> Natural habitat
The gorges

The Tarn is the most distinctive watercourse in this land of a thousand rivers. From its source to the south of Lozère, it is joined by numerous torrents and has cut a grandiose canyon through the Causse plains. Erosion has sculpted the spectacular cliffs, whose curious shapes and chaotic coombs fill the breathtaking view from the clifftop terraces. At Le Rozier, on the border between the Lozère and the Aveyron départements, the Tarn is joined by the Jonte, whose gorges are also worth a visit.

The high calcareous cliffs heat up quickly and cool slowly, forming thermal air currents for vultures to glide on.

Vultures are not the only wildlife in the gorges. Along the waterline at the gorge floor, beavers, otters and herons mingle with trout and chub.
The vultures share the cliffs, and the skies above the gorges and causses, with buzzards. Thrushes are also found in the causses.
The sloped banks of the Tarn have long been home to wild boar and deer as well as numerous small mammals (field mice, red voles) and mustelids (weasels, polecats and martens).

The caves of the Lozère are home to 23 different species of bat.