Taleyrac

5 points of interest

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  Flora

  The Col de l''Elze

  The Col de l'Elze pass is a large open space that still has several handsome holm oaks (elze in Occitan). They are rather squat, probably due to the wind. This was once an area where cereals – rye and wheat – were grown. It is now pastureland, with associated flora and insect life. Sheep have prevented shrubs from invading. There are magnificent views to the north onto Mont Aigoual and its foothills, and to the southeast onto the Taleyrac valley and the hills of Sumènes. If you get to the top of the hillock, 300 m to the east, very early in the morning or in the late afternoon, you may see mouflon on Le Montet, to the southwest.

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  Granite

  Granite is a massive rock made of translucent quartz crystals, shiny silver/black crystals, and white or pinkish mica or feldspar. On some blocks you find large feldspar crystals: this is called “horsetooth granite” owing to the shape of its crystals. Granite, which is very sensitive to erosion, breaks down into coarse sand, making a light and well-draining soil suitable for onion farming.

  On the Taleyrac hillside, the walls of the traversiers (crop terraces) and houses are built out of granite – a round rock not easy to handle for building.

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  Cobblestoned track

  From the Col de la Croix pass in Taleyrac, you take a cobblestoned track that is of exceptionally high quality. The track used to link Valleraugue with St-André de Majencoules where it is said to date from well before the Protestant revolts (1702).

  It is also said that the postman used it to reach Taleyrac and its neighbouring hamlets from Valleraugue and that he left the traces of his hobnailed boots in the granite! 

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  Mild onions

  Cévennes mild onions (a Protected Designation of Origin since 2008) are transplanted in May and harvested 90 days later. During these 3 months, the onions have to be watered every other day. In old times, watering had to be by hand using an azagadouïro (a sort of wooden shovel). Since the arrival of hoses and especially of pumps, watering has been carried out using sprinklers and ramps for more regular spraying. This is mostly done in the morning, a good occasion to admire the cascading jets of water.

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  The Taleyrac valley

  This valley consists of several hamlets that are part of the municipality of Val d’Aigoual. On the valley floor, springs are abundant; the cultivated crop terraces face south. This is good luck for diversified farming: fruit trees, grapes, mulberry trees and mild onions. Everything grows – but the onion is king!

  Built on the rocks, the hamlets overlook the river with their enormous and very tall houses: any soil had to be reserved for crops!

  Some flocks of sheep maintain the land behind the hamlets but most of it is done by humans, even today. The crop terraces, built out of granite, are remarkably beautiful. All of them are maintained!