Other Activities (Cliquez ici pour lire cette page en français)
You
could come to Lozère to simply to enjoy the magnificent countryside,
(for example on the
Little Train of the Gorges de l'Allier), but numerous activities are
also available. Many
sporting activities relate to the mountain landscape while other
activities are concerned with animal conservation or the
rural life of the people who live here.
The local tourist offices of Langogne and Mende will provide further information.
Animal Conservation Parks
There are several kinds of animal parks in Lozère, often combining conservation of endangered species with fund-raising tourism.
The Wolves of Gévaudan
In
case you hadn’t heard, legend has it that, in the 19th
century, a mysterious wolf-like creature roamed through this
countryside, (then called Gévaudan) for almost 3
years, slaughtering animals and killing people.
The animal became legendary and is referred to as
the "Beast of Gévaudan". There are no wild wolves today in Lozère, but
in the
Loups du Gévaudan Animal Park you can observe four species of
wolves – Canadian, Mongolian, Siberian and Polish. From mid July to mid
August you also have the unusual opportunity to visit the reserve between 10.30 and 11.30 at night, when, with a guide, you can observe
the wolves’ nocturnal movements. This visit terminates with all guests
"howling" out loud with the wolves!
The Bisons of Europe
The
bison roamed through European forests from pre-historic times till the
Middle Ages when it became almost extinct. Only a small herd survived
till modern times, in Poland. Fearing that, if ever
there were an outbreak of disease, the European bison would be
wiped out completely, an additional reserve was sought in another part
of Europe. Lozère provided the perfect climate
and hence the
Bisons of Europe park came into existence.
The guided tour of the park is conducted in a horse-drawn carriage,
which is not only charming but safe, too.
The Przewalski Horses
The
Przewalski horse is the last surviving wild horse in the world, but
only 1000 remain and all are kept in semi captivity at the moment. The
conservation project on the Causse Méjéan is an attempt to encourage
breeding in semi-captivity with the ultimate aim of re-introducing these
horses back into the complete wild in their native Mongolia. There are
no guided tours but if you are visiting the Gorge du Tarn area, stopping
to watch these small, prehistoric horses running freely over the Causse
is a very beautiful sight.
Sports
Water Sports
Within
walking distance, (15 minutes on foot) is the beautiful
Lac de Naussac,
with sailing, windsurfing and swimming, plus
mountain bike
trails. The
Lac d’Issarlès (½ hour drive) and le
Lac du Bouchet ((½ hour drive) also have
non motorised sailing, as
both are considerably smaller than the Lac de Naussac.
Canoeing and white-water rafting are available in the Gorges de l'Allier
, about an hour's drive away. Further afield, in the Gorges du Tarn and the Gorges de l'Ardèche, you can hire a canoe for one or several days.Fishing
Lozère, crossed by the rivers Lot, Allier, Tarn, Truyère, Bès, and Jonte offers 2 800 kilometres of exceptional fishing making it one of the finest departments in all France for this sport. And,
what's more, the rivers are unpolluted and crystal clear. The flourishing lichen you see here everywhere on the trees bears witness to the purity of the air and the absence of pollution. A professional fishing guide can be hired to take you to the choicest spots. Otherwise you can take your pick from the numerous rivers around or go no further than our own stretch of the Langouyrou at Villa les Roches, where you can fish for wild fario trout. Holiday-makers fishing permits are available locally for 35 euros which entitles you to 15 consecutive days of fishing. Click here for more details in English.
Caving,
Canyoning and Climbing
There are opportunites canyoning and climbing in the Gorges du Chassezac (1/2 hour away) and for caving and climbing in the Gorges du Tarn There are also local guides who can accompany you on caving or climbing expeditions. Caving, canyoning and climbing are also available in Ardèche,
Rural Life
Discovering Historic Villages
For those who enjoy wandering through historic villages, there are 6 villages within easy travelling distance of Villa les Roches that are listed among the Most Beautiful Villages in France. These are Pradelles, (10 mins drive), Arlempdes, (20 mins drive), La Garde Guérin, ( half an hour's drive), Ste. Enimie, (2 hours away), Vogüé and Balazuc, (both about 2 hours away). In addition, there are numerous other charming rural villages to see.
Markets and Antique Fairs
Markets are held in Langogne every Saturday morning and in summer on Tuesday mornings too. There are numerous antique fairs (foires à la brocante), attic clearances, (vide-greniers) and shop clearance markets (braderies) in and around Langogne and if you'd like to see if any coincide with your visit, you could consult the Brocabrac site, which is constantly updated.
Fêtes
&
Festivals
You might be tempted to think that, tucked away in this mid-mountain area, not much goes on. Wrong!! The summer brings a constant round of festivities in which you are cordially invited to participate – indeed, if you do, the locals will be delighted to proudly share their local traditions with you!
Fairs & Festivals in & Around Langogne
On
22nd June 2008, Langogne
celebrates the glory of the yellow broom (genet), with
La Foire du Genet.
At that time of year, the mountainsides are ablaze with the sweet-smelling, yellow blossom. If you'd like to tuck into a meal with the locals,
email the Langogne Tourist Office to book.
Office de
Tourisme
The
14th July is Bastille day
and is celebrated in Langogne with an excellent firework display and
dancing in the streets.
Between the 21st and 27th July 2008, Langogne will host its 7th International Folk Festival, with first-rate performers from all over the world. The performances are held every evening, outside, in the square beside the church.
Langogne Annual Town Festival
In
summer each village in the area has its own annual fair.
The
Langogne
Town Festival
will be held between
the 3rd and 7th
August
2008 and will include a
carnival procession, (the big theme for 2008 is the celebration of the
130th anniversary of Robert Louis Stevenson’s journey through
this region – so, all Scots cordially invited!!), open air concerts
(the
Festiv’Allier),
markets, a
giant, communal
meal
of traditional Aligot followed by a fireworks
display.
Festivals in Chastanier
The nearby village of Chastanier has a particularly active programme of fairs. Not to be missed, if are lucky enough to be here at the time, is the Grand Accordion Gala, (1st August 2008) with a dinner and dance in the evening. Everyone welcome!
Bread Festival, Chastanier
The
Chastanier Bread Festival on the 19th
and 20th July 2008 will really immerse you in local
traditions. Here, you can
watch how Henry, the baker, uses ancestral bread-making techniques to
fashion the dough, ignite the wood fire in the village bread oven and
bring it to just the right temperature before he pops in the loaves.
Then comes the divine smell of baking bread and, finally – best of all -
when the loaves have cooled a bit - he’ll offer you a freshly baked
chunk to sample! There are also attic clearance and craft sales
and, in the evening you will be invited to join the locals for a grill
and fries while watching an entertaining performance or two.
Wool Spinning Mill
Right
on our doorstep, in the town of Langogne, is the
Musée des Calquières, a water-driven spinning mill which
demonstrates how wool from mountain sheep was traditionally spun here,
in Lozère.
A visit to the nearby Toison d'Or farm is an opportunity to see wool providing animals such as llamas, alpacas, goats and rabbits.
Today, however, you are more likely to see cattle grazing on the hillsides than sheep as cattle production has laregly replaced sheep farming in this region.
Rural Theatre
You may not expect to find a theatre tucked away in a tiny mountain village, but YES, there is one! Just a 10 minute drive from Villa les Roches, in the village of St Flour de Mercoire, you will find a simply charming little theatre called Arentelle. Going to one of the excellent performances would make a delightful evening out during a stay at Les Roches. There is a wonderfully intimate atmosphere and, after the performance, you get to meet the actors over home-made cakes and a glass of wine! Click here to consult the programme of performances (in French).