“20% chance that the ski resort will reopen”: a “Cévenols march” to support a four-season activity in the Cévennes National Park

Sur l’Aigoual, l’association AveCévennes souhaite une activité touristique quatre saisons. Midi Libre – MIKAËL ANISSET

Members of the AveCévennes association are asking for a relaxation of the rules in force at the Cévennes National Park. The concern concerns the future of the Prat Peyrot resort, but not only that. A march will be organized on Saturday, September 14, at 10:30 a.m., between Alti Aigoual and the Maison du Parc, at the Col de la Serreyrède (3.5 km).

In order to calm relations with the members of the Cévennes National Park and ask them for a relaxation of the rules that would allow the development of four-season tourism in the Aigoual sector, a “Marche des Cévenols” will be organized on Saturday, September 14, 10:30 a.m., departing from the Alti Aigoual station.

Participants in this event, after a 3.5 km walk, will drop off a letter at the Maison du Parc, at the Col de la Serreyrède. Various speeches are expected, including that of the PNC director. “What motivates us is the future of the Prat-Peyrot resort, a ski resort that is experiencing enormous difficulties due to global warming. There is even talk of filing for bankruptcy,", announces AveCévennes president Jean-Paul Coudert.

Resort opening threatened

When questioned, Denis Boissière, head of the Alti Aigoual public service delegation, indicates that there is a 20% chance of the ski resort opening next winter. Permanent staff had to be laid off this summer: "We hope to be able to call on them for the winter season."Denis Boissière indicates that he must find 120,000 euros, in particular to pay insurance and clear the debt. A search for finances to urgently bring public reception buildings up to standard. Crowdfunding is in the pipeline.

Denis Boissière hopes for a relaxation of the PNC rules to allow the adaptation of tourist activity to global warming. He lists the various projects to develop a four-season activity in order to save the resort and tourist activity on Aigoual. He mentions his desire to create a Bike Park, a gravity-based downhill mountain bike, a project that had already been rejected by the PNC.

Zip line, treetop adventure… rejected

Nor did the installation of a giant zip line that could disturb the birds, nor that of a treetop adventure course to protect the trees, and even less the retention of water to install inflatable structures there, pass. “There is not much left as an activity for families with children and teenagers”.

AveCévennes specifies that it does not want the disappearance of the PNC but an awareness of the elected officials as well as the management of the Park of the difficulties of local tourism: “The PNC cannot blindly apply the rules created for parks that are not inhabited in the central zone. The PNC is the only terrestrial national park with a central zone located on a truly inhabited territory.”

In addition to the march on September 14, a petition was launched by AveCévennes on change.org with almost 700 signatures collected. “There is a difficulty in mobilizing the locals who are resigned”, regrets Jean-Paul Coudert who wants to be combative and points the finger at the charters put in place. “There are ecological ideologies, imposed fads. We see our businesses and hotels closing."

In a letter addressed to the director of the PNC Vincent Gliniez on March 22, 2024, the president of AveCévennes summarized the local state of mind: "We support the PNC in its missions to protect the environment and exceptional landscapes, but deplore that this is to the detriment of our economic and social life."

And to recall what was said when the Park was created in 1970: “It was then presented as having to ensure the protection and development of the Cévennes massifs and high valleys, but also that of the dynamism and sustainability of the tourist economy. It was therefore not only intended to be a nature reserve and an experimental territory. A meeting between the members of AveCévennes and the new director of the PNC on July 8 was deemed constructive. 

Jean Lasalle asked for the future march

The former head of the Alliance rurale list in the European elections last June, Jean Lassalle, has been asked to participate in the great Marche des Cévenols on Saturday, September 14. Speeches by members of AveCévennes, elected officials and the director of the PNC are planned, as well as a citizens' picnic.

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