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.

Located in the heart of the former province of Gévaudan, near Marvejols, St. Lucia, in the municipality of Saint-Léger-de-Peyre, the Gevaudan wolf park together on a wooded area of ​​several hectares, more 130 wolves playing in semi-freedom, from Mongolia, Poland, Canada and Siberia.

The guided tour of the park with a specialist, the promenade along the route dotted with viewing areas and the museum exhibition rooms, enhance awareness wolf, now a protected species and rehabilitate the image of this animal misunderstood much maligned in stories and legends.

The Park is temporarily closed until early April 2020 for expansion and development work in order to facilitate access.

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!

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!

Known as the little Venice of Lozère, La Canourgue is perfect for a leisurely stroll, with its typical houses and many canals fed by the waters of the River Urugne, which give it an undeniable charm. A very pleasant village with lots of architectural features to see: Renaissance dwellings, timber-framed houses from the 14th century, the Clock Tower and the Collegiate Church of St. Martin, dating from the 12th century.

At an altitude of over 1,000 metres, at the border between the three regions of Midi-Pyrénées, Languedoc-Roussillon and Auvergne, and the three departments of Aveyron, Cantal and Lozère, Aubrac is a land of rest and relaxation. It's a vast granite and basalt plateau full of splendid scenery dotted with high-altitude meadows, moors, rivers and lakes.

The wild open spaces are scattered with typical mountain chalets with tilestone roofs, where shepherds used to take shelter, and pastures surrounded by picturesque dry stone walls where the pretty Aubrac cows graze. Their milk is used to make the famous Tomme cheese, which is used to produce aligot, a local cheese, potato and garlic dish. So many magical places to enjoy on a hike or horse ride...

In the department of Lozère, Lozèrian Aubrac has some beautiful sights in store, such as the village of Nasbinals on the Way of St. James, with its magnificent Romanesque church; the lake route, dotted with wonderful sites such as the Saint-Andéol and Souverols lakes (both of glacial origin), and the Déroc waterfall, 32 metres high!

Don't miss the House of Aubrac in Saint-Chély-d'Aubrac, Aveyron, which presents the heritage treasures of the region in a variety of different spaces. In a haven of peace, you'll also find the Dômerie d'Aubrac, an old hospital and refuge for pilgrims on the Way of St James.

When it's time to eat, a number of farm inns and restaurants offer specialities from the Aubrac Plateau: aligot, truffade (potato pancake), tripe, cooked meats, Aubrac free-range beef, fouace (brioche with orange blossom)...

Every year in late spring, on the last Sunday in May, the Transhumance Festival takes place. This is a colourful, lively event during which herds of cows adorned with flags, bells and flowers head to the high pastures for the summer... At the end, the best herd is given an award by a jury. Aligot, a gastronomic speciality from the high plateaux of Aubrac, is prepared to celebrate this event.

In the heights of Sainte-Enimie, bordering the Causse Sauveterre, at an altitude of 975 metres, the departmental farm of Les Boissets is home to an interpretation centre for the Causses and gorges. Overlooking the Tarn Gorges, this hamlet, typical of the architecture of the Causses and consisting of several buildings restored by the General Council of Lozère, is surrounded by 300 hectares of moors and forests. Along an educational trail, set off to discover its various themed houses, with displays on the geology, flora, fauna, architecture or agropastoral activities of the Causses area.

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!

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...

In the south-west of Lozère, between the Causse Méjean and Causse Sauveterre (limestone plateaus), the River Tarn emerges at Mont Lozère and runs down the slopes of the Cévennes before crossing 53 kilometres of spectacular landscapes - between Quézac and Le Rozier - dotted with remarkable sites and amazing views! Dizzying limestone cliffs as tall as 500 metres, the course of the Tarn with its alternating calm waters (planiols) and rapids (rajols), blockfields and wild cirques, as well as castles, Romanesque churches, typical villages and hamlets are all among the wonderful sights that have made this unspoilt area famous.

