Hiking Huguenots Trails

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Hiking Huguenots Trails is your chance to learn about the principal events, locations and personalities of the 18th century 'Camisard War' between the Protestant Huguenots and their Catholic opponents. This is unforgetable walking in France designed to remind us the senselessness of religious bigotry lest we forget.

Hiking the 'French Religious Wars' is an fascinating opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the Protestants who fought a short and bloody war for 'religious freedom' in The Cevennes mountains at the beginning of the 18th Century.

The Cevennes was the location for the world’s first guerilla war and resulting mass deportations. The fight for religious freedom from the centralising tendencies of the French Catholic State pitted the Royalist ‘Black Dragons’ of Louis XIV against the rebel ‘Camisards’ of Jean Cavalier. For some, the scars still remain and continue to mark life in the Cevennes.

This is one of a range of historical walking tours in France that has you hiking Cevennes hilltop trails, and visiting the monuments, sanctuaries and battlegrounds that made news all over Europe three hundred years ago.

Read our background article on the conflict here entitled, Walking with the Camisards

Read our article on The Cévennes.

Day 1. Alès.

Arrival and hotel check-in followed by urban walk around the Protestant stronghold in the Cevennes foothills.

Day 2. The Jouany Trail. Two options: 7 miles-10 kms or 10 miles-15 kms.

Short morning drive to Genolhac the town of Jouany, home and resting place of the Camisard Chief for The High Cevennes. Then hike a memorable Camisard trail, with the option to visit two villages with many a tale of persecution to tell.

Day 3. War Breaks Out. 7 miles-10.5 kms

The Abbot of Chaïla was assassinated at Pont de Monvert on July 24, 1702 marking the beginning of the war. Visit the location after a stimulating hike over hill, through vale and charming hamlet.

Day 4. The Battle of Chompdomergue.Options from 10 miles-15 kms.

Day 5. La Piéce de Résistance.8 miles-12kms.

A fine hike through Camisard Country culminates in a visit to one the key heritage sites of Cevennes culture, Mas-Soubeyran or Le Musée du Désert, home to ‘Roland’, leader of the Camisards.

Day 6. Sauve Falls. 6.5 miles–10kms.

On 27 December 1702, the Protestants took the town of Sauve. When you witness its size, you will start to understand the magnitude of the conflict.

Day 7. The Fight for Martignargues. 9.5 miles–15 kms.

On 14 March 1704, The Camisards won a crushing victory here over the crème de la crème of Royal troops. This visit is just part of a splendid hike.

Day 8. The Conflict Ends.

And so does some memorable hiking in France! Au revoir et à bientôt.

Notes:
1. As part of our policy of continual review and improvement, we reserve the right to make alterations to our walking tours in France.
2. All of our hiking tours in France give you the option to use your own car at a discounted rate.

3. Accommodations

You stay in five different hotels/accommodations of a two-star standard en route in order to reduce driving time to a minimum. Walks then start and finish from your hotel, or after a short drive in your car, for greater convenience.

These are your five overnight stops:
1. Alès - one night;
2. Génolhac area - one night;
3. Pont-de-Montvert - one night;
4. Anduze area - two nights;
5. Vézénobres area - two nights.

4. What's Included

• 7 nights B & B in five different family-run, character hotels/chambre-d'hotes, incl. hotel taxes -
  leaving you free to purchase your meals according to your personal preferences and budget:
  relevant information is available in your dossier;
• One week’s small car hire;
• Tailored walks to suit your needs and capacity;
• Walking France Insight Notes™ that make orientation simple;
• Themed vacation dossier;
• Comprehensive travel notes & logistical information;
• Cultural ‘What’s on’ information;
• Emergency telephone help-line service by local British nationals.

Click to go to Booking and Costs