Visit of Lussan
The departure is made from the medieval city which, from the top of its rocky spur, dominates the valley. Wherever you are in Lussan, and especially from the ramparts, your eyes will cross the horizon, there towards the Mont Bouquet, the Mont Lozère, elsewhere, on the preserved agricultural space and the mas (farmhouses) formerly used for sheep breeding, or on the garrigue and its impetuous vegetation. The Place des Marronniers, the central square around which the village is organised, is also the place where summer events take place. Go up the square towards the north and you will come across the imposing castle. Built at the end of the 15th century, it was redesigned in the 19th century and embellished with a bell tower and clock. This bastion has a proud appearance and sits admirably at the prow of the city. Continue your stroll to discover the heritage of Lussan through the Place du Foirail, which once hosted livestock fairs. To the west, below the ramparts, stands the château de Fan, a beautiful Renaissance-style building.
The ostriches of the Coudert farm
Leave Lussan, a medieval vessel in the heart of the southern garrigue, by taking the direction of "Les Remparts", then continue in the direction of Vallérargues, passing through "Le Bosoir" and "Mas Neuf". From here, turn left towards Vallérargues via "Le Goulot de l'Aiguillon". Once in the little village, don't miss the local curiosity, the Ferme Coudert (on the D979), which raises ostriches! As well as the goat's cheese produced there, you can also buy ostrich eggs and see these birds up close!
Boxwood Garden
The scent of thyme, cades and oaks in this fragrant vegetation that, over the miles, never ceases to tickle your senses. Turn right to "Vallérargues - Centre", follow the RD406 for almost a kilometre and take a path on the right to the place called "Plan Méjean". From there, turn left to reach Fons-sur-Lussan, passing the signposts "Perret", "Les Canabaux", "Vendras" and "Les Républiques", then left via "Les Horts" and "Fons sur Lussan - Centre". In the village, turn left towards Lussan via " Clédas " for 1.3 km, then follow " Mas de Rimone ", " Matarascasse ", and " Bethe ". Here, turn right towards Lussan by " Le Vallen ". To recover from your efforts, take a break at the Jardin des Buis. This enclosed garden, located on the ramparts of Lussan, is planted with boxwood and Mediterranean species. Its Japanese character, in its lines, proportions, volumes and perspectives, gives the garden its richness and subtlety. It is a delight for the senses, a true plant refinement for the aesthetes. Lussan is still a place of art with its potteries, ceramists and blacksmiths who have replaced the silk industry, but who still convey a know-how and traditions transmitted in the greatest authenticity. Don't forget to come back with one of the famous Pintade de Lussan: Adrien Caillard and his team give life to these charming coloured earthenware creatures that will liven up your interiors as well as your flowerbeds!
Little bonus: a wild escapade at the Concluses de Lussan. In this landscape of scrubland, the waters of the Aiguillon have carved deep gorges called concluses. These offer a set of cliffs and giant potholes; an extraordinary erosion on more than 6 km. The site, recognized as one of the most beautiful natural areas of the Gard, is a pleasant place to walk near which you can discover the Pierre Plantée, prehistoric menhir impressive by its 5.6 meters high.
