While there are few large towns in the departement of Lozere, located in the southern region of Languedoc-Rousillon, there are still plenty of interesting attractions in this area of wild natural beauty. If you enjoy outdoor activities, or just enjoy unusual and impressive scenery, then you will be spoilt for choice in this area, nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains. Though it is located only 100 kilometres away from the holiday resorts of the Mediterranean, you could be in a different country in the peace and quiet of Lozere – indeed, the area is often referred to as the “Scotland of France”. Not only because of the landscape's similarity to the Scottish Highlands, but because the Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson used to enjoy travelling here.
There are hundreds of kilometres of walking, cycling and even horse riding trails crossing the hills, mountains and valleys of Lozere. There is even a medieval route that you can take, on foot, following the ancient pilgrim's trail that would eventually lead you all the way to the religious Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela. It will take you about three days to walk the stretch of this famous route that is within Lozere, and there are several places to stay en route if you want to take up the challenge. Another more recent and unconventional route that you can follow is that taken by Stevenson when he travelled through Lozere with his donkey. There are even places where you can hire your own donkey to carry your baggage for you, as the great writer did! This route takes you through some of the most beautiful parts of the Cevennes National Park, so it is worth following it, if only for a few hours.
For those who prefer something more active than hiking, many of the trails are also suitable for mountain bikes, and some of those at lower altitude can be tackled by horses from one of the local equestrian centres. These centres often insist that you go on one of their organised trips into the countryside, and this is the best way to guarantee that you see the best sights and don't get lost.
The Tarn Gorges in the higher mountains of Lozere are a collection of steep, high canyons that offer fantastic views over the region. The rivers in the canyons themselves are also ideal for water sports like kayaking, fishing and even white water rafting, at the right time of year. There are also some walking and cycling trails either along the riverbank or on the canyon edge, but prepared for some steep climbs up and down along the way.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Lozere? Then below is a selection of gites in Lozere and villas in Lozere 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.
