Naussac Lake lies in the north-east of Lozère, not far from Langogne, in a pleasant, relaxing setting. This vast reservoir covers 1,050 hectares and is great for outdoor activities. You can practise lots of water sports there, such as windsurfing, catamaran, canoeing, kayaking, fishing and kite-surfing. Around the lake, there are lots of paths where you can enjoy a walk, mountain bike ride or horse ride.

Located on the banks of the Langouyrou, an affluent of the Allier, in the commune of Langogne, the Calquières woollen mill is a listed historic monument and has now been converted into a living museum. It tells the story of the textile business in Lozère, as well as the various stages of wool transformation. Children and adults can see how a traditional craft is practised by admiring a unique set of machines from 1850, still in working order, driven by the mill's big wheel and the force of running water! A museum area about the weaving trades and a craft shop selling woollen clothing will round off your trip to this amazing industrial heritage site.

After a tour of the woollen mill, the historical trail in the old town is a great way to see the main monuments of Langogne, including the 12th-century Romanesque church and the picturesque 18th-century grain hall, where a market takes place every Saturday morning.

A land of granite with rolling landscapes, on the border of Cantal, Haute-Loire and Lozère in the former province of Gévaudan, Margeride is a secluded and mysterious place. It offers lovers of authentic nature a series of restful landscapes, alternating between meadows, moors, forests and rivers.

As well as being a great place to recharge your batteries, Margeride is also an ideal destination to enjoy outdoor activities, like hiking, horse-riding and mountain biking along its many paths and trails, fishing on the Truyère and Rimeize, sailing and canoe-kayak on Lake Naussac, no-kill pike fishing on Lake Charpal and more…

At the heart of Margeride, at Sainte-Eulalie in Lozère, the European bison reserve invites you to take a carriage ride, or a sled ride in the winter, and see its prehistoric-looking animals, in semi-captivity in a park of over 200 hectares. A museum area about the European bison's origins and way of life, as well as a reconstruction of a prehistoric cave, complete the experience.

When it comes to visitor attractions, don't miss the Margeride Ecomuseum in Cantal, with the Clémence Fontille School in Signalauze, Pierre Allègre's farm in Loubaresse and St. Martin's Garden in Ruynes-en-Margeride. There is also the fantastic Beast of Gévaudan Museum in Saugues, Haute-Loire, which has gripping reconstructions that tell the incredible story of the terrifying beast that roamed Gévaudan in the 18th century. This mysterious tale is still a frequent topic of conversation today!

Upon arrival in Arlempdes, a medieval village in Haute-Loire, 30 kilometres south of Le Puy-en-Velay, visitors are immediately charmed by the spectacular view afforded to them from a bend in the road: this typical little village with stone houses, classified among the most beautiful villages of France, is perched on a volcanic peak surrounded by a meander of the Loire.

Surrounded by basalt flows, this picture postcard spot full of timeless charm is a real gem of the Loire Gorges. In the heights of the village, at the top of the rocky spur, you can walk up a path to discover the remains of the castle built in the Middle Ages by the Lords of Montlaur, a site that still offers a beautiful view of the surrounding wild landscape. Downhill from the old fortress, the village's 11th-century postern entrance, the Church of St. Peter, a 12th-century single-nave Romanesque building with a four-arched open bell tower, and the 15th-century carved stone cross are other unmissable attractions of Arlempdes.

About twenty kilometres from Le Puy-en-Velay, a beautiful circular lake of volcanic origin, located at an altitude of 1,205 metres, awaits visitors in Haute-Loire. Located in the municipalities of Cayres and Le Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas, this 44-hectare expanse of water resembling a Canadian lake is a magnificently preserved natural site surrounded by pine, larch, beech and spruce trees.

This is the place to come for peace and quiet, while enjoying a superb landscape from a shaded path dotted with benches that allows you to walk around the lake in 45 minutes.

The water quality makes the lake ideal for fishing and diving, and there is also a beach where swimming is supervised in July and August, so you can relax with family and friends.

Feel free to stop by the lake's restaurant, where you can enjoy the view from the pleasant terrace while sipping a drink or enjoying a meal.

Situated in Mazan-l'Abbaye, in the Ardèche mountains, the remains of the Cistercian Abbey of Mazan, founded in the 12th century, can be seen in the heart of an unspoiled natural environment. The remains of the former abbey church, as well as the Romanesque cloister with sculpted capitals on its columns, which you can admire by yourself or during a guided tour, are evidence of its monastic past.

The national forest of Mazan, which borders the village, is good for rambling, with its resinous trees.

