mende france tourist information

Mende travel guide

Visit Mende (Occitanie, France)

Mende is a town in the upper Lot Valley at the northern edge of the Parc National de Cevennes, in the Lozère department of Languedoc-Roussillon where it is overlooked by forested hills.

Explore Mende

Start your visit in the streets around the cathedral and the Place de la Republique, in the historical centre of Mende, where the majority of the monuments and buildings of interest are found.

The highlight of a visit to Mende is the town itself, with its fountains and public squares, the river frontage and the narrow streets to explore, and the medieval houses such as the Maison de Mandrin.

Mende cathedral

Mende cathedral dominates the town centre, and was originally built for Pope Urbain V who was born close to here - you can see his statue in front of the cathedral.

The original 14th century cathedral had the two belltowers added in the 16th century, and then the cathedral itself was largely destroyed and a replacement cathedral built (around 1600) that retained the belltowers. The rose window in the main facade was added shortly after, and the entrances substantially altered during the 19th century.

This sequence of substantial changes means the cathedral has several different styles and architectural influences.

Overall it is an interesting design, if a little imbalanced to the eye since the belltower on the left is larger and more ornate than that on the right (the larger tower also once contained the largest bell in the world, until it was melted down to make cannons in 1580).

Inside the cathedral you can see a 12th century black wooden statue of the Virgin and a series of Aubusson tapestries that relate the story of the life of the Virgin.

Other highlights in Mende

Two other notable highlights in Mende  are the 14th century Penitents Tower , that once formed part of the defensive ramparts around the town (now mostly lost) and is now the belltower for the Chapel of Penitents, and the 18th century Town Hall , with its monumental stone staircase leading to the first floor where you can see some Aubusson tapestries (next to the cathedral).

Head towards the north of the old town to see the 13th century stone bridge of Notre-Dame from where you have attractive views along the Lot River and can stroll along the river banks.

The Museum Ignon Fabre has a good number of historical items discovered in the region, dating back as far as the prehistoric occupation of the region.

Mende tourist office propose a guided route through the town which passes these and other buildings of interest - ask for the leaflet at the tourist office.

Close to Mende

The Hermitage of Saint-Privat, a pilgrimage destination, stands in a lovely wooded position on Mont Mimat overlooking Mende.

There are many scenic highlights in the region, with the Parc National de Cevennes , Mont Lozere, and the Gorges du Tarn all within easy reach to the south and the Aubrac plateau to the north, each offering numerous scenic highlights and small villages and towns to explore (the journey through the gorges du Tarn is our personal favourite).

Explore elsewhere in the Massif Central . You can find more travel ideas in the Lozere guide and the Languedoc-Roussillon guide .

Arrange a visit to Mende

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Map of mende and places nearby, visit near mende with france this way reviews.

Cevennes National Park

The varied landscapes of the Cevennes National Park are famous as the setting for Robert Louis Stevenson's 'Travels with a Donkey'!

The quiet regional town of Marvejols has several interesting historic monuments to discover

Sainte-Enimie

Sainte-Enimie is the most extensive, and perhaps the most interesting, of the pretty villages along the Gorges du Tarn

The small but very pretty village of Montbrun is at the eastern end of the Gorges du Tarn

The tiny village of Castelbouc, in the Gorges du Tarn, is very lovely and in an exceptional riverside location

Saint-Chely-du-Tarn

Saint-Chely-du-Tarn is in an idyllic spot within the western part of the Gorges du Tarn

... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Lozere

Address: Mende, Languedoc-Roussillon, 48000, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 44.519, longitude 3.5013

Plan your visit to Mende, Lozere

Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby.

• Marvejols : recommended detour (17 km)
• Sainte-Enimie : most beautiful village (18 km)
• Gorges du Tarn : grand site of france (19 km)
• Mont Lozère: site of natural beauty (22 km)
• La Canourgue: village d'etape (25 km)
• Aumont-Aubrac : village d'etape (29 km)
• Réserve de bisons d'Europe de Sainte-Eulalie: zoo or wildlife park (31 km)
• Parc à loups du Gévaudan (wolves) : zoo or wildlife park (32 km)
• La Garde-Guerin : most beautiful village (32 km)
• Chaos de Nimes-le-Vieux: site of natural beauty (35 km)
• Aven Armand (grotte): site of natural beauty (35 km)
• Cascade du Déroc: site of natural beauty (37 km)

Market days in Mende, France

Regular market(s) are held in Mende each Saturday all day. (Markets are held in the morning unless stated.)

