La Devinayre

2 points of interest

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  History

  The spinning-mill

  From the car park, you can see the imposing buildings of the former spinning-mill by the river. Flowing water was indispensable for spinning-mills to work: its energy was used to turn the spools (guindres), around which the silk thread was wound, and for the throwing, which consisted of twisting and spinning the silk.

  We do not know who built the first building but a forge was set up in 1806, and in 1943 the building was home to both a throwing mill and a spinning-mill. The second building was added in 1856, and in 1900 they both had electric lighting installed. In 1936, the whole complex was managed by the Société des Filatures de Soie des Hautes Cévennes [Upper Cévennes silk spinnning-mills company]". In 1984, Bresson-Rande still had a hosiery workshop here. In 1995, all activity on the site ceased.

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  Fauna

  Wild boar

  The wild boar has become the most abundant large animal species in the Cévennes, where two centuries ago it was rare. Abandoned chestnut orchards provide the boar with ample food, and the less harsh winters and larger litters favour its reproduction. Boar populations are increasing, as are the traces of their presence: wallows where they cover themselves in mud; ground that has been ploughed by them, sometimes over large areas; rub marks on trees, especially conifers, to mark territory. Both male and female wild boar have tusks, the males’ being more imposing. 

  The sow gives birth to 1 to 10 striped boarlets per litter. Female and young wild boar live in “companies” whereas the males are solitary.