Regordane
The way Regordane is the Cevennes section of the road which Low connects the Île-de-France to the Languedoc. Its rise is towards 843, date where the Traité of Verdun divided in three the Carolingian Empire. The way of Regordane then becomes the Eastern route of the kingdom leading to the port of Saint-Gilles. It is besides during the 9th century that Portes chooses holy Gilles like owner, in remembering a miracle which it would have made while passing there.
12th at the 13th century, with the rise of the cities, the way of Regordane is refitted: paved roadways, construction of bridges. The traffic increases, tolls became of an excellent report/ratio. The seigniory of Doors is located at the entry of the the Cevennes and constitutes a point of required passage.
But the treaty of 1308 pushes back the borders until the the Rhone. It is then the end of “the golden age” of the way, the travellers preferring the Rhone-native furrow. In addition, the climate becomes wetter at the 14th century. The way, little maintained disappears little by little.
The way knows an renewed interest at the 18th century until the construction of the new road at the 19th century.
Today, the D906 road and part of the section of the railroad follow closely this old way. The hikers today replaced the merchants and Régordane became since 2007 the GR. 700 which is marked out since the Puy-en-Velay with Saint-Gilles-of-Gard.
Caution! Régordane and the GR. 700 do not follow the same way. With the GR. 700, the French federation of hiking (FFRP) lance its own version of the Way of Régordane which is adapted to walk in group and the bicycle and thus will lose much in authenticity.
External bonds
- the Régordane Way or the Way of Saint-Gilles GR700 Excursion of the Puy-en-Velay in Haute-Loire with Saint-Gilles in Gard through Auvergne and the Cevennes.
- the site of association for the rebirth of the castle of Doors. The castle of Doors is a guardroom which supervises the way of Regordane.
- Regordane Information the official gate of the Way of Régordane or Way of St Gilles in France.