The depopulated mountains (4)

On the way south, we touch Mont Aigoual. At 1567 metres (over 5100 ft) this is the highest mountain of the southern Cévennes and is connected with the history of the Huguenots, as the Calvinist Protestants of France were once known. It was mystically revered as a second Mount Sinai by the strict Protestants who paralleled themselves with Moses in the Old Testament.
Today, the mountain is home to a meteorological station and from its platform, one has a wonderful all-round view.

As we travel further to the south, so the change in the climate is more marked. The vegetation becomes more lush and the temperature rises - we are under the influence of the Mediterranean.

As we come to the old silk-town of Le Vigan, it is clear that we could not have timed our visit better. The town has spruced itself up for a festival set to last for several days. We reconnoitre the town on foot and follow the noise that emanates from a side-street. As we find the source of all this, we stand in front of a road-block made out of trucks and wooden palettes that would not be out of place in a modern civil war scene. On the sealed-off square in front of the market building, three steers are let loose so that the young men, cheered on by the spectators, can test their bravery and show their prowess against them. One of the locals tries to persuade me to go into this arena to take better pictures. He was certainly right but my inexperience with wild steers and thoughts of the rest of our trip still to come made me pass up this chance! Not so the party offerings in the evening.

Now we are really in the south of France, where festivals are celebrated in the custom of a land where everyone likes to have a jolly good time. Young and old meet at the town hall for a large open-air culinary delight. For those who eat too much of the good food, no problem - one can always dance the calories away with rock- or folk-music!