Lozere, France
Self-catering Lozere holiday rental homes - Villas Lozere
Lozere is a department in southeast France and is named after Mont Lozere. It is part of the Languedoc-Roussillon region and covers four mountain ranges. Those of Aubrac, la Margeride, le Gevaudan and the Cevennes – which includes the highest point in the department, the granite Mont Lozere at 1,702m. Those who enjoy the outdoors will find staying in a Lozere holiday rental house or villa with pool, just irresistible!
The department also contains numerous rivers, above and below ground, including the Tarn, whose source is on Mont Lozere, which flows through the stunning Gorges du Tarn. Lozere is the least populated French department and its main activities are farming and tourism, even though there is poor soil quality, the hardy Aubrac is the most commonly farmed cattle breed here. The Cevennes National Park is also the second largest national park in France and is a walker's paradise. When renting a holiday rental property in Lozere, France - Cross-country skiing is available on Mont Aigoual in winter and horse riding in the summer.
Mende is the capital of Lozere and is situated on the river Lot. It doesn't take long to explore Mende when you rent a holiday home in Lozere. However, there are some unmissable attractions including the Cathedrale Notre Dame with its impressive stained glass windows and 14th century twin towers. Outside the cathedral you'll find charm in the narrow medieval streets and Renaissance houses.
The Castle of Florac located in the town of the same name is another attraction. It was rebuilt in 1652 after the religious wars. During the French Revolution, the castle was turned into a "salt loft" for storing salt. Since 1976, the castle has been the headquarters of the Cévennes National Park, who restored it. There is an exhibition on permanent display of the park too.
Lozere is considered one of the best areas in France for trout fishing. Rivers such as the Lot, Tarn and Truyère are particularly noted for their trout populations. Perhaps unsurprisingly Lozere is best known for its outdoor activities and its dramatic and unspoiled scenery. The south-west of the department contains a handful of exceptional natural scenic highlights, including the Gorges du Tarn, the deepest gorges in Europe. There are some picturesque villages as you travel along the Gorges du Tarn, including Castelbouc and Sainte-Enimie, Montbrun and Saint-Chely-du-Tarn.
Travelling to your Lozere holiday rental villa or house
By road: A75 from Clermont Ferrand then N88 to Mende; A9 from Montpellier then N106 to Mende. From Paris the journey time is 6 hours. By rail: Mende train station offers local services across the department. To reach Lozere travel by train from Paris Gare de Lyon, changing at Clermont Ferrand. Journey times are approximately 7 hours. By air: The Lozere’s nearest airports are in neighbouring departments. Rodez and Nimes both offer ample flights from the UK with Ryanair. Check for seasonal departures.