Welcome to the Camisards' Land

Réunion paroissiale, pastorale, séjour de catéchumènes... le Val de l'Hort est heureux de vous accueillir !

Un séjour en Cévennes protestantes

Propositions d’activités et de visites pour un séjour inoubliable en terre camisarde :

• Le Musée du Désert (10 km du centre) : Located in the birthplace of Camisarde Pierre Laporte' nicknamed Rolland, the museum testifies the history of the protestantism and the resistance and clandestiniy of Huguenots for more than a century. www.museedudesert.com/)

• La Tour de Constance d’Aigues-Mortes (85 km du centre) :Erected in 1242 in Aigues-Mortes by Saint Louis. It was in this tower that Protestants were imprisoned in the eighteenth century, the most famous of whom was Marie Durand, who remained there for 38 years. (aigues-mortes.monuments-nationaux.fr)

• Le Temple d’Anduze (1,5 km du centre) : One of the largest in France, it replaces a temple built from 1600 to 1602 destroyed by order of the king in 1636. The current building was inaugurated on October 19, 1823 after its collapse in 1812. (Pastor: Patrick Keller)

• La grotte de Rouville (12 km du centre) : A magnificent cave that served as a hiding place during the Camisard War. Discover on foot, the occasion of a beautiful walk. Access quite difficult.

• Le Pont des Camisards (13 km du centre) : Beautiful archery and stone bridge built in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries crossing the Gardon.Hiking “discovery of the natural heritage and built Cevennol”, themed hiking, accompanied by a guide, in the cevennial valleys, to discover the natural riches and the “old stones”.
• La Can de l’Hospitalet (50 km du centre) : high place of the secret assemblies of the Desert, the opportunity to travel the high Cevennes.
• Le Train à Vapeur des Cévennes (1.5 km du centre) :between Anduze and St Jean du Gard, 14 km drive in the heart of the valleys and along the Gardon(http://www.trainavapeur.com)

The Cevennes : Protestant land the first time

The reformed religion, which came from Geneva, was established very early in the Cevennes. In Anduze, the Frères Cordeliers who preached the Reformation from 1547, built a church (1560). The wars of religion divide the kingdom, until the Edict of Nantes issued by Henry IV in 1598.

1600 :The Anduzians take advantage of this truce to build a temple.

On the death of Henry IV hostilities resumed and gradually Languedoc became the last Protestant province, the Cevennes the last reduced.

Anduze: headquarters Protestant forces

In the 1620s , the Duke of Rohan, commander in chief of the Protestants, chose Anduzes to be his headquarters : he strengthened the defences of this "door" and brought together the Protestant forces.

 

In 1629 , the "Peace of Alais " requires anduziens to dismantle their stronghold (only the Clock Tower is spared ) . Thus began a long period of repression.

1685-1787 : A Century of resistance - the period of the Desert

Under the absolute reign of Louis XIV religious intolerance is complete , the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 causes the forced conversion of the inhabitants of the Cevennes : Dragons King terrorize people in search of renunciations .

Protestant Temples were destroyed : 1956 , destruction of the Temple Anduze .

However, despite the prohibitions and danger, the "reformed" continue to come together to practice their faith clandestinely in remote areas ( forests, caves , ravines ) .

War Camisard

In 1702 , the Cevennes become a battleground : the camisard leaders Jean Cavalier, Pierre Laporte said Rolland Abraham Mazel and fight the royal troops .

Despite significant success rebellion was eventually crushed militarily in 1704.

She will continue sporadically until 1710 .

The finally calming ...

1787 : the signing of the Edict of Tolerance

A new temple to Anduze

1823 : construction of Anduze temple , one of the largest in France .