The great Cévennes hikers’ festival takes place this year at Pentecost

Le FIRA offre chaque année des immersions dans les paysages somptueux des Cévennes. Midi Libre – MiKAEL ANISSET

Le festival de l’itinérance, de la randonnée et des activités de pleine nature (Fira) revient pour une nouvelle édition, avec une cascade de sorties au programme et Saint-Jean-du-Gard comme camp de base.

This is a big change in this meeting place popular with hikers and several decades old.

Usually, the festival of roaming, hiking and outdoor activities (Fira), takes place each year during the Ascension Bridge. Which did not necessarily facilitate the organization of practitioners from the Alès basin who also wish to take advantage of the Alès feria which takes place at the same time. For the first time, this festival which brings together nearly 500 hikers each year will be held from May 17 to 20, during the Pentecost weekend.

However, the great Alesian festival is not the only reason for the change of date according to Louis Laurent, president of Fira: "The Ascension falls this year on first week of May. We felt it was also a little early for the festival. It’was also a little early for the activities offered by the Merlet."

Walking, via ferrata, canoeing and gastronomy

During the festival, the Fira offers more than thirty hikes in the Cévennes and beyond. At the same time, the Merlet association, partner of Fira, organizes various outdoor activities over the same period: mountain biking, via ferrata, caving, canoe trips… Many outings that require mild temperatures. "We'll try, and we'll see what happens!", continues Louis Laurent.

When it comes to hiking, diversity is also essential, to suit the aspirations of any walker. Between the routes accessible to beginners and the trails reserved for the more experienced, each outing offered is also a way to "discover the Cévennes" through many prisms. Thus, hikes are offered to nature lovers on the ridges of Saint-Jean-du-Gard or along the Gardon, history in the footsteps of the Camisards, the mining trades or as close as possible to the castles of Tornac and Saint-Pierre in Lozère, or even literature in the footsteps of Jean-Pierre Chabrol or Robert Louis Stevenson.

This year, the Fira also offers a little escape from the massif, with the return of several outings offered in the Camargue, around Aigues-Mortes, as well as around the wine estates of Pic Saint-Loup.

"Each outing is therefore adapted to what each hiker is looking for, concludes Louis Laurent. And we always include a local restaurateur or caterer on the hike. This way, we bring the country to life!" Indeed, each hike, some of which lasts two days with bivouac on the program, is accompanied by a time of restoration with dishes from Cévennes producers. Which explains the prices requested for each outing (from around 25 euros for a one-day hike to around a hundred euros for two days with bivouac).

Music, Nepalese cuisine and street theater

In addition to the hikes and excursions planned from May 17 to 20, FIRA offers numerous events and concerts throughout the year. Saint-Jean-du-Gard during the period, between the gardens of the Pauhlan space and the Stevenson room.

These festivities, largely free, will begin Friday, May 17 with a traditional dance ball. 9 p.m. Conferences and meetings with writers are scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday May 18, the day when will also be given an open-air theater play: "A parasol for two", animated by e by the Durama company. A traditional Nepalese meal is also offered. (22 euros, upon reservation) to end the day.

All routes and reservations are available online: randocevennesfira.com. I subscribe to read more