LE DOMAINE DÉPARTEMENTAL DE ROUSSIÈRES

Roussières is still a large area of scrubland, oak groves and dry grazed lawns. On the thin and stony soils, the successive works of the Mediterranean farmers (stoning, burning and clearing) have favoured the development of the "baouque" lawn (or sheep grass) intended for grazing. Stelae, dry stone walls, drailles, lavognes... are the witnesses of this centuries-old history which still persists today. And tomorrow...?

Au fil des drailles : From the mas de Roussières, follow the traditional paths traced by the shepherds and their sheep. You'll get to know the history of the site and its uses. For centuries, the stonecutting has allowed the construction of dry stone walls on either side of the draille (path). This judicious technique makes it possible to build without masonry (no binder): "a sheep must be able to climb the wall without it collapsing".

Tombs and steles: On the road leading to Cazarils, along the PR, two dry stone tombs attest the presence of Man since the Chalcolithic (Copper Age).

The shepherd and his 500 ewes: Daniel Segondy has been peacefully walking his caussenard ewes on the site since 1977. Make no mistake about it, the profession requires a know-how whose last holders are inexorably disappearing. Take the time to say hello to him, to let yourself be lulled by the haunting tinkling of the bells and to discover some of his secrets. Pastoralism has made it possible to preserve open landscapes rich in remarkable flora and fauna. Without the sheep's appetite for young shoots, the forest would have long since covered all the lawns. However, don't look for a shepherd in summer... During the high heat, he leaves the plains with his herd to go to the green pastures of Mont Aigoual. It will take a little less than a week of transhumance to make the journey.

Ponds for life: The few ponds or "lavagnes" on the site were built and are still maintained by the shepherds. Observe them carefully and you will see that these modest bodies of water, true oases in this Mediterranean landscape, abound with life: dragonflies, amphibians, crustaceans... and rare plants.

How to get there? From Montpellier take the RD 9 86 in the direction of Ganges. At Saint-Martin-de-Londres take the RD 113 in the direction of Viols-en-Laval (château de Cambous). The entrance to the estate is on the right at the exit of Viols-en-Laval.