There are many ways to admire the gems of the Tarn Gorges: by car, motorbike or bicycle along the D907 bis; by foot along the trail that runs along the left bank; or by canoe-kayak on the waters of the Tarn - strongly recommended! - departing from Sainte-Enimie or La Malène. As well as the impressive rock faces that overlook the emerald river, along the way you can see unique sites such as the medieval bridge in Quézac, the troglodytic village of Castelbouc, Prades Castle on its rocky spur overlooking the Tarn; the little town of Sainte-Enimie, listed among the most beautiful villages of France; the cirques of Saint-Chély and Pougnadoires; the romantic 15th-century Caze Castle; the picturesque village of La Malène and its manor, at the foot of the Barre rock; the Détroits, the narrowest part of the canyon, accessible by raft or canoe from La Malène; Les Baumes cirque... As well as these sightseeing destinations, you'll find superb belvederes with plunging views of the Tarn, like the listed site of Point Sublime, on the Causse Sauveterre, and Les Hourtous rock, on the Causse Méjean. There's plenty for lovers of wild countryside and typical heritage buildings!

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!

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!

The capital of Aveyronnais Aubrac, the village of Laguiole is famous for its prestigious top-of-the-range knives, made by hand since 1829. The Laguiole knife can be recognised by its small forged bee logo, and the addition of its famous signature is a guarantee of authenticity. There are over forty successive stages in the knife-making process.

To find out more, head to the Laguiole Museum, where you can learn all about the history of the famous knife, see a collection of old Laguioles and learn about the blacksmith's work.

At the heart of the Causse Méjean, near to Meyrueis in the commune of Hures-la-Parade, the Aven Armand cave, discovered in 1897 by Louis Armand, Martel's second-in-command, has a forest of over 400 stalagmites in its immense underground chamber! This exceptional group includes the Grand Stalagmite, which stands 30 metres tall and is the biggest known stalagmite in the world today!

Shortly before the Eiffel Tower was built, the visionary Gustave Eiffel worked with engineer Léon Boyer between 1880 and 1884 to create an elegant and daring metal structure over the Truyère gorges, in Cantal. Considered at the time to be not just one of the world's most beautiful structures but also a technical and architectural feat, the Garabit Viaduct, between Loubaresse and Ruynes-en-Margeride, is still admired today!

Now a listed Historic Monument belonging to the network of Remarkable Bridges of the South of France, this impressive 565-metre-long railway viaduct can be seen from afar, in particular due to its red colour and superb lighting at nightfall.

Boat rides on the Grandval Dam lake, at the heart of the Truyère gorges, depart from the Garabit site.

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!

Located in Saint-Léons in Aveyron, Micropolis is a leisure park dedicated to the world of insects and biodiversity. Discover more than 70 living species in a fun, interactive way by following an indoor trail through fifteen exhibition rooms. From the butterfly house to the giant anthill, through the hives and vivariums, explore the fascinating world of infinitely small creatures!

At the heart of the Grands Causses region, on the Lozère-Aveyron border between Causse Méjean and Causse Noir, the River Jonte springs forth in the Mont Aigoual massif and runs through a region that's both wild and spectacular. Between Meyrueis and Le Rozier, follow the gorges road, a superb itinerary of around twenty kilometres, dotted with picturesque hamlets like Le Truel and La Caze, and overlooked by a multitude of cliffs and limestone dolomite rocks. An impressive canyon, whose countless cavities are a favourite spot for griffon vultures, a protected species reintroduced to this area in the 1980s. You can sit and watch them from the belvedere at the Vulture House in Saint-Pierre-des-Tripiers...

On the activities side of things, fans of outdoor pursuits can choose from rock climbing, fishing and hiking!

The Nîmes-le-Vieux blockfield, a ruin-like site at the heart of the Cévennes National Park in the north-eastern part of Causse Méjean near Fraissinet-de-Fourques and Perjuret Pass, forms an unusual landscape with its strangely shaped, fantastical dolomite rocks, sculpted by erosion for several thousands of years. Between L'Hom and Gally, a 4.5 km educational trail dotted with interpretation signs invites you to discover the wonders of this mysterious territory!

As well as the walks, you can also see a geological exhibition about the Causse in the hamlet of Veygalier.

At the heart of the Causse Noir, in the Grands Causses Regional Nature Park in Aveyron, in the commune of La Roque-Sainte-Marguerite, lies the biggest blockfield in Europe: Montpellier-le-Vieux blockfield, a grand and unusual natural site, whose landscape of countless ruiniform dolomitic rocks offers a fantastical world...

Five signposted walks, from 1 to 3 hours' duration, are a great way to discover this superb place, which is accessible in spring, summer and autumn. Let your imagination run free as you admire the mysterious, differently shaped rocks.

At Montpellier-le-Vieux natural leisure park, you can also enjoy a ride in the little train, for those who want to see the thousand-year-old blockfield without too much effort... More intrepid visitors can try their hand at via ferrata, a unique activity which starts out underground, then carries on in the air!