The French version of this page is at Mende (Francais)

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Mende, coeur de Lozère The great outdoors have a tale to tell

Mende ©Benoît Colomb Lozère Tourisme

Parc des loups du Gévaudan, Parc des loups du Gévaudan

Why visit mende?

• Mende, capital of Gévaudan and incredible heritage.
• Location in the heart of Lozère between Margeride, Aubrac, Causses and the Cévennes.
• A Pays d’Art et d’Histoire: "Mende and Lot in Gévaudan"
• The gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage Causses and Cévennes.

Explore Mende

Start with Saint-Privat Cathedral founded by the region's very own Pope Urban V. Go up the 70m belltower with a guide from Mende Tourist Information : the views are incredible.

Seek out beautiful mansions nestled in the old town's lanes and squares: gaze at their fabulous doorways and stock up on the city's signature " croquants "(almond sablé biscuits).

Continue to the banks of the Lot and soak up Notre-Dame Bridge that has spanned the river since the Middle Ages. 

Cathédrale-Saint-Privat-Mende ©Thierry Bousquet – Lozère Tourisme

Great ideas for Cœur de Lozère Mende

Head to Mende in Cœur de Lozère, #GrandSiteOccitanie , to discover some top tips from Nadia, director of the Gévaudan museum.

Worth the detour

Fork onto the D25 in Mende to climb up the Causse's terrible " Jalabert Ascent ", a tribute to the cycling champion. Here you'll find an aerodrome which starred in the final scene of French comedy La Grande Vadrouille .

Using Mende as a base

The world is your oyster.

Mende is a prime destination for bike tourism and mountain cycling ranging from family-friendly to sporty.

You'll also love walking or horse riding on the hiking trails , motorcycling on the local roads or driving to visit Mende's nearby villages with character: Javols , Roman village; Marvejols , royal village on the edge of Aubrac; Châteauneuf de Randon , the fief of Du Guesclin, Chanac and its keep etc. 

Lac de Charpal en Lozère, G.DESCHAMPS

In early July, Mende turns into the regional street theatre capital with the 48ede Rue Festival attracting over 50 companies and an incredible amount of IN and OFF performances.

Find out more

4 areas to visit around Mende

Cévennes, grands causses, aubrac, margeride.

Mende is at the core of everything that makes Lozère magical: its 4 natural regions. They each have their very own signature personalities and are partly listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites (the Causses and Cévennes). Step into the kingdom of the Cévennes National Park in the south. From the top of the Grands Causses , gaze at the Gorges du Tarn and Gorges de la Jonte. Aubrac in the north-west will make you feel like you're in Scotland. Explore the north-east's secret and unspoilt Margeride with its hills and heaths.

Cascade de Déroc en Lozère, G.DESCHAMPS

Did you know?

Lozère is also great for  exploring by motorbike . For example, hit " Route 48 " starting in Mende and taking you to the Cévennes, Gorges du Tarn, Aubrac, Margeride and more.

Mende, capital of the Gévaudan

What's the time mr. wolf it's time to meet me.

Was a mystical creature actually a big wolf? We haven't forgotten the tale of the Beast of Gévaudan that scared the whole of France in the 18th century.

Come to its native land and see the wolves living at the Loups du Gévaudan wildlife park in real life (and total safety) in Saint-Léger-de-Peyre (40 mins from Mende).

Combi ticket available with the fabulous Bisons d’Europe wildlife park in Sainte-Eulalie (1 hr from Mende): visit by carriage in summer and sled in winter.

Parc des Loups du Gévaudan, Parc des loups du Gévaudan

Le Vallon du Villaret, parc de loisirs, Sud de France Développement

Vallon du Villaret

Play in a magical setting .

Head towards Bagnols-les-Bains then Vallon du Villaret 25 mins from Mende. Whether you're sporty or allergic to exercise, you're going to love this theme park. Rope bridges, mysterious caves to make music with balls, watery fun with slides... the attractions at this one-of-a-kind French sitewere designed by graphic artists, poets and musicians . Everyone loves this park in the middle of the forest at the bottom of an old keep. A train and taxi ride from Mende.

