Follow in the footsteps of the writer Robert-Louis Stevenson! A hiker before his time, Stevenson undertook the crossing of the Cévennes in 1878 alone with his donkey “Modestine” from Monastier-sur-Gazeille, located 20 km from Puy-en-Velay. 12 days, 220 km and many adventures later, he arrived in Saint-Jean-du-Gard.
His travel journal was published a year later under the title “ Travel with a donkey in the Cévennes » and preceded by a few years his best-known works: “Treasure Island” and “The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde”.
I travel not to go somewhere, but to walk. I travel for the pleasure of traveling. The important thing is to move, to experience more closely the necessities and difficulties of life, to leave the cozy bed of civilization, to feel under my feet the earthly granite and the scattered flints with their sharp edges.
It's at theoccasion of the centenary of Stevenson's voyage in 1978 that the French Hiking Federation inaugurated the Grande Randonnée path and marked it: GR®70. The Stevenson path GR®70 connects the south of Massif Central in the Cévennes deep. It crosses four departments of Puy-en-Velay to Alès : Haute-Loire, Ardèche, Lozère and Gard.
This itinerary can be divided into four parts: Velay, Gévaudan, Mont-Lozère and the Cévennes. To make the GR easier for walkers to access, two steps have been added compared to the journey initially made by Stevenson in 1878. Today hikers can start the GR®70 Stevenson's Path at Puy-en-Velay and finish it at Ales which are cities accessible by train.
Technical specifications
GR®70 Stevenson Path
- Departure: Le Puy-en-Velay
- Arrival: Alès
- Distance: 272 km
- Duration: 13 days
- Means of transport for departure/arrival: SNCF station
- Website: www.chemin-stevenson.org
- Mobile application: Chemin de Stevenson GR®70
Stage 1: From Puy-en-Velay to Monastier-sur-Gazeille: 19 km
Starting point of the GR®70 in Puy-en-Velay: college church
The GR®70 Stevenson's Trail begins in Le Puy-en-Velay, while it was from Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille that the writer Robert Louis Stevenson set off with his donkey Modestine on the trail in 1878. Leaving Le Puy-en-Velay, walkers will cross the Loire at Coubon and then hike between pastures and forests to reach Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille, which is classified as a small town of character.
Stage 2: From Monastier-sur-Gazeille to Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas: 24 km
This stage was once the first day of walking for the writer Robert Louis Stevenson. You will then cross the Velay and its landscapes of plateaus and peaks then descend into the Gazeille and Loire valleys. You will cross fields of pastures and green lentil crops from Le Puy before arriving at Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas on the shores of the lake.
Stage 3: From Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas to Pradelles: 21 km
This third stage on the Stevenson trail is gentler in terms of altitude difference. You will pass through several small villages including Pradelles, classified among the Most Beautiful Villages in France.
Stage 4: From Pradelles to Cheylard-l'évêque: 22 km
This 4th day of walking on the Stevenson trail marks the entry into Lozère via Langogne and into the lands of Gévaudan. This corner of Margeride is renowned for its marshes covered in heather, small groves, birches and granite rocks.
Stage 5: From Cheylard-l’évêque to La Bastide-Puylaurent: 27 km
This stage will take you mainly through the forest on pleasant paths. You will pass through the village of Luc where there are still ruins of a castle and which was once a strategic point on the pilgrimage of Saint-Gilles du Gard (or the Régordane path). Then, don't forget to stop at the Abbey "Notre Dame des Neiges" which is today inhabited by a community of Cistercian sisters.
Stage 6: From La Bastide-Puylaurent to Bleymard: 29 km
During this stage, you will discover the sources of two rivers: the Allier which has its source at Moure de la Gardille and the Lot which has its source on the side of the Goulet mountain.
Stage 7: From Bleymard to Pont-de-Montvert: 19 km
Here you will pass the highest point of this GR®70, that is to say Mont Lozère at an altitude of 1699 metres. From this pass, you will have a 360-degree panorama of Aubrac, Margeride, Mont Gerbier de Jonc and the Cévennes!
Stage 8: From Pont-de-Montvert to Florac: 29 km
During this stage, you will cross several passes. Don't forget to stop at Bédouès where the Notre Dame collegiate church was founded by Pope Urban V in 1363.
Stage 9: From Florac to Cassagnas: 19 km
During this stage, you will follow the old railway line along the Mimente between forest and chestnut groves. Then you will arrive at Saint Julien d'Arpaonet with its ruined castle and finally Cassagnas.
Stage 10: From Cassagnas to Saint-Étienne-Vallée-Française: 24 km
You are here in the heart of the Cévennes National Park with beautiful chestnut forests. You will pass the Col de la Pierre Plantée then the village of Saint Germain de Calberte before arriving at Saint Etienne Vallée Française.
Stage 11: From Saint-Étienne-Vallée-Française to Saint-Jean-Du-Gard: 13 km
This stage marks the end of the adventure at the time for Robert Louis Stevenson. Indeed, it is in Saint Jean du Gard that he sells his donkey Modestine. The GR®70 continues for a few more kilometers to reach Alès.
Stage 12: From Saint-Jean-Du-Gard to Alès: 23 km
This is the last stage of the GR®70. It allows walkers to reach the Alès SNCF train station for the return journey from their stay.
