Le Mas de Vezenobres
In the heart of the Cévennes National Park
The “Esprit Parc National” initiative invites you to discover the Cévennes through meaningful encounters with local people who are passionate about their heritage and way of life. At Le Mas de Vezenobres, every season offers a new opportunity to experience the National Park in an authentic and inspiring way.
Discover the natural and cultural Heritage of the Cevennes
From colourful gardens and remarkable caves to open-air art in a woodland setting, the Cévennes offer a rich blend of nature, culture, and discovery.
Reconnect with nature inwWide open spaces
Follow in the footsteps of Stevenson along legendary trails, explore the vast landscapes of the Causse Méjean, cycle through the Aigoual forest massif, or discover the highlands of Lozère by ski, snowshoe, or joëlette (all terrain wheelchair).
Local discoveries
Reconnect with nature through half-day or full-day experiences led by local guides, and discover the Cévennes through a gentle blend of natural observation, local knowledge, and cultural heritage. This is the spirit of an “Esprit Parc National” experience.
Local Products with a unique identity
Seasonal fruits and vegetables are grown responsibly within the National Park area, without chemicals, while respecting biodiversity and preserving natural water resources.
Cevennes National Park
Le Mas de Vezenobres: At the heart of a remarkable protected landscape
The Cévennes are shaped by breathtaking landscapes, exceptional biodiversity, abundant water sources, vast open spaces, and extensive forests, where a unique balance between people and nature has been preserved over generations. This remarkable heritage led to the territory being designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1985 and recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011 for its living agro-pastoral cultural landscape: “The Causses and the Cévennes – Mediterranean agro-pastoral cultural landscape.”
The exceptional quality of its night skies has also earned the Cévennes National Park recognition as the largest International Dark Sky Reserve in Europe and one of the four largest in the world (RICE, 2018).
Today, forests cover more than 2,000 km² of the Park, reflecting the diversity of its natural landscapes. They include deciduous species such as chestnut and beech, conifers such as fir, Scots pine, Austrian pine, and spruce, as well as mixed forests. Around three quarters of these forests are composed of native species, while the remaining areas include introduced conifer plantations.
Whether hiking, horse riding, cycling, travelling with a donkey, cross-country skiing, or trail running, visitors can experience the beauty of these landscapes, connect with the spirit of the Cévennes, and meet the people who proudly share their knowledge, traditions, and love for this unique region.
Cevennes National Park
The Cévennes National Park, an exceptional protected area
Recognised as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and home to the largest international dark sky reserve in Europe, the Cévennes National Park is an exceptional living territory where nature, culture, and human heritage are deeply interconnected.
Created in 1970, it is the largest national park in mainland France and the only mid-mountain national park. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it is a genuinely inhabited territory: villages, farms, and traditional activities continue to thrive within the Park, including its protected core.
From the Cévennes valleys and the granite landscapes of Mont Lozère, Bougès, Aigoual, and Lingas, to the vast limestone plateaus of the Causses and the spectacular Gorges du Tarn and de la Jonte, the Park reveals an extraordinary mosaic of landscapes. This remarkable diversity, shaped over centuries by both natural forces and human activity, supports exceptional biodiversity, with more than 2,400 animal species and over 2,300 flowering plant species.
The Cévennes National Park is also a land of history and memory, deeply marked by agro-pastoral traditions. For generations, farmers and livestock breeders have shaped these landscapes through their practices, preserving a unique relationship between people, animals, and nature. Today, this living heritage remains at the heart of the Park’s identity.
Cevennes National Park
Located in the south of the Massif Central, between the Atlantic and Mediterranean seas, the Cévennes National Park is a remarkable territory shaped by a diversity of landscapes and geographical areas.
Covering nearly 3,000 km², it is the largest national park in mainland France and the only one located in a mid-mountain environment. Unlike many protected areas, the Cévennes National Park is a living territory: its protected core, which represents around one third of the Park, is home to permanent communities and ongoing human activities. Stretching across 123 municipalities in Lozère, Gard, and the edge of Ardèche, it combines exceptional natural heritage, local traditions, and a strong connection between people and their environment.
The Cévennes National Park is shaped by the landscapes, traditions, and natural treasures that define its unique identity.
Cevennes National Park
They share their experience
Lived experiences, shared memories.
