Restored and revitalised
Restored and revitalised
THE HISTORIC BUILDING
The village of Le Pont de Montvert grew up around the eponymous bridge over the river Tarn. The building housing the Auberge stands just a few metres from the bridge, and is thought to be one of the oldest residential buildings in the village. When renovation work started in 2020, workers found part of the original roof support; on it was the signature of the carpenter who made it, and the date of construction — 1689!
Evidence shows that the building has always housed an inn of some kind.
THE PERFECT STOP-OFF POINT
On 22 September 1878, a young Scottish writer embarked on a journey across the Cévennes from Le Monastier sur Gazeille (Haute Loire) to Saint Jean du Gard (Gard), in an attempt to heal his broken heart. His itinerary led him to Le Pont de Montvert.
That writer was Robert Louis Stevenson. With his donkey Modestine, Stevenson stopped at Auberge des Cévennes on 29 September 1878, and had an encounter he later described in his work Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes, published the following year:
“And Clarisse ! What shall I say of Clarisse? She waited the table with a heavy placable nonchalance, like a performing cow; her great grey eyes were steeped in amorous languor”
As the book and its author grew increasingly famous (other works include Treasure Island and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde), recreating the journey became a popular pastime for Stevenson’s enthusiastic readers. But it wasn’t until 1993 that the route was waymarked by French hiking association La Fédération Française de la Randonnée, making it more widely accessible. It is now listed as trail no. GR®70.
Une halte idéalement placée
On 22 September 1878, a young Scottish writer embarked on a journey across the Cévennes from Le Monastier sur Gazeille (Haute Loire) to Saint Jean du Gard (Gard), in an attempt to heal his broken heart. His itinerary led him to Le Pont de Montvert.
That writer was Robert Louis Stevenson. With his donkey Modestine, Stevenson stopped at Auberge des Cévennes on 29 September 1878, and had an encounter he later described in his work Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes, published the following year:
“And Clarisse ! What shall I say of Clarisse? She waited the table with a heavy placable nonchalance, like a performing cow; her great grey eyes were steeped in amorous languor”
As the book and its author grew increasingly famous (other works include Treasure Island and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde), recreating the journey became a popular pastime for Stevenson’s enthusiastic readers. But it wasn’t until 1993 that the route was waymarked by French hiking association La Fédération Française de la Randonnée, making it more widely accessible. It is now listed as trail no. GR®70.
REINVENTING THE MODEL, SAFEGUARDING THE PAST
As today’s adventure-seekers have very different requirements to those of yesteryear, we had to ensure our renovations (which finished in March 2021) met those requirements while still preserving the Auberge’s original charm and character.
A complete overhaul was in order, including a complete redesign of the bedrooms and public areas, updating them to meet modern needs. A range of new amenities was also introduced.
L’Auberge des Cévennes is proud to call itself a multi-service, elegant, fun, accessible facility, committed to the environment and operating in an authentic, sustainable way.