Lozère, Department in Occitanie, France.
Lozère is a department in the Occitania region of southern France, made up of mountains, plateaus, and deep river valleys. The landscape shifts between forested slopes, open upland pastures, and gorges carved by rivers such as the Tarn and the Jonte.
The area was created in 1790 during the French Revolution from parts of the historic province of Gévaudan. Between 1764 and 1767, a mysterious animal known as the Beast of Gévaudan spread fear across villages and claimed many lives.
The name comes from Mont Lozère, a granite mountain rising in the eastern part of the area. Inhabitants follow a yearly rhythm tied to transhumance, when cattle move up to high pastures in spring and return in autumn.
The main towns of Mende, Saint-Chély-d'Apcher, and Marvejols are connected by regional roads that wind through valleys and across passes. Travelers in winter should expect snow and ice on higher routes, especially in early morning hours.
With roughly 15 residents per square kilometer, this is the least populated department in France. A portion of the Cévennes National Park lies within its borders, protecting large forests and rare wildlife.
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