Pont Marès

4 points of interest

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  Pastoralism

  Summer pastures

  Since time immemorial, animals have naturally migrated from the plains into the mountains in summer. The Salidès pass has summer pastures for sheep. The shepherd’s house is just below you on the Mediterranean side. The shepherd stays several months with about 800 sheep and a few dogs. Careful: patous, the big and handsome white dogs, are there to supervise and defend the herd!
  It is important for the herd to graze here. The animals fertilise the soil and maintain the open spaces.

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  Agriculture

  The transhumant shepherd of the Col de Salidès

  From the end of spring onwards, the Col de Salidès livens up. The transhumant shepherd moves up for the three months of summer grazing in this magical spot with almost 1,000 sheep. In all weather, the shepherd takes the animals outside so they can graze new grass. He has to both manage his pasture land and look after the sheep. 
  
  At the end of summer, each livestock farmer comes to recover his animals. Be careful around the dogs that watch over the flock!

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  Natural environment

  The forest of L’Hom

  From the 19th century, the forest of L’Hom was the “reserve” of a private estate of over 700 hectares. Its animal stocks were protected and used as a “savings account” in the event of unforeseen financial needs. This situation in part explains the diversity of the forest, which stretches from 600 to 1,1000 m in altitude and contains many species: native (holm oak, sweet chestnut, beech, birch, wild cherry, rowan, pine, spruce, etc.) as well as exotic ones, which were introduced by the new owners (northern red oak, red maple, giant redwood, larch hybrids, etc.). This private forest has a management plan based on the prosylva principles (forestry close to nature), which was approved by the body in charge of forest management and the Cévennes National Park. There is abundant game, and you may spot a deer or stag on your walk.

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  Architecture

  The castles of the upper Vallée Borgne

  The Château du Poujol is the last castle of the Vallée Borgne. It is located under the rocky ridge of the Can de l’Hospitalet to the north and the Col Salidès to the south. It was built in the 13th century on a rocky spur to watch over the valley. Locals laid out many terraces around the site, which gives you an idea of agricultural life in the Cévennes.
  
  The Château de l’Hom sits in lush greenery. It is first mentioned in 1401. Many lords have left their trace in the architecture, but not only there. In 1826, an assassination took place on this spot, in connection to a goat’s ear cut off in punishment for eating the lady’s flowers…