The south of France is famous for its rich colours, scents and textures, for breathtaking landscapes and for the quality of food and life. The Côte d’Azur, or French Riviera, has been internationally recognized for centuries for its Mediterranean culture and climate, and the gentle green backdrops of Provence have been the subject of countless books and films.
Close to these regions is one that is equally beautiful but relatively unknown. Few outside of France will have heard of the Cèze Cévennes, a collection of 23 communes at the foot of the Cévennes Mountains and clustered along the Cèze River. As the region is hard to access, with no rail connections through the mountains and far from its access points of Avignon or Nîmes, tourists largely pass it by. And the area straddles two of France’s poorest départements, or administrative regions – the Gard and the Ardèche – meaning a flat economy will little development or industry. But the Cèze Cévennes makes up for that with a wealth of hidden beauty: stone villages, mountain sunsets, crystal clear streams and rivers, numerous caves and gorges millions of years old, medieval castles and ruins dotting the hills amid corn and wheat fields. With the scents of sage, lavender and rosemary among the seasonal mistral, with prehistoric, Roman and Spanish architectural remnants and influences, the area is unique, little travelled and, at times, magical.
