Page 359 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

the Cévennes is a remote,
mountainous region of wind-
whipped plateaux, rivers and
gorges. It was designated a
national park in 1970, and is
an excellent destination for
hiking and other outdoor
activities. The best-known
walking path follows the
route taken by author Robert
Louis Stevenson. The Corniche
des Cévennes is a dramatic
drive from Florac to St-Jean-
du-Gard, which was cut in the
early 18th century by the
army of Louis XIV in pursuit of
the Camisards, Protestant
rebels who had no uniforms
but fought in their ordinary
shirts (camiso in the langue
d’oc). Florac is the main hub
for hiking and other outdoor
pursuits, and you can also
explore charming traditional
towns such as La-Garde- Striking underground
Guerin and Anduze. rock formations found
in the Grand Causses
26 some desolate hiking. The named accordingly: there’s
Grands Causses four Grands Causses – Méjean, the chaos of Montpellier-le-
Sauveterre, Noir and Larzac – Vieux, Nîmes-le-Vieux and
! E6 ⌂ Aveyron ~ Rodez- stretch out east of the city Roquesaltes. Aven Armand
Marcillac £ @ Millau
n Millau; www.millau- of Millau, which boasts the and the Dargilan Grotto are
viaduc-tourisme.fr tallest vehicular bridge in vast and deep natural under-
the world. They extend from ground grottoes.
The Causses are vast, arid Mende in the north to the A good place to head for
lime stone plateaux, alternating Vis river valley in the south. in the Larzac Causse is the
with green, fertile canyon Among the sights in the strange, rough-hewn stone
valleys. The only sign of life at Causses are the chaos – bizarre village of La Couvertoirade,
times is a bird of prey, or an rock formations reputed to a fully enclosed citadel of the
isolated stone farm or shep- resemble ruined cities, and Knights Templar in the 12th
herd’s hut. The area makes for century. The unpaved streets
and medieval houses are an
INSIDER TIP austere reminder of the dark
Natural side of the Middle Ages. Entry
Swimming Holes to the village is free, with a
Scattered through out small fee for the tour of the
the Auvergne are a surrounding ramparts.
number of natural The best- known village in
lakes – some formed over the Larzac Causse is probably
the years in dormant Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, a
volcano craters – that small grey town terraced
are appealing places to on the side of a crumbled
swim. Some have small lime stone outcrop. It has only
beaches, such as Lac one main street and one
Chambon, with its two major product, Roquefort
south-facing sandy cheese. This is made from
stretches. A few have unpasteur ized sheep’s milk,
obtained Blue Flag seeded with a distinctive blue
status that guarantees mould grown on loaves of
exellent water quality. bread, and aged in the warren
of damp caves above the town.
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