Haven for Languedoc life
Lozere is a haven for those wanting a Languedoc life, without the massive tourism nearer the coastline. It is France’s least populated department and is about as close as you can get to traditional French living. Lozere is the most northerly department of the Languedoc Roussillon and its population is around 130,000. It was the setting for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Travels with a donkey.
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The Capital
Mende, a quiet town on the banks of the River Lot, is the capital of Lozere. The town is compact and is well worth exploring on foot. The Tourist Information office will provide you with a detailed guide to all the historical sights the town has to offer.
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The Lot Valley
The Lot Valley is another great place to visit. Here you will find a number of vineyards that were originally constructed by the English in the hundred years war. The wines produced from these have been the favourites of Kings and Popes over the ages.
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The Gorges du Tarn
The Gorges du Tarn is another marvellous natural attraction. Public transport here is virtually non-existent - so travelling by car is the most convenient choice. There are two towns located around the Gorges du Tarn. One is La Malene and the other is the medieval town of Saint-Enimie. The latter makes the best base for canoeing and hiking.
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The Parc du Gevaudan
The Parc du Gevaudan is situated in the north of Lozere and was created by a local enthusiast with a curious interest in wolves. The park is home to around 100 of these creatures, which once roamed wild through the forests of Lozere.
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Chateauneuf-de-Randon
Also in the North of the department you will come across the town of Chateauneuf-de-Randon. In 1380 this was the setting for one of the battles in the hundred years war. The town has a typical French village feel to it and is very unaffected by tourism. This means that you'll probably have the fabulous views over the Margeride plateau all to yourself.
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How to Get There
Lozere is unspoilt by tourism. One slight drawback is that getting to Lozere is a little difficult. The nearest airports for flying direct from the UK are in Rodez and Nimes. There is also a much larger airport in Montpellier. This should give you plenty of scope to shop around for the best deals. Alternatively, France’s fast and comfortable TGV train service operates from Calais to Paris and Paris to Nimes.
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What about Lozere property prices and availability?
Generally, the Languedoc-Roussillon is a very expensive place in which to buy property. Lozere, being considerably more inland and overlooked, has a number of great properties at low prices.
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