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The prefecture of Lozère and former capital of Gévaudan, Mende enjoys an ideal geographical location in the upper Lot Valley, at the edge of the Cévennes National Park. Surrounded by mountains, this charming small town, both peaceful and welcoming, invites you to discover its wonderful sights on a pleasant walk. The paved side streets lined with old houses; small squares decorated with fountains; the picturesque medieval Notre-Dame bridge and the surrounding area, dotted with beautiful houses with roofs like an upturned boat hull; the Penitents' Tower, a relic of the old ramparts; the 18th-century town hall with a tilestone roof, and the Gothic Cathedral of Our Lady and St. Privatus are all among the treasures you can admire in Mende.

Dominated by the silhouette of its two differently-sized bell towers, the imposing Mende Cathedral was built from the 14th century onwards at the request of Urbanus V, a pope from Gévaudan, whose bronze statue has stood on the forecourt since 1874. Once inside the building, discover the crypt of St. Privatus, the black Virgin dating from the 12th century, brought back from the East by the crusaders, the carved wooden stalls, the Aubusson tapestries from the early 18th century illustrating scenes from the Virgin's life, the 17th-century organs by the Eustache brothers, and more.

In August, the streets of the town are especially lively, during the traditional Great Festival of Mende, a colourful event with a great atmosphere, featuring street performers, concerts, fairground attractions, a procession of floral floats and fireworks.

For tea, enjoy croquant de Mende, a delicious little finger biscuit with almonds and hazelnuts, made by the town's bakers and pastry chefs!

At 1,000 metres in altitude, in the commune of Le Lac-d'Issarlès in Upper Ardèche, bordered by the Lozère and the Haute-Loire, tucked away in an old volcanic crater is a round turquoise-blue expanse of water, covering 80 hectares. Benefitting from favoured natural surroundings of verdant hills, Issarlès Lake is particularly good for relaxation and water sports. Bathing (supervised in July and August), lounging around on the beach, picnics with family and friends, trout or char fishing, paddle boats, canoeing and windsurfing are all on offer here. A pleasant footpath through the undergrowth gives ramblers the chance to go around the lake in about an hour.

To have a lovely view of the whole of the lake, take the path to the Col du Gage belvedere, situated high up, 1.5 kilometres to the south-east of the village.

Located in the south-east of the Massif Central, in the Cévennes National Park, Mount Lozère reaches an altitude of 1,699 metres and is the highest point in Lozère and the Cévennes. This granitic territory is full of unspoilt plant life and has many trails including the GR 70, better known as Stevenson's trail, making it ideal for hiking. Take the chance to contemplate its superb panoramic views, not only in the scenery of Mount Lozère, made up of moors covered with broom and heather, peat bogs, pastures and granite blockfields, as well as in the surrounding mountains. Take the Finiels Pass for example, at an altitude of 1,541 metres, which offers beautiful views over Mount Aigoual and the surrounding Causses. This pass is popular with cyclists and is also the starting point for the La Pelouse walking trail, an interpretation centre to learn about the natural environment that takes you close to the summit of Finiels. The highest point of the Cévennes, the latter is a large plateau with three orientation tables, offering really exceptional panoramic views!

For hikers who love old buildings, some hamlets are especially worth a visit, such as L'Hôpital, the old commandery of the Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem, Mas Camargues and Bellecoste. Departing from the information centre in Mas Camargues, you can follow an observation trail made up of three circuits to discover the local rural and natural heritage.

On Mount Lozère, the outdoor activities continue in winter, with the family ski resort of Le Bleymard Mont Lozère, which offers Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, luge, snowshoe hikes and dogsled rides.

In the south-west of Mount Lozère, the Cham des Bondons site has over 150 menhirs and 30 funeral mounds, making it the second highest concentration of megaliths in Europe after Carnac! You can discover this archaeological heritage on a trail called Walk in the Land of Menhirs...

To find out more about this massif's history, geology, flora, architecture, skills and traditions, head to the Mount Lozère Museum, located in the typical village of Le Pont-de-Montvert.

Finally, honey lovers won't want to leave this wonderful area without trying the hive products sold by the apiaries of Cubières, Cubiérettes and Saint-André-Capcèze, at the foot of Mount Lozère!

Set in an exceptional environment, near to the wild site of the Chassezac Gorges, in the commune of Prévenchères in the Cévennes, the small fortified town of La Garde-Guérin, formerly the domain of the "Parier" knights who protected and guided the travellers following the Régordane road, is now listed among the most beautiful villages of France. A superb and particularly authentic destination, with its picturesque paved side streets that are ideal for a leisurely stroll, its admirable restored old stone houses, imposing medieval keep, and charming little Romanesque church with a bell tower wall. This area is a delight to walk around! A relic of the old castle, the 12th-century watchtower offers magnificent views of the tilestone roofs of La Garde-Guérin and the Chassezac Gorges from its summit...