Our favourite

Charpal Lake in the Margeride uplands supplies pure water to the city of Mende 40 mins away. A 9km trail runs around it. It's the biggest no-kill fishing site in France. You can fish for pike among others here.  

Our suggestions

Hotel HOTEL DE FRANCE MENDE Lozère

Outdoor accommodation CAMPING LE TIVOLI (MENDE) MENDE Lozère

Hotel HOTEL DU PONT ROUPT MENDE Lozère

Collective housing LE COLOMBIER MENDE Lozère

How to get there?

Mende is the capital of Lozère north east of Occitania

• By car : Mende is 25km from junction 39 on the A75 linking Clermont-Ferrand to Béziers. The N106 links it to Nîmes (140km) and the A9 (Spain-Paris).
• By train : Mende train station. Intercités trains from Paris (change in Clermont-Ferrand). TER train from Nîmes
• By plane : Mende is 1.5 hrs from Rodez-Aveyron Airport and 2.5 hrs from Montpellier and Clermont-Ferrand Airports.

Regional Committee for Tourism and Leisure Occitanie

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• La Vallée du Lot
• Villages de la Vallée du Lot

Mende , avec ses 12 000 habitants, est la ville la plus importante de la Lozère . Située dans la haute Vallée du Lot , elle jouie donc d’un climat plus avantageux que les hautes terres du Gévaudan, avec environ 2069 heures de soleil par an. La ville est blottie entre différents causses qui forment des barrières naturelles. De ces causses, le Mont Mimat , dominant la ville, est le plus imposant. Découvrez son centre historique doté d’un patrimoine riche et ancien avec notamment la Cathédrale Saint-Privat .

Une ville d’origine médiévale

La capitale Lozérienne a, malgré son statut, gardé le charme simple et discret d’une cité médiévale construite autour de sa cathédrale gothique (Notre-Dame et Saint Privat). La fondation de Mende date du Moyen Age, et on ne la retrouve citée pour la première fois qu’à la fin du VIème siècle par Grégoire de Tours dans son « Histoire des Francs ». Ce texte parle du martyre de Saint Privat, le premier évêque des Gabales, qui serait à l’origine d’un pèlerinage vers l’ermitage abrité par le Mont Mimat où il s’était retiré. Le mont est de nos jours surplombé par la croix de Saint Privat. C’est à son pied que se situe la zone de la Vabre, où au fil du XXème siècle l’urbanisation a commencé, on y retrouve les premiers vestiges d’habitations de la ville. En plus d’être la préfecture de Lozère, Mende est également située au cœur de la Vallée du Lot.

    LE SAVIEZ-VOUS ?

La ville de Mende s’est construite en bord du Lot, mais le Lot n’est pas la seule présence d’eau dans la ville. Ces sources ont d’ailleurs souvent été canalisées et alimentent le réseau d’eau souterrain de la ville visible en surface par le biais des nombreuses fontaines, ainsi qu’un ancien lavoir : Le lavoir des Calquières, classé Monument Historique.

De la ville de Mende 

En 1161, Mende est sous la suzeraineté du roi de France, c’est à partir de cette époque que les remparts de la ville sont construits. Au XIVème siècle, le Pape Urbain V , fait commencer les travaux de la Cathédrale, qui s’achèveront en 1467. Deux générations plus tard les remparts sont supprimés car les habitations souhaitaient « que l’air circule mieux ». De nos jours, un boulevard a remplacé les remparts, et le centre ville est principalement occupé par des magasins et artisans. Le XXème siècle est marqué par le début d’un certain déclin économique. La fin progressive de l’industrie lainière, ainsi que la première et seconde guerres mondiales on progressivement dépeuplé la ville… Aujourd’hui, Mende est une ville dynamique, qui,  depuis quelques années, gagne de nouveaux habitants.

Une ville agréable et sportive

En déambulant dans le centre historique , vous pourrez apprécier la beauté de ses ruelles, la splendeur de sa cathédrale gothique, mais aussi la douceur de vivre de Mende qui propose une multitude d’activités de pleine nature ainsi que des événements sportifs et culturels.