The stages of the GR®70 in Velay
- 1nd step : From Puy-en-Velay to Monastier-sur-Gazeille: 19 km
- 2nd step : From Monastier-sur-Gazeille to Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas: 24 km
- 3nd step : From Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas to Pradelles: 21 km
The stages of the GR®70 in Gévaudan
- Step 4 : From Pradelles to Cheylard-l’Evêque: 22 km
- Step 5: From Cheylard l'Evêque to La Bastide-Puylaurent: 27 km
- Step 6: From La Bastide-Puylaurent to Bleymard: 29 km
The stages of the GR®70 at Mont Lozère
- 7nd step : From Bleymard to Pont-de-Montvert: 19 km
- 8nd step : From Pont-de-Monvert to Florac: 29 km
The stages of the GR®70 in the Cévennes
- Step 9: From Florac to Cassagnas: 19 km
- Step 10: From Cassagnas to Saint-Etienne-Vallée-Française: 24 km
- Step 11: From Saint-Etienne-Vallée-Française to Saint-Jean-du-Gard: 13 km
- Step 12: From Saint-Jean-du-Gard to Alès: 23 km
Practical
Find all the practical information about the GR®70 Chemin de Stevenson in the topo guide of the French Hiking Federation: route, step by step, list of accommodation and services. This guide is essential to ensure peace of mind!
FAQ
What are the recommended stages of the Stevenson GR®70 path?
1) From Puy-en-Velay to Monastier-sur-Gazeille: 19 km
2) From Monastier-sur-Gazeille to Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas: 24 km
3) From Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas to Pradelles: 21 km
4) From Pradelles to Cheylard-l’Evêque: 22 km
5) From Cheylard l'Evêque to La Bastide-Puylaurent: 27 km
6) From La Bastide-Puylaurent to Bleymard 29 km
7) From Bleymard to Pont-de-Montvert 19 km
8) From Pont-de-Monvert to Florac 29 km
9) From Florac to Cassagnas: 19 km
10) From Cassagnas to Saint-Etienne-Vallée-Française: 24 km
11) From Saint-Etienne-Vallée-Française to Saint-Jean-du-Gard: 13 km
12) From Saint-Jean-du-Gard to Alès: 23 km
What were the steps taken by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1878?
1) Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille > Le Bouchet Saint-Nicolas: 23,6 km
2) Le Bouchet Saint-Nicolas > Langogne: 26,7 km
3) Langogne > Luc: 22,7 km
4) Luc > Notre-Dame des Neiges: 12,3 km
5) Notre-Dame des Neiges > Chasseradès: 15,8 km
6) Chasseradès > Le Bleymard: 17 km
7) Le Bleymard > Le Pont-de-Montvert: 19,3 km
8) Le Pont-de-Montvert > Florac: 28,5 km
9) Florac > Cassagnas: 17,4 km
10) Cassagnas > St-Germain-de-Calberte: 15 km
11) St-Germain-de-Calberte > St-Étienne-Valée-Française: 8,9 km
12) St-Étienne-Valée-Française > St-Jean-du-Gard: 12,7 km
Is the Chemin de Stevenson GR®70 a difficult route?
The Stevenson GR®70 path is accessible for fairly experienced walkers. One of the most delicate points of the Chemin de Stevenson is the passage of Mont Lozère. Find out beforehand about the altitude differences of the route.
Who is Robert Louis Stevenson?
Famous writer and traveler, Robert Louis Stevenson was born on November 13, 1850 in Edinburgh. Following a romantic failure, Stevenson felt the need to isolate himself and therefore undertook a journey to the south of France, accompanied by a donkey named Modestine. This trip, he tells it in the book “Travel with a donkey in the Cévennes”. In his story, Stevenson recounts his crossing of the Cévennes on foot, undertaken in the fall of 1878, with the donkey Modestine as his only traveling companion. Despite a difficult beginning, the author ends up forging very strong emotional bonds with the animal. From Le Monastier in Haute-Loire, their journey will last 12 days and end in Saint-Jean-du-Gard, after around 200 km of walking. Stevenson's objective was twofold: to forget his heartbreak and to explore the land of the Camisards. The book about his journey preceded his best-known works: “Treasure Island” and “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” »
What transport can you use to access the Chemin de Stevenson GR®70?
You have different means of public transport to get to Chemin de Stevenson:
- By train
- langogne station
- Puy-en-Velay station
- By bus
- Haute-Loire, Line 46: Le Puy-en-Velay – Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille
- Haute-Loire, Line 2: Le Puy-en-Velay – Le Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas – Landos
- Haute-Loire, Line 1: Le Puy-en-Velay – Landos – Langogne
- Lozère, line 282: Mende – Langogne –
Pradelles – Costaros – Le Puy - Lozère, line 251/252: Mende – Florac – Cassagnas – Alès
- Lozère, line 261: Mont Lozère Station – Florac Shuttle (daily during summer)
- Gard, line 81 (via Mialet): Saint-Jean-du-Gard – Alès
- Gard, line 72 (via Anduze): Saint-Jean-du-Gard – Alès
- Gard, line 112: Saint-Jean-du-Gard – Nîmes
- By plane
- Le Puy-en-Velay Airport – Loudes
- Nîmes Alès Cévennes Airport
