Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille

Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille is a town with approximately 1,800 inhabitants. Around 1900, when rural depopulation began, the population was twice as high.

A monastery is documented as early as the 6th century, and in 625, Abbot Eudes led the town. His nephew Theofredus was stoned to death here, which earned him the reputation of a martyr and saint (Saint Chaffre) among the monks. In 817, Louis the Pious had the abbey restored.

Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille is also known because Robert Louis Stevenson began his journey through the Cévennes from here in 1878, as he describes in his book "Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes." Today, the Robert Louis Stevenson Trail (GR 70) begins here.