T. SavedA city dweller who fell in love with the Cévennes, Vincent discovered the Cézas valley in 1979 when his parents restored a ruined farmhouse near the Saint-Martin PrioryLater, they founded theAsphodel association to restore the Priory. Initially a holiday visitor, he settled permanently in his retirement and became actively involved in the association.
Find Vincent in our South Cévennes destination magazine, Wild Encounter issue #5
Can you tell us the history of the place?
The Romanesque chapel of the Priory, built at the beginning of the 12th century, may have been the work of a small community of monks from a nearby abbey, perhaps that of Sauve, although no document confirms this. The first written records mentioning the Priory date from around 1450, by which time the monks had disappeared. A farmer then occupied the buildings and worked the land for a prior, who served as parish priest for Cézas and the surrounding area. The Priory remained the parish center of the valley until the 19th century.
Its history is marked by numerous events, the most dramatic of which occurred during the Camisard War (1702-1705), when the chapel was burned down and the presbytery destroyed. The final blow came in 1867 with the construction of a new church and presbytery in Cézas, rendering the Priory obsolete.
Deconsecrated, the chapel became an agricultural shed until the departure of the last farmer in 1910. Then, left to pillage and abandonment, all the buildings fell into ruin.
What were the major stages of the restoration?
Asphodéle-Le Prieuré was founded in 1986 by a handful of "new Cévennes residents" who came to repopulate the deserted village of Cézas, which had been abandoned since the 1960s. The initial work involved clearing the rubble from the ruins, clearing the undergrowth around the footpaths and rebuilding their walls, and removing the plaster from the chapel that had concealed the fire of the Wars of Religion to reveal the beautiful stonework beneath. By the 90s, the work of these pioneers had resulted in public and private grants that enabled the chapel's slate roof to be restored.
In particular because the municipality of Sumène, thanks to its town clerk, is becoming aware of the heritage attraction that the Priory represents for its territory.
Reconstruction projects have been ongoing ever since. The most spectacular was the 2006 restoration of the so-called "presbytery hall." The actual presbytery, however, where the prior lived, remains the last ruin to be rebuilt, with the aim of transforming it into an artists' residence. The association is fully committed to this project.
An architect has worked for her, quotes have been drawn up – and thank you in advance to all the goodwill that would help to finance this project.
Can we visit the place?
The outdoor area is freely accessible at any time. To visit the interior of the buildings, it is recommended to come on a Tuesday between 9 a.m. and 16 p.m., when the volunteers, nicknamed "the Tuesday warriors," are at work. In addition, a member usually welcomes visitors every Sunday, weather permitting.
During the cultural season, from the end of May to mid-September, numerous visits are possible, particularly during exhibitions, with reception staff available every afternoon. It is also possible to make an appointment at any time, especially for groups, by contacting us through the Asphodèle-Le Prieuré website.
How do you keep the place alive and what events are organized there?
I prefer not to talk about a very specific place because I find that the Cévennes are in themselves like an initiation. You have to discover the most beautiful spots for yourself, with the friends you meet there.
The Cévennes are an invitation to the senses for the first-time visitor; they invite one to be receptive to something quite extraordinary. One simply has to make the effort to go and discover, to encounter; one must earn it. This is not a place to be consumed.
Since 2002, under the leadership of André Bonnifay, then president of the association, Asphodèle-Le Prieuré has organized numerous cultural and social events. From May to September, shows, concerts, exhibitions, and conferences bring the site to life. True to its heritage mission, the association continues the restoration of the buildings while also fostering a cultural dimension, making the Priory a place for exchange and creation.
Do you have any ideas for hikes starting from the Priory?
I have many favorite paths, as one of my passions is restoring old trails and creating new ones. For 45 years, I have been exploring the Cagnasses, the Fage, and the Argentesse valleys, pruning shears in hand, to breathe new life into the forgotten paths of the valley. Some have become public again, like the "Tour des Cagnasses," now marked as a PR (local hiking trail), a large part of which I re-established in the 80s and which I continue to maintain.
Others, more secret, are only revealed on rare occasions such as during the Nature Festival in May, which we have celebrated every year for the past 4 years.
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