OUR HOUSES throughout Lozère, and other beauties by 4th B students Lozère is divided into 4 very different natural regions due to the geological nature of its soil. Its relief and hard living conditions don’t attract the people to settle here. There are only about 73,000 inhabitants. But it is undeniable that our department is magnificent and offers a huge diversity of landscapes. Langogne is situated in « Margeride ». Its soil is granitic. We are going to present a short survey of our houses and also some other interesting things to learn about us. Intro by Isabelle Langogne

Houses in MENDE, our local district Very steep roofs due to heavy snowfalls

Margeride, by Ludivine Langogne is situated in « Margeride ». Its soil is granitic.It is also one of the coldest places in winter, as it is 998m at its highest. Two places in the arrid plateaus: -Le Truc de Fortunio: 1552m -Mount Lozère: 1700m The soil is arrid there, as it remains covered with snow throughout the winter and the spring. A view of Langogne with the artificial lake of Naussac in the background. N.B: Langogne is the only town in Lozère with red- tiled roofs! « Le Truc de Fortunio »

Other houses around Margeride

« Les baraques » in Margeride These isolated houses along the roads, called « barracks » are austere and squat farms provided with small openings. The walls are very thick to be able to support the heavy roof of slates. These inns welcome the travellers, the pilgrims or the peddlers. Some of these barracks have kept the bell tower on the roof. On the days of heavy snowfalls someone would ring the bell to call the astray travellers back.

Landscapes around Margeride Fields covered with daffodils in April this year 2008 A close-up of sheep, going bâ-bâ-bâ! Sheep grazing thinking: « yummy- yummy for my tommy! » Cows and calves

Seasonal migration to the grazing grounds of AUBRAC, by Lucie and Myriam 1469m at its highest ! The road to Santiago de Compostela in Spain goes through this plateau. A lot of snow during the winter, many snowdrifts and snow storms. From 25th May to 25th October the cattle is taken to summer on mountain pastures. It’s called « l’estive » or « la transhumance ». On this occasion the farmers walk along the roads with their cattle decorated with flowers, flags, accompanied by folklore bands. The cows will feed on alfalfa, fennel, wild salsify, wormwood or gentian, to impregnate their milk and cheese with subtle flavours.

AUBRAC: the « burons » Aubrac is also the region of the « burons ». What is a « buron »? – It is a small, squat and isolated house, half buried in the soil to be protected against the strong winds. It used to shelter the cow farmers during the « estive » a word for the seasonal migration of the cattle to the high plateaus of Aubrac. Less and less cheese is made traditionally nowadays: 700 tons late 19th century, compared with 25 tons in the 1960s. The last « buronnier» - (name of the man who lives in a « buron » and who used to make the « Cantal cheese ») – had to give up the ancestral method of cheese making due to hygiene rules no longer accepted. The bovine breed of Aubrac is always « white »

CAUSSES, by Laurie The name of this region appeals to 2 large limestone plateaus, up to 1247m at its highest: « Causse Méjean and Causse de Sauveterre ». These plateaus are separated by the « River Tarn Gorges ». The vegetation is rather dry: boxtree, juniper and thistles Houses in « Causse Méjean » A typical farm in « Causse de Sauveterre »: sturdy vaults in the basement support the heavy stones and roofing. The stones accumulate the heat released by the sheep. Then it is restored to the rooms upstairs… The façade of those houses must reflect the social rank and the personality of the landlord. « Aragonese House »,a copy of Spanish architecture

Caves and sinkholes The cave of Dargilan The sinkhole of Aven Armand The region of the Causses shelters numerous caves and sinkholes ( « Aven Armand » is the most famous of them)

The Cévennes, by Elodie It is a big mountainous schistous massif. Mount Aigoual, a ski resort, is 1563m at its highest. 3 deep valleys run through the massif. This area is covered with chestnut trees. Goats are numerous here and produce delicious goat cheese, called « pélardon ». The houses have 2 or 3 storeys. There is little land so, often the houses are built against the mountain. The stones are lightly tilted to the outside to prevent the water to penetrate. Mild climate in winter, hot in spring and autumn, torrid in summer! So the walls are very thick and the windows very narrow to protect the inside from the heat of the sun!