Cévennes National Park is a French national park located in Southern France, in the mountainous area of Cévennes.
Created in 1970, the park has its administrative seat in Florac at Florac Castle. It is located mainly in the departments of Lozère and Gard; it also covers some parts of Ardèche and Aveyron, therefore stretching across a record number of departments for a national park. The Aven Armand cave is located in the park. In 2011, the Park was made a part of The Causses and the Cévennes, Mediterranean agro-pastoral Cultural Landscape UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Getting there
The national park is not one of the most accessible parks in France. The closest major cities are Montpellier, Toulouse and Marseille. The easiest way to reach the park is to drive from one of these cities.
When to visit
The national park is most popular during the warmer months. This allows for the most activities offered by the park. Skiing is popular during winter and there are several ski resorts within the park.
Map of Cévennes National Park
Image gallery of Cévennes National Park
Visitor/Information centres in Cévennes National Park
Most national parks have an associated visitor centre to help visitors. They are usually open most of the year but some close in the off-season. You will often be able to find information on all the activities in the national park. A visit to the visitor centre is often recommended before venturing into the park.
Wildlife in Cévennes National Park
These sections shows you some of the characteristic wildlife to the national park.
Mushroom hunting in Cévennes National Park
There are not much information to be found on mushroom hunting in Cévennes National Park. Be sure to speak to the local authorities about your plans and they should be able to guide you.
Mushroom hunting is very popular in France and the local enjoy this activity all over the country during late summer and fall. Mushrooms always belong to the owner of the land. You should therefore make sure to know the property you are planning to forage on.
You should always remember to respect the following rules when foraging in France:
Camping rules in Cévennes National Park
The laws on wild camping in France is somewhat of a grey area. You are allowed to camp with the permission of the landowner or a tenant of the land. The rules in national parks are more restrictive and you should generally not wild camp within the park borders. You can always explain your plans to the local authorities and get advice on where and how to camp.
Bears in Cévennes National Park
No bears in the park
This national park has no bears and you do not need to take precautions.
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