Mende
Mende
Gévaudan wolf park
Start with Saint-Privat Cathedral founded by the region's very own Pope Urban V. Go up the 70m belltower with a guide from Mende Tourist Information: the views are incredible.
Seek out beautiful mansions nestled in the old town's lanes and squares: gaze at their fabulous doorways and stock up on the city's signature "croquants"(almond sablé biscuits).
Continue to the banks of the Lot and soak up Notre-Dame Bridge that has spanned the river since the Middle Ages.
Mende
Head to Mende in Cœur de Lozère, Grand Site Occitanie, to discover some top tips from Nadia, director of the Gévaudan museum.
Worth the detour
Fork onto the D25 in Mende to climb up the Causse's terrible "Jalabert Ascent", a tribute to the cycling champion. Here you'll find an aerodrome which starred in the final scene of French comedy La Grande Vadrouille.
Mende is a prime destination for bike tourism and mountain cycling ranging from family-friendly to sporty.
You'll also love walking or horse riding on the hiking trails, motorcycling on the local roads or driving to visit Mende's nearby villages with character: Javols, Roman village; Marvejols, royal village on the edge of Aubrac; Châteauneuf de Randon, the fief of Du Guesclin, Chanac and its keep etc.
The lake of Charpal
Our favourite
Charpal Lake in the Margeride uplands supplies pure water to the city of Mende 40 mins away. A 9km trail runs around it. It's the biggest no-kill fishing site in France. You can fish for pike among others here.
Mende is at the core of everything that makes Lozère magical: its 4 natural regions. They each have their very own signature personalities and are partly listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites (the Causses and Cévennes). Step into the kingdom of the Cévennes National Park in the south. From the top of the Grands Causses, gaze at the Gorges du Tarn and Gorges de la Jonte. Aubrac in the north-west will make you feel like you're in Scotland. Explore the north-east's secret and unspoilt Margeride with its hills and heaths.
The waterfall of Déroc
Travel by train
Discover Mende by train with the Occitanie Rail Tour, on the Lozère line from
Was a mystical creature actually a big wolf? We haven't forgotten the tale of the Beast of Gévaudan that scared the whole of France in the 18th century.
Come to its native land and see the wolves living at the Loups du Gévaudan wildlife park in real life (and total safety) in Saint-Léger-de-Peyre (40 mins from Mende).
Combi ticket available with the fabulous Bisons d’Europe wildlife park in Sainte-Eulalie (1 hr from Mende): visit by carriage in summer and sled in winter.
The Gévaudan wolf park
Vallon du Villaret
Head towards Bagnols-les-Bains then Vallon du Villaret 25 mins from Mende. Whether you're sporty or allergic to exercise, you're going to love this theme park. Rope bridges, mysterious caves to make music with balls, watery fun with slides... the attractions at this one-of-a-kind French sitewere designed by graphic artists, poets and musicians. Everyone loves this park in the middle of the forest at the bottom of an old keep. A train and taxi ride from Mende.
Regional Committee for Tourism and Leisure Occitanie
Others websites
How to get there?
Mende is the capital of Lozère north east of Occitania
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