Le Mas de l'Église and Le Mas Gibert d'Ardaillers

Park near the Mas de l'Église temple (two or three spaces available), or you can also use the small car park at Mas Gibert.

(S/E) Head towards the centre of Mas de l'Église and take the street that goes up to the right (no entry 12t). At the beautiful house with the "Miel d'Ardaillers" sign, follow the lane to the right. Ignore the path on the right.

(1) Ignore the staircase on the left, which you will take on the way back. Continue straight ahead on a lane that becomes a path for a round trip between old cultivated terraces. Then retrace your steps.

(1) Take the staircase on the right. At the fork, follow the lane on the right and, at the next intersection, walk a few metres to the right to pass in front of the beautiful fountain-wash house, then retrace your steps and continue straight ahead on the street. Turn onto the first lane on the right.

(2) Turn right again immediately afterwards to reach the main road. Follow it to the left, then go up the first lane on the left to return to the intersection you passed earlier.

(2) Turn right and continue straight ahead, passing the old Saint-Roch Church on your right. When you reach an intersection with a fountain, continue to the right and head back down towards the temple.

(S/E) Pass in front of it and follow the road towards Mas Gibert, enjoying the view. Continue to the first road on the right (no entry for vehicles over 12 tonnes), at an electrical transformer, at the entrance to the hamlet.

(3) Follow this street and, at the end, take the alley on the left which joins a narrow street. Follow it to the left, ignoring the alleys that branch off to the left and then to the right, and join the main street (alternative square/car park opposite, slightly to the left).

(4) Turn right onto the street. At the fork, take the road on the left towards Mas Miquel, then at the next fork, keep left to follow the road around a hairpin bend to the left. Ignore the road on the right and continue straight ahead to return to the farmhouse. At the end of the street, continue straight ahead on the lane, then follow the first lane on the left (^GR®®). At the next intersection, go a few metres to the right, then turn left to rejoin the main street at a beautiful fountain-wash house. Turn right onto the main street to leave the farmhouse.

(3) Then continue straight ahead, following the reverse route of the outward journey, to reach the temple of Mas de l'Église (S/E).

Very easy hike, no special equipment required.

(4) Alternative car park

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here and in Lozère here

Photo album here

In these hamlets, in the past:
Many houses are tall. The top two floors were reserved for silkworm breeding. Each family bought eggs in the spring and fed the larvae with huge quantities of mulberry leaves. The rooms had to be kept at a constant temperature and humidity, with fireplaces and tubs of water. After four stages of development, the larvae began the fifth and final stage by weaving a silk cocoon on heather cut and arranged for them in the rooms. The butterfly never emerged! The cocoons were transferred to one of the spinning mills in the region, where the larvae were smoked and the cocoons unravelled by the spinners. For these hamlets of Ardaillers, the spinning mill was located in Mazel. Several inhabitants of the hamlets walked there every day! In earlier times, the spinning mills housed the workers during the week.

Each inhabitant maintained terraces used for growing vegetables. Although many terraces are now neglected, others are still maintained, particularly for growing sweet onions (a regional speciality).

Chestnut trees, planted on the slopes wherever possible, provided a staple food source.

You will notice that the two beautiful wash houses are attached to a house wall. This was so as not to encroach too much on the narrow streets and obstruct the passage of flocks of sheep on their way to the summer pastures, which sometimes numbered several hundred animals!