MTB 7 - Dargilan - graded blue

5 points of interest

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  History

  Edouard-Alfred Martel

  The marvellous caves in this area were discovered thanks to the efforts of one man, Edouard-Alfred Martel. This caving pioneer notably discovered Dargilan Cave and the Abîme de Bramabiau in 1888, as well as Aven Armand cave in 1897. He fought to make them better known through articles and conferences. According to Jacques Fountes “Martel was a combination of tourist office and travel agency all by himself. It is not an exaggeration to say that Martel lifted Lozère out of anonymity.” He was convinced that tourism could create economic growth in the Grands Causses region.

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  Agriculture

  Sérigas, Marjoab

  Here, local farms breed goats to produce milk for making Roquefort cheese. In the 17th and 18th century, farmers used their milk to make cheese for themselves. In 1842, following the collapse of wool rates, the “Société des Caves et Producteurs Réunis” was formed to centralise cheese-ripening in Roquefort. A large number of dairies were opened in Causse hamlets. It was not until 1929 that the  “Confédération des Eleveurs de Brebis et des Industriels de Roquefort” was created to once again jointly manage Roquefort production.

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  Agriculture

  Cheese-making with sheep’s milk

  Until the 19th century, sheep were bred for their wool. Their milk was used to produce cheese for the family, which was matured in cellars or caves. It was not until 1880 that the production of blue sheep’s cheese flourished. In 1925, Roquefort became the first cheese to be declared an Appellation d’origine contrôlée (Protected Designation of Origin). Now internationally renowned, Roquefort is exclusively matured in the cellars of the village of the same name. 

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  History

  Fortified farms

  Several fortified farms punctuate the circuit, such as the one in Luc, which has a ruined windmill. In the 13th century, these farms were bequeathed to the order of the Knights Hospitaller, which was well-established in the Causses region. During the French Revolution, middle-class locals bought them back.

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  History

  Three Bishops’ Stone

  At the crossroads of the D39 and D139 is a standing stone topped by a stone cross. Today the monument symbolises the exact spot where three departments meet: Aveyron, Gard and Lozère. At the times the cross was erected, it indicated the limits of the dioceses of Vabres in the Aveyron, Nîmes in the Gard and Mende in the Lozère.