Mende is a surprising city, the capital of one of the least populated departments in France. It was a town that was undoubtedly founded around the year 200 before JC and has known development from the VI th century after JC. But this beautiful city is not only a historical city, but it is also the gateway to one of the most beautiful departments of France. A department, the Lozère, which is the promise of adventure and nature in its raw state. To visit Mende, discover a stage town of the Tour de France so pleasant that one would stay there a few days more.

1. Visit the Cathedral of Mende

The Cathedral of Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Privat in Mende is one of the city’s unmissable landmarks. Located on the Place Urbain V, this religious monument would almost single-handedly retrace a good part of the town’s history.

The construction of the cathedral

It all begins with the history of the construction of the cathedral in 1368; the work started on the will of a man Pope Urban V. But only four years after the beginning of the works all stops. And for almost seventy very long years nothing will happen. When work began again in 1438, it would take more than six decades to complete the building. The cathedral of Mende is thus completed around the year 1500. The bell tower was completed around 1524 – 1525.

The history of the cathedral bell

With the Wars of Religion, shortly after Christmas 1579, one of the bells was “stolen” by Captain Mathieu Merle, a Huguenot. And this for the sole purpose of melting it down and producing cannons. This bell had a peculiarity. It was the “non-pareille,” a bell weighing more than 12 tons, which was at the time the largest bell ever made in all Christendom. One of the criticisms of this bell was that it was too noisy to have covered an attack on the city during the Christmas celebration.

A cathedral almost destroyed.

And then, in 1581, the unthinkable happens. The cathedral of Mende becomes a collateral “victim” of the war of religions. Nearly 80% of this religious building was razed to the ground by the Protestants.

Between 1600 and 1630, it will be rebuilt identically. The unique fact it will be the only cathedral built during the XVIIth century with plans dating from the XIVth century.

And it is undoubtedly because of all these jolts of history that Mende’s cathedral presents a particularity. The stones of the façade do not all have the same color. The reason is the following, two types of stone were used to build Notre Dame de Mende. There is the limestone of Mende, which yellows with time and the Tuff, a rock that has the enormous advantage of hardening and lightening with the centuries. The façade of the Cheverny castle is a magnificent example of this.

The Tower of the Penitents

This tower is the highest view point of the Mende cathedral.

The visit of the nave of the cathedral

When you visit the cathedral of Mende, there is an artistic treasure not to be missed. It is a primitive Italian painting from Naples,

2. Getting lost in the streets of the city center

Rue Notre Dame, rue de la République, rue de l’Ange or rue de l’Abbaye, all these streets are charming and deserve a detour. No need to search these streets on your GPS. A piece of advice: let yourself go according to your desires in the city center of Mende, the magic of the place will do the rest.

3. Mende aerodrome and the Jalabert climb

The city of Mende is situated at an altitude of about 730 meters. But to reach the aerodrome of Mende, it is still necessary to climb to reach the plateau overlooking the city at more than 1000 meters altitude. If the airstrip is so mediatic, it is because it generally plays the finish line for a stage of the Tour de France. To access it, the riders have to face a wall. This is the D25 departmental road, nicknamed the Montée Jalabert. This 12% climb is steep enough and long enough to create gaps, mainly when the riders attack this last part of the course.

Apart from the sporting and aeronautical aspects of the aerodrome, it is an opportunity to discover the Croix Neuve coast and enjoy an unobstructed panorama of the surrounding area. Ravin de l’Aigle, Fon Chapieu ravine, the combe du Lacas.

4. Explore the national forest of Mende.

Above the city of Mende is a fantastic playground called the Mende State Forest. A charming place to walk in the middle of nature, even if in the Lozere environment, is not really what is missing.

5. The Cross of Saint Privat and Mount Mimat

Situated at the aplomb of Mende and offering an unspoiled panoramic view of the town, its surroundings, and especially the Lot valley. You can reach it by car after climbing the Côte de la Croix Neuve, the famous D25 nicknamed the Montée Jalabert.

Another access is possible via a signposted path starting from the Foirail at 740 meters. A path that ends at the foot of the Croix Saint-Nivat. This is the Way of the Cross of the Hermitage Saint-Privat, consisting of fourteen stations. It takes about an hour’s walk to climb the 250 meters of positive difference in height. A path about three kilometers long, which is of historical interest and offers the possibility of walking in the middle of nature.

Discover Mende in pictures

photo credits: Yann Vernerie