Les Loups du Gévaudan

Wolves once prowled freely through the Lozère forests, but today you’ll see them only in this sanctuary in Ste-Lucie, 7km north of Marvejols and 36km northeast of Mende off the D809. The 25-hectare park sustains around 80 Mongolian, Canadian, Siberian, Arctic and Polish wolves living in semi-freedom. You can wander around the park or take a free guided tour; note the €3 premium during summer holidays. Special night visits are also available in high summer. Feedings take place at 4pm.

It's an apt location for a wolf sanctuary: a local legend tells of the fearsome Beast of Gévaudan which terrorised the area between 1764 and 1767, and is generally believed to have been some kind of supersized wolf.

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