide information on, and raise awareness of, the sites and events as well as the rules that must be observed in the National Park's central zone.

On site: exhibitions, video projections, events and shop Open year-round

Find out more

Tourism office Cévennes Gorges du Tarn, Sainte-Enimie

village, 48210 Sainte-Enimie

https://www.cevennes-gorges-du-tarn.com/

contact@cevennes-gorges-du-tarn.com

04 66 45 01 14

Find out more

Transport

Bus stop: Parking Gravière