This center has settled on the banks of the Gardon River in 2002, at La Plaine. Under the management of the agglomeration communities of Grand Alès, the hiking and countryside activities center proposes thematic walks and hikes in the Cevennes, for any kind of walker, from beginner to experienced hikers. Theses walks are supervised by graduate professionals, and proposes every way to discover Nature whether it is strolling, donkey riding, mountain bike, the Cevennes Steam locomotive, canoeing, or caving. For an average rate of 15 to 20€ you will enjoy a day’s excursion to discover the many nooks and crannies of the Cevennes, a part of its history or its unusual landscapes!

Off-season, the “walks of the month” (“rando du mois”) give you an occasion to discover other aspects of the Cevennes: the roar call of stags, snowshoe walks, or picking wild berries, etc.

Inside the center, you will find a 70m² bookshop specialized in maps, topo-guides, and brochures about the Cevennes and about the exhibitions.
In summer, you can rent mountain bikes and the center plans child-care for children from 6 to 11 for the parents who want to go hiking without their children.

A detailed program is available at the beginning of September in the Tourist Center of Alès and of Saint-Jean-du-Gard.

• July and August: 9.30 am to 6 pm, every day.
• From Easter to All Saints holydays: 9.30 am to 12 pm and 2.30 pm to 5.30pm from Thursday to Friday, and from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm on weekends and public holidays.
• From All Saints to Easter: 9.30 am to 12.30 pm from Tuesday to Friday.

• Hiking and countryside activities center.
  La Châtaigneraie, hameau de la Plaine, 30140 Thoiras

• Phone: 04 66 61 66 66
• http://www.payscevennes.fr/maison.de.la.randonnee.et.des.activites.de.pleine.nature