Hiking Mont Mézenc and Visiting French Villages: Les Estables and Moudeyres

In addition to the following places, which make a great day trip or half day trip in Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Region of Central France, Mont Mézenc is also one for the list of places to visit, especially if hiking, nature, and beautiful landscape views accompanied with fresh air and cute little villages are your thing! (who wouldn’t like any of those things?!?)

Guide to Chavaniac Lafayette - Birthplace of American Revolutionary War hero, Marquis de Lafayette
Guide to La Chaise-Dieu - a 1,000 year old abbey church and burial site of Pope Clement VI
Forteresse de Polignac - a medieval estate and fortress belonging to the Polignac family, who played an interesting role in French history

Mont Mézenc

I really got the chance to live my the Sound of Music fantasy when hiking through this gorgeous peak! 1,700 meters above sea-level, the summit provides fantastic panoramic views of its surrounding hills and landscape. The mountain has numerous hiking trails with varying difficulties as well as camp and picnic sites!

Sneakpeak at my adventure at Mont Mezenc and Les Estables and Moudeyres Villages

The air was so crisp, even in the middle of the summer. Accompanied by pink, purple, yellow, and white wild flowers throughout and with clear view upon miles and miles, I really imagined myself as Maria, Julie Andrews’s character from the Sound of Music.

While there are multiple unpaved hiking routes throughout the forest, we took the easy paved pathway that leads up to the hill into a parking lot. There were minimal cars and provided great views along the way, including a group of cows who were munching on wild grass!

Les Estables - the Small Village at the Foot of Mont Mézenc

Just before driving up to the summit of Mont Mézenc is the little village of Les Estables. There is a boucherie and charcuterie (place that sells meat and sausages) and boulangerie (bakery) that is definitely worth checking out for authentically made French gourmet foods!

We bought some caillette, which are cooked cabbage meatballs that you can either eat directly or heat it up in the oven.

Delicious Boucherie and Charcuterie at Les Estables Village near Mont Mézenc

Fresh meat and local delicacies at the Boucherie, Charcuterie at Les Estables Village

Fresh local goat cheese at the chacuterie of Les Estables

Cayette at the Local Boucherie and Chacuterie of Les Estables

Cured meats at the charcuterie of Les Estables Village

Moudeyres - Small Village with Museum for Thatched Roof

A village of less than 100 residents, Moudeyres is home to the Ferme des Frères Perrel Museum. Known for its traditional, artisanal hand-made thatched roofs, the Museum explains the history of the tradition that’s well-known throughout the region.

Ferme des Frères Perrel Museum located at Moudeyres Village near Mont Mézenc

Although I did not go inside the museum as it was closed when we visited, the village is home to a number of houses that feature the traditional thatched roofs. There is also a really really beautiful house at the end of the village with a beautiful French countryside garden. I didn’t take any photos out of respect for the owners privacy but it’s definitely a cute town that’s worth putting on your to-check-out list when hiking through Mont Mézenc!