Marvejols

Visit Marvejols, Languedoc-Roussillon

Marvejols is found in the Lozere department, of northern Languedoc-Roussillon, near Mende in the Massif Central. A quiet unassuming town, Marvejols well deserves a visit if you are in the region.

Exploring Marvejols

It is an attractive medieval town with a colourful history during the Hundred Years War and the Wars of religion - much of the current town was constructed around 1601, after the original town was burned and most of the population massacred during the Wars of Religion.

The three substantial stone entrances to the town remain as witness to these terrible events and are the major monument in Marvejols. They are the Porte Sobeyran to the north, the Porte Theron to the east and the Porte de Chanelles to the south of the historic city - all three are substantial with large round towers standing each side of the entrance.

In the historic town inside these entrances there are numerous interesting features and buildings to discover and explore - and plenty of information signs to tell you what you are looking at. The tourist office (next to the Porte de Soubeyran) have laid out a 'Henry IV' tour of the town that passes the important monuments, and in the tourist office there is also a small archaeology museum with artefacts from the region.

Much of this part of Marvejols is pedestrianised and includes the 13th century Collegiale Church of Notre-Dame de la Carce (to the west) and some attractive houses including the Hotel de Chatillon on Place Daurade and the Hotel de Prades on the Rue de la Laine.

Marvejols is also well known for a more recent role in history - in the 18th century the so-called 'Beast of Gevaudan' slaughtered almost 100 people in the region surrounding the town, mostly children. Believed at the time to be the work of a wolf, it lasted several years before the killing finally stopped.

There is a statue commemorating the event in the town, while the second statue in the centre of Marvejols is of Henry IV and proudly states 'executed in Marvejols, 1954'. It was the statue that was executed, not the King!

The weekly market in Marvejols is held on Saturday mornings.

Attractions nearby

A few kilometres from the town is the wildlife park, 'Les Loups de Gevaudan' (The wolves of Gevaudan), where wolves can be seen living in semi-liberty.

The other major attractions close to Marvejols include the scenic countryside of the Cevennes National Park, with the Gorges du Tarn among the most popular with visitors.

Tourist classifications for Marvejols: Recommended detour town (plus beau detour);

Suggested places to visit near Marvejols, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Gorges du Tarn 26km; Castelbouc 28km; Cevennes National Park 28km; Montbrun 29km; Sainte-Eulalie-d'Olt 29km; Severac-le-Chateau 31km; Florac 35km; Laguiole 38km; Saint-Come-d'Olt 38km; Le Pont de Montvert 42km; Espalion 42km; Estaing 49km; La Garde-Guerin 49km; Pradelles 53km; Millau 53km; Saint-Flour 56km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Marvejols

Marvejols tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Cascade du Déroc - site of natural beauty (20km) : Aven Armand (grotte) - site of natural beauty (37km) : Chaos de Nimes-le-Vieux - site of natural beauty (43km) : Chaos de Montpellier-le-Vieux - site of natural beauty (48km) : Abîme de Bramabiau - site of natural beauty (50km) : Jardin du Tomple - remarkable garden (55km) : Lac du Bouchet - site of natural beauty (56km) : Jardin du mas de l'Abri - remarkable garden (57km) :

French version: see Marvejols (Francais)