Causses and Cévennes

Causses and Cévennes
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Florac and the Cévennes National Park seen from Causse Méjean
Official nameThe Causses and the Cévennes, Mediterranean agro-pastoral Cultural Landscape
LocationMassif Central, France
CriteriaCultural: (iii), (v)
Reference1153rev
Inscription2011 (35th Session)
Area302,319 ha (747,050 acres)
Buffer zone312,425 ha (772,020 acres)
Websitewww.causses-et-cevennes.fr/en/
Coordinates44°13′13″N 3°28′23″E / 44.22028°N 3.47306°E / 44.22028; 3.47306
Location of Causses and Cévennes in France

The Causses and the Cévennes, Mediterranean agro-pastoral Cultural Landscape (French: Les Causses et Les Cévennes, paysage culturel de l'agro-pastoralisme méditerranéen) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the southern part of central France with over three millennia of agro-pastoral history.

Located in the Massif Central, the region is mountainous with numerous narrow valleys, making conditions poorly suited to host cities, but well-suited for pastoralism. Consequently, the landscape of Causses and Cévennes evolved over time to reflect all types of Mediterranean agro-pastoral systems, including silvopasture, transhumance, and sedentary pastoralism. In fact, Mont Lozère is one of the last places where summer transhumance is still practiced in the traditional way.