Around 1 km to the north of the village, be sure to stop by the famous Chassezac belvedere, for dizzying views of the Chassezac granite canyon!

A gem in the Truyère Valley, nestling at the heart of lovely Margeride, the welcoming medieval town of Le Malzieu-Ville has retained some fine reminders of its past as an old Gévaudan stronghold. Take a stroll along the historic trail, and admire its ramparts, towers, fortified gates and old houses. You'll also find a superb panoramic view of the roofs of the town and the verdant landscapes of Margeride at the top of the Bodon Tower!

Nestling at the heart of the Lozère Cévennes, near the green holiday resort of Villefort, in an unspoilt setting of lush green mountains, Villefort Lake has a surface area of 137 hectares, and is ideal for water sports. You can take a trip in a canoe, catamaran, dinghy, sailboat, pedalo, Zodiac motor boat or electric boat from the water sports centre. You can also take a walk on the footpath around the lake, relax on the sandy beach, go swimming (supervised in the afternoon in July and August) and fishing – there are plenty of leisure activities for sporty types and fans of relaxation alike!

In the Allier Gorges, a canyon hollowed out by the river of the same name, lovers of natural sites will be thrilled by a picturesque, green environment. The landscapes there are truly diverse, interspersed with beautiful villages and Romanesque buildings, like St. Mary of Les Chazes (Sainte-Marie-des-Chazes) in Saint-Julien-des-Chazes, a 13th-century chapel in a romantic setting, built at the foot of basalt cliffs and a listed Historic Monument.

The prettiest villages to discover on the banks of the Allier, considered to be one of the last wild rivers in Europe, include Lavoûte-Chilhac, Monistrol-d'Allier, Prades, Saint-Arcons-d'Allier and Chanteuges with its hilltop priory boasting a charming cloister. These villages are separated by beautiful landscapes, especially between Monistrol-d'Allier and Chanteuges. There are many trekking opportunities so lovers of walking and mountain biking will be delighted.

Those who prefer more relaxing pursuits will enjoy swimming at the beaches of Monistrol-d'Allier, Prades and Lavoûte-Chilhac, and fishing enthusiasts will appreciate the clear waters of the Allier where trout, grayling and salmon all live!

For thrill-seeking leisure enthusiasts, whitewater sports reign supreme, from canyoning to canoe-kayak, through rafting, hydrospeed and tubing.

Another original way to discover this superb, unspoilt territory is to take the Allier Gorges tourist train from Langeac in Haute-Loire to Langogne in Lozère. Its spectacular route takes you to areas that are inaccessible to cars and offers stunning views of the rushing river, sometimes from the cliff side. If you are short on time, you can opt for a lovely tour of the Allier Gorges' volcanic villages, which will lead you from Langeac to Monistrol-d'Allier in less than an hour.

For the record, the Allier Gorges are also the land of the Beast of Gévaudan, which caused a stir in the 18th century...

The capital of Haute-Loire, the town of Le Puy-en-Velay is located in the south-east of the Massif Central. As the starting point of the famous Via Podiensis, one of the routes to Santiago de Compostela, since the Middle Ages, the Auvergne town is a major pilgrimage site, with its cathedral and Hôtel-Dieu listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Built at the foot of the Corneille Rock, an imposing volcanic peak towering over the historic centre, the Cathedral of Our Lady (Notre-Dame) is a remarkable example of the Romanesque style with Carolingian, Byzantine and Moorish influences. This magnificent 11th and 12th-century building is reached via picturesque sloping streets starting from the lower part of town and a long flight of 134 steps. When you arrive, be sure to take a look at its majestic polychrome façade decorated with mosaics and the ancient fresco on its western porch, before admiring the superb Romanesque cloister with polychrome arches and sculpted capitals, as well as the beautiful pieces in the treasure collection located in the former Hall of the States of Velay. Above the high altar is the famous 17th-century Black Madonna of Le Puy, which is processioned through the streets of the old town on 15 August every year.

Perched at the top of the Corneille Rock, the statue of Our Lady of France, a cast iron work created by the sculptor Bonnassieux in the 19th century using cast iron from the cannons of the Battle for Sevastopol, offers a splendid view of the city's red roofs from its platform!

Le Puy-en-Velay is also famous for its bobbin lace, which according to the legend was invented there. Visitors can learn about it at the Crozatier Museum, located at the bottom of the pleasant Henri Vinay Garden, which boasts a variety of plants. The museum's galleries also house collections dedicated to archaeology, fine arts, palaeontology, ethnology, natural sciences and mechanics.

