The Sur le chemin de Robert Louis Stevenson association will celebrate its 30th anniversary in Langogne, from Wednesday November 6 to Sunday November 10, 2024. The European Stevenson network will also be represented. The opportunity to honor and recall the importance of the path, the association and all the actors in the network.
Robert Louis Stevenson is an internationally renowned Scottish travel writer who crossed the Cévennes in 1878, accompanied by his donkey Modestine. Then he enjoyed great success with his novels, notably Travel to the Cévennes with a donkey, published in 1879. Stevenson’s crossing allowed the current path to acquire a strong cultural identity.
Stevenson’s path is 272 km for 14 stages, through four departments and 40 municipalities. In 1978, this path was consolidated as a long-distance hiking trail. Then, in 1994, the association Sur le chemin de Robert Louis Stevenson was created with the aim of bringing together a network and actions to bring it to life and develop it.
The goal is also to defend one’s identity through Stevenson’s work. “More than tourism providers, this network brings together departments, municipalities, and all the people who have an interest in making this path known.”specifies Lucile Pantel, who sits on the board of directors of the association and who worked in the tourism sector in Pont-de-Montvert.
In 2015, the path was recognized as a cultural route of the Council of Europe, with the Stevenson European Network.
A group of friends
Lucile Pantel explains the primary objective of this association: “C’was the meeting and the creation of a link between the Cévenols and the inhabitants of Haute-Loire. This anniversary is an opportunity to meet againto exchange, to look after ourselves and to wonder how we continue from now on. It’s wonderful that we were able to create this network with ANDScottish, English, Belgians…”
The administrator says “very attached” to this association for which she has worked for thirty years. “It’s a group of friends who created this dynamic, this conviviality. She took pleasure in organizing all this even though she was starting from scratch.” she points out proudly.
The dynamic of the association is strong. In 2022, it already had 206 members, 130 hosts and 20 active volunteers. Its objectives are numerous: guarantee a quality path, promote the territory and its cultural and natural heritage, generate links between hikers and the territory, make the path an example of sustainable tourism and, finally, guarantee the socio-economic impact of the journey.
An exemplary association
From Wednesday 6 to Sunday 10 November 2024 in Langogne, the town will host the Stevenson European network. It will hold its general meeting on Thursday, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., before celebrating the association’s thirty years, including an evening on Saturday, from 20 h. “In my opinion, this event is essential. Thirty years are worth celebrating, supports Lucile Pantel. HAS through the association’s anniversary, we want to convey notre experience, because we are taken as an example. We want to remember how we managed to have 15,000 hikers on the path.”
The stay will be structured around several exchanges, meetings and conferences at the media library, the multipurpose room and the Gargantua space in Langogne. Langogne is a town located in the middle of the path, and crossed by it. Langogne is also a city.At the top, estimated Lucile Pantel. As soon as we told them that we would like to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary, they opened the doors wide for us. It’s a small town but one that knows how to welcome. She deserves to be highlighted.”
A special place will be given to youth. “The Saint Pierre-Saint Paul de Langogne school complex, for example, contributed to the implementation of this event. welcomes the volunteer.
