Musée du Désert

About the museum

In 1880 the Société de l'histoire du protestantisme français bought the old house of the Laporte family at the Mas Soubeyran, where the Camisard leader Rolland was born in 1680. Mementos of the Camisard remained there, such as his Bible, his pitchfork and the hiding place at the back of the kitchen cupboard. At the beginning of the 20th century, its managers wanted to turn it into a museum devoted to the history of Protestants.

The museum opened on September 24, 1911, and a large Protestant gathering, the Assemblée du Désert, was held on that occasion. It has taken place every year since then on the first Sunday of September, on the museum grounds, bringing together thousands of people.

The route covers the period known as the Désert, from the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 to the Edict of Tolerance of 1787, the Camisard War, the repression and everyday life in hiding. Since 2019 four additional rooms present the Reformation, the Wars of Religion, the Edict of Nantes and its revocation. Visitors see nearly 3,000 authentic objects, books and documents across some twenty rooms, in the heart of a Cevennes hamlet.

Highlights

• Birthplace of the Camisard leader Rolland, in a Cevennes hamlet
• Folding preaching chairs (Chaires du Désert), banned Bibles and psalters
• Weapons and maps of the Camisard War
• Reconstruction of a Cevennes evening gathering and hiding places for hunted men
• Rooms on the Reformation, the Wars of Religion and the Edict of Nantes

Permanent exhibitions

• Parcours permanent sur le Désert et les Camisards – Some twenty rooms on the Désert period, the Camisard War, the repression and clandestine life, with Cevennes furniture and objects.
• Salles sur la Réforme et l'édit de Nantes – Four rooms opened in 2019 on the Reformation, the Wars of Religion, the Edict of Nantes and its revocation.

Founded

1911

Director

Denis Carbonnier

Admission & discounts

2026 rates. No supplement for the guided tour. Payment on arrival in cash, by cheque or by bank card; holiday vouchers (chèques-vacances) are accepted. Booking is recommended for groups.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum occupies a listed old Cevennes house on several levels with many staircases: wheelchair access is not possible. Guided tours can be adapted to other types of disability, and a visit booklet in Braille is available at the ticket desk.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Distances: Mialet 3 km, Anduze 7 km, Saint-Jean-du-Gard 11 km, Alès 15 km (railway station), Nîmes 51 km (TGV station, airport) and Montpellier 73 km.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum bookshop and shop, plus an online shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit