In the south-east of the Massif Central and the Auvergne, the Mézenc massif straddles 2 French départements: Ardèche and Haute-Loire. The scenery is quite different from one side to the other. On one side, high plains dotted with "sucs" (rounded peaks) and crossed by the upper reaches of the river Loire; on the other, deep valleys formed by the affluents of the river Rhône. Not far away, at the foot of the Gerbier de Jonc, is located the source of the river Loire.
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Originally the village was just a cluster of farms on the mountain, where farmers would go every spring with their herd. Then the village became a permanent settlement despite the altitude of 4,000 ft and the rigorous winter climate. The original huts were then replaced with large stone farms with stone roofs. Today the village has developed due to tourism and the
winter resort whilst keeping its authentic character.
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Hiking : several marked trails starting from Les Estables or its vicinity to discover the many natural sites of the Massif : Sources and gorges of the river Loire, Cirque of Les Boutières, Chaudeyrolles Narces, Ray-Pic waterfall, Saint-Front Lake, Lac Bleu lauzière...
Horseback and donkey back riding, Mountain bike, cycling (many small quiet roads, high plains, hills...), rock-climbing (numerous areas in the proximity), paragliding (school of paragliding), orienteering (permanent courses on Mézenc and on Lizieux), swimming (Issarlès lake, Saint-Martial lake, Gorges of Loire river...), fishing (many rivers : Gazeille, Gagne, Aubépin, Lignon, Loire, Eysse, Eyrieux...), canoeing and kayaking on the Loire river (bases of Aurec-sur-Loire, Retournac, Bas-en-Basset...) and on the Allier river (bases of Langeac, Monistrol d'Allier...).
Museums : Perrel Brothers Farm (cottage with thatched roof and eco-museum in Moudeyres),
Bourlatier farm,
eco-museum of Bigorre, house of
Fin-Gras du Mézenc(beef with AOC certification),
Wind school of Saint-Clément,
park of la Lauzière du Lac Bleu in Champclause,
museum of Popular Beliefs in Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille...
Historical sites : the town of Le Puy-en-Velay and its cathedral, a World Heritage Site, abbey of Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille (start of the Stevenson Trail), ruins of the Bonnefoy Carthusian Monastery, Polignac castle, Arlempdes castle...
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