1 - La Bruyère

The Protestant mountain: From the 16th century, the Reformation spread across the Vivarais-Lignon Plateau, and it was from the Vivarais that the “so-called reformed” faith arrived. After the Edict of Nantes (1598), two temples (Protestant churches) were built: Saint-Voy-de-Bonas (Le Mazet-Saint-Voy) and Le Chambon-du-Prieuré (Le Chambon-sur-Lignon). But from 1660/1670, the royal authorities applied a policy of repression against Protestants, notably through the dragonnades. In 1685, the revocation of the Edict of Nantes banned Protestantism and the temples were destroyed. But the Plateau held out: this was the period of the “assemblies of the Desert”, when the faithful risked their lives to live their faith. In 1787, the Edict of Tolerance brought more calm, and many temples were built from 1820 onwards. It was in the 19th century that various Churches came into being (Darbyists, Ravinists, Salvationists, Evangelicals, …). Today, the Vivarais-Lignon plateau remains strongly marked by Protestantism, and united within the consistory of the Montagne.

The first 6 kilometres are fairly difficult, up to the top of the Bois de Plafay. After that, descents and technical sections through the woods follow one another until the 12th km. One last steep climb in the Bois de Peybroussou, then you come down into Le Chambon-sur-Lignon.