Moudeyres: Thatched Roofs, Culture and Hiking Trails

Moudeyres is located in the Parc Naturel Régional des Monts d'Ardèche and is a destination with historic architectural features and several hiking options. Traditional houses with thatched and lauze roofs have been preserved in the village, while the named routes range from 2.5 to 20 kilometres. The Ferme Perrel is protected as a Monument historique, and the Ferme des Frères Perrel Ecomuseum offers one-hour tours about the region’s way of life in the past. If you are looking for a hotel in Moudeyres, these cultural and landscape-related features can help guide your choice of destination: consider whether you are most interested in the architecture, regional history or a particular trail length.

Traditional Houses and a Historic Monument

Some of Moudeyres’ defining features are its traditional houses with thatched and lauze roofs. The thatched roofs use rye straw grown locally; it is tied into small bundles called cluassou. The roofing tradition can therefore also be described in terms of its materials: the bundles are made from locally grown rye. Alongside this architectural style is the Ferme Perrel, a protected Monument historique. It has been protected since 13 December 1977; the designation covers the entire estate, including the outbuildings. For travellers interested in regional architecture, this presents two perspectives on the built heritage: the roof styles preserved in the village and the protected status of an entire estate.

Hiking Trails by Length

Distance is a useful starting point when comparing the routes. The Respirando PR 592 route, “La vallée de l'Aubépin,” is 2.5 km long, while the Respirando PR 590 hiking route, “Le plateau du Fraisse,” is 11 km. The PR 591, “Entre monts et vallées,” covers 20 km and passes through Moudeyres and Laussonne, as well as by the Étangs des Barthes. The different lengths can help you factor your preferred distance into your plans.

The route itself also offers a concrete point of comparison: the PR 590 passes through pastures divided by dry stone walls and offers 360° views of Velay and the Mézenc. The PR 591, by contrast, passes through two villages and by the Étangs des Barthes. Route details for the PR 590 and PR 591 may be updated locally. Check this information before your hike.

Discovery Trail and Ecomuseum

The Sentier de découverte de Moudeyres offers another highlight: the 8 km discovery trail starts in the heart of the village and ends at the Ferme des Frères Perrel Ecomuseum. Several information boards cover the local fauna and flora, as well as the appreciation of the landscape. Nature and the experience of the landscape are therefore explicit themes of the trail; you can factor both its length and the subjects covered by the boards into your plans.

At the end of the trail, the ecomuseum offers one-hour tours introducing visitors to the daily life of the region’s population in the past. This adds a historical focus to the topics covered by the information boards. When planning your trip, you can therefore choose between a trail with information about fauna, flora and the landscape, and a tour about regional history.

Discover more destinations: Arlempdes, Saint-Géron, Polignac, Landos, Vals-Près-Le-Puy, Solignac-Sous-Roche, Saugues, Sembadel.

See the overview of the wider travel region: Haute-Loire.