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a) Theme
French Huguenots Trails is one of our range of fascinating historical hiking tours. Your treks in France afford you the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the French Protestants in and around the Cevennes, where a short and bloody war was fought at the beginning of the 18th Century.
Three centuries ago, The Cevennes hills were 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 and memories still remain and continue to mark life in the Cevennes today.
Your treks in France take you along Huguenots hillside trails to villages, monuments, sanctuaries and battlegrounds. You learn about the main characters, in context, that made news all over Europe during this important historical conflict that had implications for both the Old and the New World orders.
b) Further Information
c) Model Programme: French Huguenots Trails
Day 1. Alès.
Arrival and hotel check-in to the Protestant stronghold in the Cevennes foothills.
Pre-tour briefing.
Night in Alès.
Day 2. The Jouany Trail. 5 miles-8 kms.
Transfer to Genolhac, and walk the town of Jouany, home and resting place of the Camisard Chief for The High Cevennes. Then hike a memorable Camisard trail, through a fabulous pass and down to two villages with many a tale of religious persecution to tell.
Night near Vialas.
Day 3. The Royalist Stronghold. 15.5 miles -23 kms.
You walk the heart of Protestant Country to Collet de Deze, a Royalist garrison from where orders for burnings and persecutions were commonplace.
Night in Collet de Deze.
Day 4. The Battle of Chompdomergue. 10 miles-14.5 kms.
You march to the site of an important Protestant victory and walk the battlefield, where Jean Cavalier, future leader of the Camisards, won his spurs.
Night near Lespinas.
Day 5. The Burning of Lespinas. 8 miles - 12kms.
You visit a village that was cleared of its inhabitants and raised to the ground even before battle commenced.
Night near St Maurice de Ventalon.
Day 6. War Breaks Out. 11 miles-16 kms.
The Abbot of Chaïla was assinated at Pont de Monvert on July 24, 1702, marking the beginning of the war. Visit the location after a stimulating walk to the point from where the Rebels marched on the town.
Night in Pont de Monvert.
Day 7. The Fighting Escalates. 7 miles-10.5 kms.
March with the Camisards to Frutgères, where they destroyed the church, before continuing on a memorable panorama of Camisard Country over hill, along the Tarn River and through charming hamlet.
Second night in Pont de Monvert.
Day 8. The Conflict Ends.
And so does a memorable walking holiday in France! Transfer back to Ales and post-tour de-briefing. Au revoir et à bientôt!
The above tour is a model. As part of our policy of continual review and improvement, we reserve the right to make alterations to our walking holidays in France.
d) Access
This tour starts and finishes in Ales. Best access is via Nimes airport or TGV railway station, with alternatives being Avignon, Marseille and Montpellier.
If you drive to France in your own car, you can leave it near Ales in an enclosed parking area whilst you are trekking France.
e) Accommodation
You stay:
Your accommodation is:
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Three nights in 2-star hotels
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One night in a 1-star hotel
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One night in a 3-star chambre d'hote
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One night in a 1-star chambre d'hote
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One night in an Auberge.
f) What's included in French Huguenots Trails
Included
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7 nights B & B
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6 picnic lunches and 6 evening meals.
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Luggage transfers¹ and transport integral to the programme
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Pre- and post-tour briefings
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Cell-phone loan for non-Europeans if required, subject to availability
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Car parking in Ales for the duration of your trek where required*
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France Hiking Insight Notes™ that empower & make orientation easy
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Themed vacation dossier
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Comprehensive travel notes & logistical information
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Emergency telephone help-line service with local British backup.
Not included
¹ One piece of luggage per person up to 15 kgs.
Supplements apply for more or heavier luggage.
* Parking is at customer's risk.
g) Prices 2010: French Huguenots Trails
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Price per person based on 2 persons sharing |
£760.00 or €845.00 or $1265.00 |
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Single person rate |
POA |
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Extra nights |
On Request |
See our full range of trekking in France tours