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We’ve made ecology a priority,

… and are conscious of our responsibility towards the protected environment of the Cévennes National Park. The integration of our Bed and Breakfast into our permaculture landscape is a new step on the way to a regenerative form of tourism.

Nothing is more enjoyable but to see our guests and neighbours being excited about the permaculture projects. We are seeing more and more people or groups of people around us that choose to act.

Permaculture is a philosophy that holistically engages the individual in a process of re-establishing symbiosis with the living world, not only through agricultural methods, but by forming part of a narrative of interbeing. By seeing ourselves as the usufructuaries of the land, we engage with it differently.

Since 2011, we are part of a very engaged group of people that form the Cévennes Ecotourism Initiative (Cévennes Écotourisme). We have committed to engaging in shaping sustainable tourism in protected areas. Since 2016, we are supported by the Cévennes National Park with the ‘Esprit du Parc’ brand. Following this pledge, we improve our performance in sustainable tourism. In reality, however, the European Charter of Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas is direly insufficient. Water saving shower heads and LED lightning will not suffice to make the changes that are required to improve our situation. Below, you can see what changes we have made so far.

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Use of local materials for construction: chestnut, natural stone, isolated floors and roofs, double glazing (2007-2010)

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Four of our five rooms are fitted with a heat exchanger, that reuses the heat from the grey-water outlet to pre-heat the cold water input, thus allowing us to save more than 50% warm water and thus energy (about 30% of our total warm water energy usage)

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Reconstruction and the development of the stone ‘hull’ of the house with it’s shale stone roof (between 2006 and today)

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Working with local craftsmen (since 2006)

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Natural cleaning products

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Renovation of a small low-consumption natural-stone house (La Clède), with a shale-stone roof built with ecological materials, with logs and wood from our own land (2014-2015)

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A marked discovery path around the village

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Drinkable water tap next to the road for the thirsty traveller (2015)

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A heat pump was subsequently installed (2007) for water heating needs. Four of our five rooms are fitted with a heat exchanger, that reuses the heat from the grey-water outlet to pre-heat the cold water input, thus allowing us to save more than 50% warm water and thus energy (about 30% of our total warm water energy usage)

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Preparations for the implementation of a phytopurification system with our neighbours to ensure our waste-waters re-enter nature as clean as possible

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Well-organized and easy to use waste separation facilities for our guests

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Composting our organic waste (since ever)

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In 2016, joined the ‘Écovoisins’ (eco-neighbours) initiative to promote more collaboration with our colleagues

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Cloth napkins replaced paper ones in 2017

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Design of a small permaculture-based kitchen garden (summer 2016)

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Measures to reduce light pollution since 2014, a timer turns all outside lights off

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Design of the larger permaculture-based vegetable garden and food forest (spring 2018)

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Building ‘swales’ and a water retention basin (spring 2018)

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Planting numerous local old-variety fruit trees (since 2009)

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Stopping the use of plastic bags and materials in the rooms and bathrooms, using locally produced washing products, soap dispensers with homemade soap

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Local suppliers (since 2009)

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Tree grafting course to start restoring the old chestnut plantation with historical local varieties (2017)

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Following courses by the Cévennes National Park to provide better information to our guests regarding the importance of the protection of nature in the Park

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