Explore the Lozère
Mende, a town full of surprises.
Mende is at the crossroads of a number of very different regions and traditions.
A traveller stopping in the small, rural town of Mende can appreciate the beauty of its historic centre and the splendour of its flamboyant Gothic cathedral, as well as the quality of provincial town life.
The nearby Causse de Mende is where the majority of outdoor activities take place.
From Mende you can explore the Gorges du Tarn, Aubrac, the Cévennes, and the Margeride. Each of these great unspoiled regions is completely different and splendidly impressive.
Lozère, the wild countryside of southern France
The Lozère is the very special region south of the Massif Central, at the crossroads between Clermont-Ferrand and Montpellier, Toulouse and Lyon.
The départment and region are largely mountainous, with an average altitude of 1,000 metres.
Fascinating fact: Although there are no alpine peaks, the Pic Finiels, at 1,699 m is the highest pint, the Pic Cassini: is 1,605 m high and Mont Aigoual culminates at 1565 metres. The Lozère has the highest average altitude in France. This is mainly due to the high plateaux of the Aubrac and the Margeride in the north.
The Lozère has a very small population, on average about 14 inhabitants per square km. in 2016 (compared with 118 in France as a whole and 269 in the UK*).
The low population density has allowed the area to protect its extraordinary landscape.
The varied fauna and flora of our region are our greatest assets.
The Lozère remains a rugged, little urbanised country and, due to its spectacular diversity, has the largest number of hiking trails in France. It is one of the most popular destinations for nature lovers.
The listing of the Causses and Cévennes as a UNESCO World Heritage site only confirms how special our region is, and highlights our duty to protect and appreciate it.
* Source: French Statistical Authority Insee