On the footsteps of the movie Antoinette in the Cevennes
In Lozere, Occitanie (External link) , where the film “Antoinette in the Cevennes” was filmed, you can discover a wild region of the South of France, strewn with chestnut trees and terraces. Between its multiple ridges, passes and valleys, there are hidden rivers with crystal clear waters, but also an ancestral heritage.
Shot in the heart of the Cevennes National Park, in the midst of the richness of its fauna and flora and in the diversity of its natural environments, Caroline Vignal's film operates in a perfectly photogenic setting.
The numerous scenes in the heart of breathtaking landscapes charm the eyes of the spectators. We discover the story of a woman following her lover who went on vacation with her family on Stevenson's Way, accompanied by a donkey “doing as it pleased”.
The Cevennes in Lozere Occitanie, South of France © Fred Julien
The scenario is composed around this internationally renowned trail, made famous by the Scottish writer Robert-Louis Stevenson in 1878. The travel he made with his donkey “Modestine”, took him 12 days from Monastier-sur-Gazeille to Saint-Jean-du-Gard, including 9 days in Lozère, Occitanie.
The film, nominated 8 times for the César in France, was honored with the César for best actress awarded for the performance of Laure Calamy, the epicenter of this original comedy. The humor, completely offbeat, is there, and all sublimated by the grandiose landscapes in the heart of the Cévennes National Park.
The History of the Stevenson Trail (External link)
Pioneer of the trek, the Scottish writer Stevenson set out on a journey through the Cévennes in 1878, alongside the donkey Modestine. His adventures took him from Monastier-sur-Gazeille to Saint-Jean-du-Gard in 12 days, including 9 in Lozère, Occitanie. From his roaming, he pulled out a book: “Travel with a donkey in the Cévennes”. His story became a GR (the GR70) in 1978, now covered by more than 7,000 hikers per year.
Typical landscapes of the Cevennes in Lozere Occitanie, South of France © Régis Domergue
The Cévennes National Park, atypical and authentic
The Cévennes National Park (CNP) located in the middle of the mountains is also the only one to be inhabited in its heart zone. It encompasses not only the Cévennes, but also Mont-Lozère, and a large part of the Causses, the Gorges du Tarn and the Jonte. More than 80% of the "heart" is located in Lozère. Since 1985 the Park has also been recognized as a "biosphere reserve" by UNESCO. And since 2018, he has been part of the very exclusive “International Dark Sky Reserves” club.
Futher information
www.lozere-tourisme.com (External link)
www.tourism-occitanie.co.uk (External link)