To complete your knowledge of the lace-makers' art, do not miss a chance to visit the Bobbin Lace Education Centre (Centre d'Enseignement de la Dentelle au Fuseau), which offers courses and workshops: this ancestral skill will be explained to you in detail, from the equipment used to the different stitches and motifs. Its exhibition rooms reveal magnificent collections of old and contemporary lace from various periods and countries.

A former royal town in Gévaudan, nestling between Aubrac and Margeride in the Colagne Valley, the town of Marvejols was rebuilt in the 17th century by Henry IV after the Wars of Religion. It's a welcoming small town, and is now listed as a place of interest by the Plus Beaux Détours de France association. Its three beautiful fortified gates from the 17th century, the Soubeyran Gate, Théron Gate and Chanelles Gate, as well as its pedestrian shopping streets, make it a pleasant place to visit.

Known as the little Versailles of Gévaudan, La Baume Castle stands at the heart of the Massif Central, at an altitude of around 1200 metres, in a wild, unspoilt setting in the commune of Prinsuéjols. A listed Historic Monument, this superb granite edifice consisting of two parts – one from the 17th century and the other from the 18th century – contains a richly decorated, Italian-inspired interior in the Louis XIV style. Furniture, wood panelling, paintings and tapestries are some of the attractions you can admire on a guided tour. You can also learn about the history of one of the most important baronies of Gévaudan!

Located in the heart of the old province of Gevaudan, near Marvejols, Saint-Léger-de-Peyre, Saint-Léger-de-Peyre, the Gévaudan wolf park gathers, on a wooded area of ​​several hectares, more than 130 semi-free wolves from Mongolia, Poland, Canada and Siberia.

The guided tour of the park with a specialist, the walk along the route dotted with observation areas, as well as the exhibition rooms of the museum, allow to better understand the wolf, a species now protected, and to rehabilitate the image of this little-known animal so decried in tales and legends.

Nestling at the heart of the remarkable Tarn Gorges, the wonderful village of Sainte-Enimie, listed as one of the most beautiful villages of France, is ideal for a relaxing stroll. The

picturesque paved side streets, dotted with limestone houses and vaulted passages, the Romanesque church of Notre-Dame-du-Gourg, Burle spring, whose miraculous properties are said to have cured the Merovingian Princess Enimie in the 6th century, and the old Benedictine monastery, of which the chapel and chapterhouse remain, make it a popular destination with lovers of old buildings.

Perched on high ground around a meander of the Tarn, Sainte-Enimie makes an ideal starting point for a trip down the Tarn Gorges by canoe-kayak or a hike in the surrounding countryside, especially the craggy trail to the hermitage cave, where Sainte Enimie retired at the end of her life.

Dates for your diary: in July there's the medieval comic strip festival, with a programme of exhibitions, workshops, competitions, activities...

Located in the south of the Massif Central, the Cévennes National Park covers 321,380 hectares, stretching to the south-east of Lozère and the north-west of Gard. Its highest point is Mount Lozère, at the top of Finiels at an altitude of 1,699 metres. The Cévennes National Park is full of wild, unspoilt countryside dotted with torrents, rivers and streams, and is home to a rich and diverse range of flora and fauna, which is why it has been listed as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.

The Tarn and Jonte gorges, the granite massif of Mount Lozère, the Cévennes ledge between Florac and Saint-Jean-du-Gard, the caves of Aven Armand and Dargilan, the blockfield of Nîmes-le-Vieux, and the Aigoual Massif, along with the Bramabiau Chasm, the meteorological observatory site at Mount Aigoual and Le Minier Pass, are some of the wonderful sights to see here. There are also lots of great hikes, for example along the Stevenson Trail, a famous hiking trail (GR 70) through the Cévennes, which the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson followed in Autumn 1878 accompanied by his donkey Modestine.

Don't miss the Park House, based in Florac Castle in Lozère, which provides visitors with information and documents about the Cévennes area, as well as a permanent exhibition - "Passengers of the landscape" - all about the natural environments of the Cévennes National Park.

As you travel the picturesque little roads lined with the beech and pine groves and oak groves, heather-covered moors, pastures and chestnut tree groves, you can admire the typical architecture of the Cévennes, dominated by granite, limestone and schist. You can also visit sites about the history and culture of the Cévennes, like the La Roque silk factory in Molezon, with its "Threads of Memory" exhibition about sericulture, the Cévennes Museum in Le Vigan and the Cévennes Valley Museum in Saint-Jean-du-Gard, both dedicated to the popular arts and traditions of the Cévennes... Finally, be sure to try regional products such as honey, cooked meats and Pélardon (a cheese made from unpasteurised goat's milk), as well as typical Cévennes dishes like Bajana, a traditional chestnut soup!