La Garde-Guerin travel guide

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La-Garde-Guerin is a village in the Parc National de Cevennes, in the Lozère department of Languedoc-Roussillon, in the Massif Central and officially listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France.

Perched on a rocky plateau in a beautiful location, it is one of several small attractive villages to discover in the Cevennes National Parc. It is also a very isolated place, reached via an approach road along the scenic Gorges de Chassezac.

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France This Way review: when I visited it seemed almost like an abandoned village it was so quiet as if the inhabitants had left 500 years ago - only about 10 people now live in the village all year round - and nothing much had happened since. Small but perfectly formed, a visit to La Garde-Guerin is highly recommended.

Note that cars are not permitted in the village itself but there is a car park right next to the entrance.

quiet street

Poised high above the gorges, the fortified village of La-Garde-Guerin dates from the 12th century although the houses we see today date from the 16th century - more specifically the years from 1595 to 1597 when they were all rebuilt after damage suffered during the wars of religion.

You reach the historic centre of La Garde-Guerin via one of the two gates in the fortifications - the Porte du Rachas and the Porte Saint-Michel.

The fortified walls are still almost intact around the village and inside you will discover narrow, cobbled streets lined with sturdy medieval houses, the remains of a castle, and a small roman style church (the Church of Saint-Michel) that still preserves its original 12th century appearance.

 
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The fort and the watchtower was originally built for a local group of soldiers who protected important travellers and goods being transported in the region. In return for this protection travellers had to pay a toll to the soldiers.

Some historians describe the community as important protectors, while others refer to them as bandits. It was only after the revolution that the community of soldiers was disbanded.

There are various other features of interest in La Garde-Guerin including the lavoir, the bread ovens, an ancient stone cross at the entrance and lots of individual features on the stone houses (see the tourist information board at the entrance for details before you enter the village).

Within the village you can amble behind the castle for views across the Gorges de Chassezac while from the southern edge of the village you have views across to Mont Lozere.

ancient tower

Attractions nearby

After your visit to the village you can travel a few hundred metres further along the road for an even better view of the gorges from the belvedere. Several kilometres below La Garde-Guerin you will find a large lake where swimming is possible and has an alternative view up the gorges from below (from the barrage).

It would be true to say that this region is quiet and isolated and town and villages are quite along way apart: see Parc National de Cevennes for more highlights in the region.

Explore elsewhere in the Massif Central. You can find more travel ideas in the Lozere guide and the Languedoc-Roussillon guide.

See also: 

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Map of La Garde-Guerin and places nearby

 
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Visit near La Garde-Guerin with France This Way reviews

Naves

Naves

Stroll through the pretty village of Naves and you will see progressively more ancient houses disappearing back into the landscape

Naves guide
Le Pont de Montvert

Le Pont de Montvert

The village of Le Pont-de-Montvert is one of the prettiest villages in the Cevennes National Park, on the river Tarn

Le Pont de Montvert guide
Banne

Banne

The exceptional views from Banne are the highlight, and the streets of the small village and castle ruins are also highlights

Banne guide
Joyeuse

Joyeuse

Explore the castle and medieval centre of Joyeuse - then head to the river beach to cool down!

Joyeuse guide
Pradelles

Pradelles

Both the picturesque historic village centre and the lovely viwes make Pradelles a highlight in the Haute-Loire department

Pradelles guide
Thueyts

Thueyts

Thueyts is more 'renovated' than many of the Ardeche 'villages of character' and has lots of architectural highlights

Thueyts guide

... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Lozere

Address: Prévenchères, Villefort, Mende, Languedoc-Roussillon, 48800, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 44.5222, longitude 3.91028

Plan your visit to La Garde-Guerin, Lozere

Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby

  • Jardin du mas de l'Abri: remarkable garden (14 km)
  • Jardin du Tomple: remarkable garden (16 km)
  • Tanargue: site of natural beauty (17 km)
  • Mont Lozère: site of natural beauty (17 km)
  • Gorges du Gardon: grand site of france (27 km)
  • Bois de Païolive: site of natural beauty (27 km)
  • Pradelles: most beautiful village (28 km)
  • Grotte de la Cocaliere: site of natural beauty (31 km)
  • Balazuc: most beautiful village (37 km)
  • Monts d'Ardeche: regional natural parc (37 km)
  • Arlempdes: most beautiful village (38 km)
  • Cascade du Ray-Pic: site of natural beauty (39 km)

The French version of this page is at La Garde-Guerin (Francais)

 
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