2,497 sheep passed through the crowd before returning to their 800 hectares of summer pasture on Mont Lozère

A tide of whitefish from the Massif Central is heading to the summer pasture. Free Midi – CELIAN GUIGNARD

The transhumance festival at the Bleymard-Mont Lozère ski resort, this Sunday June 23, 2024. The first since this agricultural practice was recognized as intangible cultural heritage of humanity by humanity. Unesco, in December 2023.

It's difficult to count the number of visitors who visit Mont Lozère each year to attend the transhumance festival. Usually, the organizers expect 3,000 people. This figure was clearly exceeded, this Sunday, June 23, 2024, for the first edition since this agricultural practice was recognized as intangible cultural heritage of humanity by Unesco, in December 2023.

One indicator always sets the tone for this type of event: the number of meals sold. For the third year in a row, the Paroles Gabales association was mandated by the organizers to prepare the food, a light menu composed of charcuterie, aligot with a piece of leg of lamb and a soft chestnut treat… The 400 available tickets were gone in record time. "At 11 h, there was nothing left", announcement  Olivier Boulat, one of the volunteers, well installed in the kitchen. "We even had to refuse some", confirmed Chantal Delrieu, the treasurer.

The Paroles Gabales association prepared the meal for 400 guests. Midi Libre – Célian Guignard

800 hectares of’estive

Shortly before noon, the 2 497 sheep of the pastoral group of Finiels, made up of four Gaec de Prévéchés (La Fare, Maurin, Le Roure and Chazalettes), crossed the crowd and the market of producers (read elsewhere). The highlight of the day, which some extended by following the animals to the summer pasture, located at a higher altitude.

The bravest follow the sheep to the end of their journey. Midi Libre – Célian Guignard

Up there, at more than 1 600 m above sea level, the white wines of the Massif Central will be able to benefit from milder temperatures than in the plains and elsewhere ;abundant food on 800 ha.

It took two days of walking before arriving at our destination. Midi Libre – Célian Guignard

L’Oustal of flavors and Jose Cancela, faithful among the faithful

Every year, L’Oustal des Saveurs is set up in the heart of the farmers’ market. Midi Libre – Célian Guignard

Jose Cancela knows (almost) everyone at the farmers' market, set up on the occasion of the Mont Lozère transhumance festival, this Sunday, June 23, 2024. It must be said that the itinerant trader does not rsquo;never missed the slightest edition of the event.

Its neat stand, called the Oustal des Saveurs, filled with all kinds of pork (sausages, sausages, hams), immediately catches the eye of the customer. There he sells the products of the Souchon family, based in Nasbinals, and the Clavel house, based in La Canourgue. "I have been working with them for fifteen years", he confides.

A faithful among the faithful, always so happy to be present. "It’s a day not to be missed, continues the seller. There are always a lot of people." The exhibitors are also numerous, around fifty. Cheeses, breads, fruits and vegetables, beer… Local and good to satisfy all palates.

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