Col de Peyrefiche

4 points of interest

• 

  

  History

  Camin Ferrat

  The name camin ferrat, literally “iron road”, is obscure in origin. For some, it was a transit route for iron bars; for others, a route used by itinerant blacksmiths. The most likely explanation seems to be that it was used by shod beasts of burden. A local woman claims that the path was damaged by oxcarts laden with wood.

• 

  Agriculture

  Transhumance

  For their transhumance (seasonal migration), sheep wear bells, also known as drailhes. In decreasing order of size, the bells are called the sonals, clapas and piques. Each has its own sound: sonals ring out “we’ll be climbing, we’ll be climbing”, clapas sing “we’re going down” and piques “we’re coming back”. After shearing, the sheep are marked so that their owners can tell them apart when they are jumbled together with other flocks. In the old days, tar or pitch were used; nowadays, it is paint. Examples of bells are on show at the Musée Cévenol in Le Vigan.

• 

  

  History

  The draille (drovers’ road)

  At the pass, you join the draille (drovers’ road). These ancient pathways are believed to have been used since prehistoric times by herds of wild animals for their seasonal migrations. The drailles are sometimes lined by low dry-stone walls and marked out by standing stones, allowing shepherds to stay on the path even in bad weather. To this day, herds take a break at the Col de Peyrefiche pass and sometimes spend the night there, sheltered by the Pyrenean broom.

• 

  

  History

  Peyrefiche

  Peyrefiche means standing stone; further on is the Col de la Pierre Plantée pass. In Ooccitan, peyra plantada designate either menhirs or else the stones marking out Celtic or Roman tracks. The latter used and improved the drovers’ roads, which became efficient traffic arteries. Some stones quite simply delineate territories.