Camping Municipal de l’Altier

The municipal campsite belongs to the commune of Altier, a Cévennes village of 223 year-round inhabitants, perched at 700 m altitude on the northern slope of Mont Lozère, beside the RD 901. The site runs alongside the small river Altier. Villefort and its lake are 10 km away, Mende 45 km, Le Puy-en-Velay 100 km and Nîmes 110 km. A good part of the commune lies in the core zone of the Cévennes National Park.

The site remains modest in size: 28 camping and caravanning pitches and four leisure chalets (HLL) designed for 4 to 5 people. It is run by the town hall, which refers enquiries to two phone numbers, one used in summer, the other for the rest of the year.

As for opening, two offers must be distinguished. The pitches only operate from 15 June to 15 September. The chalets, on the other hand, are rented all year round, weekends included, with winter rates published: a week costs less from 1 October to 30 April than from 1 May to 30 September, and a minimum rental of two nights is accepted outside high season. No annual closure is announced for these chalets.

This mid-mountain setting suits quiet stays: hiking, trout fishing, walks in a village with typical architecture and, in winter, access to the slopes and trails of Mont Lozère.

Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding and the Mont Lozère resort in winter; deer rut in autumn; hiking and trout fishing depending on the season.

The campsite’s facilities are deliberately simple. On site you will find a shared barbecue, a petanque court and children’s games, as well as horse accommodation on reservation: a horse pays 5 euros per night. A shower is offered to passing visitors who do not occupy a pitch, for 1 euro. Disposable sheets can be hired for 10 euros per kit, for a single bed or a double bed alike.

As for rates, the pitch costs 5 euros per day, an adult 3 euros, a child under 7 years 1.50 euros, and the electrical hook-up 5 euros. A reserved but unoccupied pitch is charged 3 euros. The four chalets are rented from Saturday to Saturday: 400 euros per week from 1 May to 30 September and 320 euros from 1 October to 30 April, with a night at 75 euros, so 150 euros minimum, outside mid-June to mid-September.

The campsite has no swimming pool; to swim, you go to Lake Villefort, 10 km away, where supervised bathing is provided, or to the nearby rivers. In the village, the communal post office agency opens four mornings a week and the library, supplied by the département’s mobile library, follows the town hall’s hours. Reservations go through the town hall, on the summer number or the year-round one.

Around Altier, the simplest thing is to set out on foot: the commune has nineteen hamlets spread over two slopes and, nearby, a free 3 km trail of monumental contemporary sculptures links artistic creation and rural heritage. The 13th-century Château du Champ, set on a promontory beside the Altier, is listed and can be seen from the departmental road.

Trout fishing is possible near the campsite. At Villefort, 10 km away, the Grandeur Nature outdoor centre organises canyoning, caving, via corda, climbing, archery, sailing, mountain bike hire, pedalos and zodiacs. The lake can be walked around and bathing is supervised in season. The Vallon du Villaret and a treetop adventure course are within a radius of about 20 km, with thermal baths in the same area.

Off-season, the commune mentions cross-country skiing, hiking, sledding, snowshoeing and dog sled rides, as well as the Mont Lozère resort for downhill and cross-country skiing. Autumn is the season of the deer rut, with observation evenings. In winter, the La Campone association also organises belote tournaments in the village of L’Habitarelle. The same association organises the 15 August festival.