Villefort Lake

Description

A pretty discovery walk around the artificial lake, which was filled in 1964. Explore its history, hydroelectric dam, drowned village, water activities and fish farm. On this walk around the lake you will constantly move between the past and the present. Deep in the Cévenol valleys, you can discover the work of the hardy locals of the twentieth century. The clèdes (chestnut drying buildings) and bancels (crop terraces) bear witness to it. The oath crosses the dam, which was inaugurated in 1964, drowning the village of Bayard. Signposts will guide you all along this route. In the description below, the signposted place names and/or directions are given in bold italics between quotation marks : From “Lac de Villefort”, walk to : - “Promontoire du lac”, - “Pisciculture”, - “Rond Point du Lac”, - “Chapelle Saint Loup”. At “Chapelle Saint Loup”, optional detour (there-and-back) to the chapel (views, crucifix) on the Way of the Cross. From “Chapelle Saint Loup”, return to “Lac de Villefort”. This hike is taken from the guidebook Mont Lozère - Pays des sources de la Margeride au lac de Villefort en Cévennes published by the Pôle de pleine nature du Mont Lozère.

Difficulty

Official rating: easy, by Parc national des Cévennes.

Before you go

• Make sure your equipment is appropriate for the day’s weather conditions. Remember that the weather changes quickly in the mountains. Take enough water, wear sturdy shoes and put on a hat. Please close any gates and barriers behind you.

Getting there

Start: Lac de Villefort, Villefort (48).

Sources

• Track: Parc national des Cévennes, Licence Ouverte 1.0, Licence Ouverte 1.0 (Etalab) (destination.cevennes-parcnational.fr/trek/95013-Lac-de-Villefort). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
• Official elevation gain: 320 m, Parc national des Cévennes