77 km Bike Circuit from L'Etoile Guesthouse in La Bastide-Puylaurent in Lozère

Take the D6 road along the Allier River, passing through Masméjean, the Château de Chabaleyret, Chabalier, Chasseradès, Mirandol, and Chazeaux. Turn right onto the D71 toward Saint-Flour-de-Mercoire, crossing the Mercoire forest and passing the Mercoire abbey, Cheylard-l’Évêque, Laubarnes, Les Huttes, and L’Herm. In Saint-Flour, turn right toward the cemetery and the old Moulin de Saint-Flour; follow this small road to the statue of Sainte Germaine and the Domaine des Choisinets. Turn left toward Langogne, then merge onto the D326, followed by the D392, to reach Le Plagnal via L’Hermet-Chabalier and Saint-Alban-en-Montagne. Turn right onto the D292 toward Chaze-Neuve and Cellier-du-Luc, then follow the D192 to Luc. Turn left onto the D906 for 1.7 km before turning left again onto the D76. Cross the Pranlac bridge, then continue on the D154 to Rogleton via Laveyrune. Finally, turn left onto the D906 to return to La Bastide-Puylaurent.

Distance: 77 km
Maximum altitude: 1,365 m
Minimum altitude: 902 m
Total elevation gain: 1,215 m

IGN Maps: Largentière, La Bastide-Puylaurent, Vivarais Cévenol (2838OT). Le Bleymard, La Bastide-Puylaurent (2738SB). Langogne, Grandrieu (2737SB).

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The Mercoire Abbey, founded in the 12th century through a generous donation by Guillaume de Randon, rapidly expanded its influence and domain. Originally linked to the Abbey of Mazan, it thrived on agricultural activities and the patronage of the Randon family, housing up to fifty nuns and fifteen noble novices at its peak. However, the centuries that followed brought steady decline. In the 16th century, the devastating Wars of Religion saw the abbey ravaged by the Huguenot forces of Captain Matthieu Merle. Although partially rebuilt in the 17th century, it suffered a catastrophic fire in 1773. Following the French Revolution, the remaining nuns were expelled, and the abbey was sold as national property in 1793, despite the efforts of local deputy Alexandre-Paul de Randon to protect it. Converted into a farm in 1875, this historic estate has been carefully preserved by the Malzieu family since 1923.

The Domaine des Choisinets, documented as part of the Randon lords' possessions since the 12th century, boasts a rich and turbulent history. During the Hundred Years' War in the 14th century, the site proved its strategic importance when Borbal de Chausines successfully repelled an English assault. In 1650, the de la Tour family constructed a prominent tower that still marks the landscape. The French Revolution saw the estate divided, but in 1840, it was bequeathed to Abbé Favier to establish an orphanage. Run by the Brothers of the Christian Schools, the orphanage flourished, expanding the estate and erecting a beautiful church between 1863 and 1867. Anti-clerical laws forced its closure in 1908, leading to decades of varied agricultural use. Despite enduring devastating fires in 1904 and 1926, the resilient estate was ultimately acquired by the "Le Choisinaît" association in 2003, ensuring the preservation of its extraordinary heritage.

Founded in 998, the town of Langogne is a treasure trove of architectural heritage. At its heart stands the Romanesque Church of Saint-Pierre, an 11th-century masterpiece of Burgundian design, renowned for its intricately sculpted capitals. The town's circular 18th-century grain market (Halle au Blé) remains a spectacular testament to its history as a bustling regional trading hub. Langogne also bears the scars of the Wars of Religion, having been sacked by Huguenot troops in 1568, leading to magnificent Flamboyant Gothic reconstructions. Strolling through its medieval streets, visitors are treated to half-timbered houses, elegant mullioned windows, and sturdy fortified towers. Today, the town's vibrant history is kept alive in its museums, such as the Filature des Calquières, which celebrates its rich wool-making past, making Langogne an unmissable stop for history and nature lovers alike.

Perched majestically on a rocky spur above the Allier Valley, the Château de Luc is an awe-inspiring relic of Gévaudan's feudal era. Built between the 6th and 10th centuries to guard the border between Vivarais and Gévaudan, this fortress held a highly strategic position along the Regordane Way—a vital medieval artery for pilgrims, crusaders, and merchants. With its formidable keep, chapel, and robust ramparts, the castle was virtually impregnable. It witnessed countless historical upheavals, repelling mercenaries during the Hundred Years' War and serving as a royal stronghold during the 16th-century Wars of Religion. In 1630, Cardinal Richelieu ordered its dismantlement to neutralize noble rebellions, leaving the fortress in ruins. However, the site found renewed spiritual purpose in the 19th century when a chapel and a towering statue of the Virgin Mary were erected within the ancient keep. Now classified as a historical monument and lovingly restored by volunteers, the Château de Luc stands as a timeless monument to the region's complex and captivating history.