4 points of interest
- Architecture
The hamlet of L'Espinas
Built on a transport route used throughout the centuries, the hamlet of L’Espinas was a stopover for travellers and itinerant shepherds and their livestock moving between the plains and highland pastures. It lies on one of the branches of the Jalcreste draille, the ancestral drovers’ road that follows the ridge. - History
In the days of the Camisards
The cemetery contains the graves of Protestants, whose religion was banned by the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes until the French Revolution and who therefore had to bury their dead on private land. The hamlet of L’Espinas is among the places of remembrance of the Camisard War (1702-1704): the revolt by the Protestants of the Cévennes against Royal Catholic rule. - History
Castagnols
(origin of the name: chestnut orchard).
An important village long before Vialas, located close to a traffic artery on the ridge, Castagnols was the parish seat until 1684. The canons of the collegiate chapter at Bédouès benefited from the substantial revenues of its priory, founded by Guillaume de Grimoard, the future Pope Urban V. The inhabitants of Castagnols later strongly supported the Reformation. The Catholic church was burned down during the Camisard era. After 1970, Cévennes enthusiasts rebuilt it from the ruins. - History
Le Villaret mine
In around 1920, a baryte mine brought much-appreciated income to over 20 families. “Transport was by tractor carrying a crate that contained 2 tons of baryte and pulling a trailer that contained another four tons. That way, we transported 6 tons per trip to the train station at Génolhac, and, when all was going well, we did two trips per day, so a maximum of 500 tons a month” ( Aristide Vignes).
Description
Signposts will guide you all along this route. In the description below, the signposted place names and/or directions are given in bold italics between quotation marks:
Starting from “Relais de l’Espinas” go to “Castagnols” via “Draille de l’Espinas”, “Pradiguas”. At “Castagnols”, head for “Soleyrols” via “La Tranchée”, “Légaou”, “Rieutort”. At “Soleyrols”, go to “Col de Chalsio” via “Ruisseau du Villaret”, “Le Villaret”, “Sous le col de la Baraquette”, “Col de la Baraquette”. At “Col de Chalsio” return to “Relais de l’Espinas” via “Draille de l’Espinas”.
This trail is taken from the guidebook Mont Lozère – Pays des sources, Sommet des Cévennes, published by the Pôle de pleine nature du mont Lozère.
- Departure : Relais de L’Espinas
- Arrival : Relais de L’Espinas
- Towns crossed : Ventalon en Cévennes, Vialas, and Pont de Montvert - Sud Mont Lozère
Forecast
Altimetric profile
Recommandations
Information desks
Office de tourisme Des Cévennes au mont Lozère
le Quai, 48220 Le Pont de Montvert sud mont-Lozère
Tourism'house and national Parc at Florac
Place de l'ancienne gare, N106, 48400 Florac-trois-rivières
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
Tourism office Coeur de Lozère, Mende
BP 83, place du Foirail, 48000 Mende
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.
Open year-round
Tourism office Des Cévennes au mont-Lozère, Vialas
48220 Vialas
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. Open July and August
Access and parking
Parking :
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