Retreat House for the Observation, Exploration and Practice of Humanist Ecology
Maison du vivant
A place for quiet study and exploration of the living world, intended for naturalists, physical and social scientists , landscape architects, gardeners, agronomists, philosophers, architects, artists and skilled crafts people, with a view to research, exchanges and creative projects which will lead elsewhere to public seminars, meetings, performances, conferences, etc. Active since 2016, the place is managed as of 2026 by a non-profit organization Rousselonge Accueil du Vivant.
This hillside, recognized for its exceptional biodiversity at the meeting point of two climate zones, has become since 2016, a nursery for individual and collective projects, imagined here but brought to the public elsewhere. Seven hectares of steep, terraced hillside include gardens, abandoned farmland, woods and forest in the southern Cevennes, bearing witness to ancient, sustainable collaboration on this site between humans and other forms of life.
Payzac and Rousselonge
Payzac (07230) is a community of about 600 people spread over sixteen hamlets of which Rousselonge is one. It lies between major roads linking Paris and the south, towards both Italy and Spain. We are in the ancient province of Le Vivarais (corresponding to the southern Ardèche department). It has a long tradition of alternative living, agroecology, protection of natural sites, outdoor as well as cultural activities often intermingled.
Rousselonge Accueil du vivant actively participes with other local and regional associaions such as Réserves de nature, Labeaume en musique (National label for live performance) le Sentier des Lauzes, Terre de liens and Terre et humanisme. We are close to the Grotte Chauvet prehistoric site, and to the mountain art trail of Partage des eaux, part of the Regional natural Park, which shelters fine examples of contemporary land art.
Payzac offers numerous hiking and biking trails. An excellent café-restaurant-grocery Le Comptoir de Payzac is less than 3 km away. The towns of Lablachère and Les Vans are about 6- 8km away. Some kind of vehicle is necessary to spend any time here.
Founder and Director :
Louisa Jones, author specializing in landscape and garden subjects, with an ecological bent (see Louisa).
Church of Payzac and townhall, view from the house