The Cevennes are a range of mountains, at the southern end of the Massif Central, and covering areas in the departements of Gard, Haute-Loire, Ardeche and Lozere. The region is only home to a few small towns and villages, with the vast majority of visitors more interested in the spectacular natural scenery and the many outdoor activities on offer. Walking and mountain biking are the most popular, with the highest peaks in the Cevennes offering serious walkers some serious challengers. Water sports, like canoeing and even white water rafting, are possible on the region's many rivers, especially the fast-flowing Ardeche. It is worth trying to make your way to the top of at least one of the Cevennes mountains, even if you can't manage the 1,700 metre Mount Lozere, to appreciate the spectacular scenery.
Most of the tourist attractions within the Cevennes are the natural phenomena found amongst its peaks and valleys. The region is not just home to stunning scenery, but some unusual natural features too. These include the Paiolive wood, a mixture of regular forest and cliffs of petrified stone near Les Vans and the felsenmeer or block field near Nimes-le-Vieux. The rocks on this exposed area have been sculpted and shaped by erosion into unusual shapes over millennia, some of which have now been given names according to what they have come to resemble; the lion, the cooking pot and the amphitheatre, for example.
Near Les Bondons are two geological curiosities, the Truc de Miret and Truc des Bondons, conical buttes or hills made entirely of a local stone called black marl. Standing out from the surrounding undulating countryside, the two hills looked as if they have been shaped by hand, rather than created by the earth itself! Unsurprisingly in area like the Cevennes, there are dozens, probably hundreds, of caves to explore. Some are only suitable for those with caving experience, but many have become popular tourist attractions, like Aven Armand, which is large enough to fit Notre Dame cathedral inside, and Dargilan, also known as the pink cave because of the unusual effect of the shafts of light on the rock. Finally, Bramabiau is more of a subterranean canyon, complete with a river which can be tracked deep underground.
The most visited sites are the two gorges formed by the Tarn and Jonte rivers. Deep canyons with spectacular viewpoints, the canyons are also home to most of the region's extreme sports centres, offering activities like climbing, abseiling and white water rafting.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Cevennes? Then below is a selection of gites in Cevennes and villas in Cevennes that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
