Holiday apartment in Bonnevaux: Hiking, culture and Cévenol villages

In Bonnevaux, the fauna and flora have been preserved; chestnut groves cover most of the municipality. The village landscape features the Romanesque Church of Saint Théodorit and the hamlet of Nojaret, with its Cévenol architectural forms. The paths through Bonnevaux lead through the village, through hamlets and across the plateau.

Hiking with elevation and distant views

The difficult circular hike “Les drailles perdues” is 11.6 kilometres long and includes 575 metres of ascent and 575 metres of descent. It starts and ends in Bonnevaux. There is a car park for access at the entrance to Bonnevaux on the route de la Devèze. The route offers views of Mont Lozère, the Monts du Vivarais, the Rhône Valley and Mont Ventoux. At this length and with this elevation profile, maintaining a steady pace and scheduling breaks are part of personal day planning. The return to Bonnevaux is part of the circular route and should be taken into account when planning the day.

The first stage of the GR® de Pays Haute Vallée de la Cèze also crosses the Bonnevaux plateau, running there at an altitude of more than 900 metres. A section of “La Garde de Dieu” to the Menhir de Cessenades also follows “Les drailles perdues”. For the stage across the plateau, the altitude of more than 900 metres is a practical consideration for personal preparation.

Cévenol villages and historical details

The “Hameaux de Bonnevaux” hike initially leads through the village to the Croix de Nojaret. It then continues through typically Cévenol villages and hamlets away from motorised traffic. Nojaret itself is a hamlet of Bonnevaux with Cévenol architecture. Stone houses, courtyards and outbuildings stand there alongside a fountain, a livestock watering trough and a béal. The route thus leads from the village section to the Croix de Nojaret and onwards through rural settlements, without motorised traffic determining the path.

Romanesque Church of Saint Théodorit

The Church of Saint Théodorit is also part of the village landscape. The Romanesque building dates from the 11th century; its nave is made of slate stone and its pillars of sandstone. The church has a comb bell tower and is decorated on the outside with eleven carved heads. Slate stone and sandstone belong to different parts of the same Romanesque building, while the comb bell tower and carved heads complement its external appearance.

Music, theatre and singing

L’Été de Bonnevaux takes place at the Petit théâtre de pierre at Col du Péras. The programme brings together music, theatre, clowning and singing. The programme is not limited to a single form of expression: music and theatre are complemented by clowning and singing. For those interested in culture, architectural history and the stage programme stand alongside the hiking trails.

Further destinations

Issirac, Saint-Césaire-De-Gauzignan, Lussan, Saint-Clément, Gaujac, Aiguèze, Saint-André-De-Roquepertuis and Saint-Paul-La-Coste.

For the higher-level travel overview: Gard.