Causses and Cévennes
The Causses and the Cévennes, Mediterranean agro-pastoral Cultural Landscape (French: Les Causses et Les Cévennes, paysage culturel de l'agro-pastoralisme méditerranéen) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the southern part of central France with over three millennia of agro-pastoral history.
UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
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Florac and the Cévennes National Park seen from Causse Méjean | |
Official name | The Causses and the Cévennes, Mediterranean agro-pastoral Cultural Landscape |
Location | Massif Central, France |
Criteria | Cultural: (iii), (v) |
Reference | 1153rev |
Inscription | 2011 (35th Session) |
Area | 302,319 ha (747,050 acres) |
Buffer zone | 312,425 ha (772,020 acres) |
Website | www |
Coordinates | 44°13′13″N 3°28′23″E |
Location of Causses and Cévennes in France |
Located in the Massif Central, the region is mountainous with numerous narrow valleys, making conditions poorly suited to host cities, but well-suited for pastoralism. Consequently, the landscape of Causses and Cévennes evolved over time to reflect all types of Mediterranean agro-pastoral systems, including silvopasture, transhumance, and sedentary pastoralism. In fact, Mont Lozère is one of the last places where summer transhumance is still practiced in the traditional way.