Mende fut élue la ville la plus sportive de France. A proximité de la ville, le Causse de Mende est le terrain de jeu des Mendois, pour les multiples activités proposées : terrain de jeu, accrobranches, via ferrata… Chaque année vous pourrez retrouver le Trèfle Lozérien : course motocycliste se déroulant sur 3 jours au départ de Mende et dans toute la Lozère. Elle fait partie des plus connues des classiques d’Enduro en France. Elle se déroule le dernier week-end de Mai. Ou bien encore, le semi marathon du Marvejols-Mende qui se déroule sur un distance supérieure à la distance habituelle du semi-marathon (22.400 km). Ce défi sportif annuel a lieu aux alentours du dernier week-end de Juillet.

Mende est traversé par le chemin Urbain V (GR670), retraçant l’itinéraire emprunté par le Lozérien Guillaume de Grimoard, nommé pape en 1362, qui relie Nasbinals en Aubrac à la cité d’Avignon.

Découvrez aussi...

THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Mende

Things to do in mende, tours near mende.

Rolling-Stone, 1/2 D Canyoning in Ardèche, Go on an adventure!

Domain visit

Picnic at the Château de la Selve!

Oenological workshops at La Selve

Canyoning tour Aero Besorgues -half day

Canyoning Haute Besorgues in Ardeche - half day

Caving - half day in Ardeche

Canyon Borne in Ardeche - half day

Visit - immersion in the heart of the bee world!

Wine excursion by electric bike guided by GPS Vallon Pont d'Arc

Top attractions in mende.

Other Top Attractions around Mende

What travellers are saying

• Mende Cathedral
• Lac De Charpal
• Office de Tourisme Mende Coeur de Lozere
• Chemin Urbain V
• Pont Notre-Dame
• Via Ferrata

Top Things to Do in Mende, France - Mende Must-See Attractions

Things to do in mende, tours near mende.

Rolling-Stone, 1/2 D Canyoning in Ardèche, Go on an adventure!

Domain visit

Picnic at the Château de la Selve!

Oenological workshops at La Selve

Canyoning tour Aero Besorgues -half day

Canyoning Haute Besorgues in Ardeche - half day

Caving - half day in Ardeche

Canyon Borne in Ardeche - half day

Visit - immersion in the heart of the bee world!

Wine excursion by electric bike guided by GPS Vallon Pont d'Arc

Top attractions in mende.

Other Top Attractions around Mende

What travellers are saying

• Mende Cathedral
• Lac De Charpal
• Office de Tourisme Mende Coeur de Lozere
• Chemin Urbain V
• Pont Notre-Dame
• Via Ferrata

Tourism around Mende

Guide, holidays & weekends in mende.

Top Things to Do in Mende

Things to do in mende, tours near mende.

Rolling-Stone, 1/2 D Canyoning in Ardèche, Go on an adventure!

Domain visit

Picnic at the Château de la Selve!

Oenological workshops at La Selve

Canyoning tour Aero Besorgues -half day

Canyoning Haute Besorgues in Ardeche - half day

Caving - half day in Ardeche

Canyon Borne in Ardeche - half day

Visit - immersion in the heart of the bee world!

Wine excursion by electric bike guided by GPS Vallon Pont d'Arc

Top attractions in mende.

Other Top Attractions around Mende

What travellers are saying

• Mende Cathedral
• Lac De Charpal
• Office de Tourisme Mende Coeur de Lozere
• Chemin Urbain V
• Pont Notre-Dame
• Via Ferrata

Top Things to Do in Mende

Things to do in mende, tours near mende.

Rolling-Stone, 1/2 D Canyoning in Ardèche, Go on an adventure!

Domain visit

Picnic at the Château de la Selve!

Oenological workshops at La Selve

Canyoning tour Aero Besorgues -half day

Canyoning Haute Besorgues in Ardeche - half day

Caving - half day in Ardeche

Canyon Borne in Ardeche - half day

Visit - immersion in the heart of the bee world!

Wine excursion by electric bike guided by GPS Vallon Pont d'Arc

Top attractions in mende.

Other Top Attractions around Mende

What travelers are saying

• Mende Cathedral
• Lac De Charpal
• Office de Tourisme Mende Coeur de Lozere
• Chemin Urbain V
• Pont Notre-Dame
• Via Ferrata

• Explore the Lozere
• Mende, heart of Lozere

The surroundings of Mende

No need to go far from Mende to discover attractive landscapes and villages surprising by the richness of their heritage.

What to do in heart of Lozere

• Heritage to discover

To see and learn more about the Heart of Lozère

Suggestions

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